CHAPTER V. HOW A STRANGE COMPANY GATHERED AT THE “PIED MERLIN.”

Thenighthadalreadyfallen,andthemoonwasshiningbetweentheriftsofragged,driftingclouds,beforeAlleyneEdricson,footsoreandwearyfromtheunwontedexercise,foundhimselfinfrontoftheforestinnwhichstoodupontheoutskirtsofLyndhurst.Thebuildingwaslongandlow,standingbackalittlefromtheroad,withtwoflambeauxblazingoneithersideofthedoorasawelcometothetraveller.Fromonewindowtherethrustforthalongpolewithabunchofgreenerytiedtotheendofit—asignthatliquorwastobesoldwithin.AsAlleynewalkeduptoitheperceivedthatitwasrudelyfashionedoutofbeamsofwood,withtwinklinglightsalloverwheretheglowfromwithinshonethroughthechinks.Theroofwaspoorandthatchedbutinstrangecontrasttoitthereranallalongundertheeavesalineofwoodenshields,mostgorgeouslypaintedwithchevron,bend,andsaltire,andeveryheraldicdevice.Bythedoorahorsestoodtethered,theruddyglowbeatingstronglyuponhisbrownheadandpatienteyes,whilehisbodystoodbackintheshadow. Alleynestoodstillintheroadwayforafewminutesreflectinguponwhatheshoulddo.Itwas,heknew,onlyafewmilesfurthertoMinstead,wherehisbrotherdwelt.Ontheotherhand,hehadneverseenthisbrothersincechildhood,andthereportswhichhadcometohisearsconcerninghimwereseldomtohisadvantage.Byallaccountshewasahardandabitterman. Itmightbeanevilstarttocometohisdoorsolateandclaimtheshelterofhisroof.Bettertosleephereatthisinn,andthentravelontoMinsteadinthemorning.Ifhisbrotherwouldtakehimin,wellandgood. Hewouldbidewithhimforatimeanddowhathemighttoservehim.If,ontheotherhand,heshouldhavehardenedhisheartagainsthim,hecouldonlygoonhiswayanddothebesthemightbyhisskillasacraftsmanandascrivener.Attheendofayearhewouldbefreetoreturntothecloisters,forsuchhadbeenhisfather'sbequest.Amonkishupbringing,oneyearintheworldaftertheageoftwenty,andthenafreeselectiononewayortheother—itwasastrangecoursewhichhadbeenmarkedoutforhim.Suchasitwas,however,hehadnochoicebuttofollowit,andifheweretobeginbymakingafriendofhisbrotherhehadbestwaituntilmorningbeforeheknockedathisdwelling. Therudeplankdoorwasajar,butasAlleyneapproachedittherecamefromwithinsuchagustofroughlaughterandclatteroftonguesthathestoodirresoluteuponthethreshold.Summoningcourage,however,andreflectingthatitwasapublicdwelling,inwhichhehadasmuchrightasanyotherman,hepusheditopenandsteppedintothecommonroom. Thoughitwasanautumneveningandsomewhatwarm,ahugefireofheapedbilletsofwoodcrackledandsparkledinabroad,opengrate,someofthesmokeescapinguparudechimney,butthegreaterpartrollingoutintotheroom,sothattheairwasthickwithit,andamancomingfromwithoutcouldscarcecatchhisbreath.Onthisfireagreatcauldronbubbledandsimmered,givingfortharichandpromisingsmell.Seatedrounditwereadozenorsofolk,ofallagesandconditions,whosetupsuchashoutasAlleyneenteredthathestoodpeeringatthemthroughthesmoke,uncertainwhatthisriotousgreetingmightportend. “Arouse!Arouse!”criedoneroughlookingfellowinatatteredjerkin.“Onemoreroundofmeadoraleandthescoretothelastcomer.” “'Tisthelawofthe'PiedMerlin,'”shoutedanother.“Hothere,DameEliza!Hereisfreshcustomcometothehouse,andnotadrainforthecompany.” “Iwilltakeyourorders,gentlesIwillassuredlytakeyourorders,”thelandladyanswered,bustlinginwithherhandsfullofleatherndrinking-cups.“Whatisitthatyoudrink,then?Beerfortheladsoftheforest,meadforthegleeman,strongwatersforthetinker,andwinefortherest.Itisanoldcustomofthehouse,youngsir.Ithasbeentheuseatthe'PiedMerlin'thismanyayearbackthatthecompanyshoulddrinktothehealthofthelastcomer.Isityourpleasuretohumorit?” “Why,gooddame,”saidAlleyne,“Iwouldnotoffendthecustomsofyourhouse,butitisonlysoothwhenIsaythatmypurseisathinone.Asfarastwopencewillgo,however,Ishallberightgladtodomypart.” “Plainlysaidandbravelyspoken,mysucklingfriar,”roaredadeepvoice,andaheavyhandfelluponAlleyne'sshoulder.Lookingup,hesawbesidehimhisformercloistercompaniontherenegademonk,HordleJohn. “BythethornofGlastonbury!illdaysarecominguponBeaulieu,”saidhe.“Heretheyhavegotridinonedayoftheonlytwomenwithintheirwalls—forIhavehadmineeyesuponthee,youngster,andIknowthatforallthybaby-facethereisthemakingofamaninthee.ThenthereistheAbbot,too.Iamnofriendofhis,norheofminebuthehaswarmbloodinhisveins.Heistheonlymanleftamongthem.Theothers,whatarethey?” “Theyareholymen,”Alleyneansweredgravely. “Holymen?Holycabbages!Holybean