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

deAlleyne,andpointingwiththeladletothesleepingman.“Thatishewhopaintsthesignsandthetokens.AlackandalasthateverIshouldhavebeenfoolenoughtotrusthim!Now,youngman,whatmannerofabirdwouldyousupposeapiedmerlintobe—thatbeingthepropersignofmyhostel?” “Why,”saidAlleyne,“amerlinisabirdofthesameformasaneagleorafalcon.IcanwellrememberthatlearnedbrotherBartholomew,whoisdeepinallthesecretsofnature,pointedoneouttomeaswewalkedtogethernearVinneyRidge.” “Afalconoraneagle,quotha?Andpied,thatisoftwoseveralcolors.Soanymanwouldsayexceptthisbarreloflies.Hecametome,lookyou,sayingthatifIwouldfurnishhimwithagallonofale,wherewithtostrengthenhimselfasheworked,andalsothepigmentsandaboard,hewouldpaintformeanoblepiedmerlinwhichImighthangalongwiththeblazonryovermydoor.I,poorsimplefool,gavehimthealeandallthathecraved,leavinghimalonetoo,becausehesaidthataman'smindmustbeleftuntroubledwhenhehadgreatworktodo.WhenIcamebackthegallonjarwasempty,andhelayasyouseehim,withtheboardinfrontofhimwiththissorrydevice.”Sheraisedupapanelwhichwasleaningagainstthewall,andshowedarudepaintingofascraggyandangularfowl,withverylonglegsandaspottedbody. “Wasthat,”sheasked,“likethebirdwhichthouhastseen?” Alleyneshookhishead,smiling. “No,noranyotherbirdthateverwaggedafeather.Itismostlikeapluckedpulletwhichhasdiedofthespottedfever.Andscarlettoo!WhatwouldthegentlesSirNicholasBoarhunte,orSirBernardBrocas,ofRocheCourt,sayiftheysawsuchathing—or,perhaps,eventheKing'sownMajestyhimself,whooftenhasriddenpastthisway,andwholoveshisfalconsasheloveshissons?Itwouldbethedownfallofmyhouse.” “Thematterisnotpastmending,”saidAlleyne.“Iprayyou,gooddame,togivemethosethreepigment-potsandthebrush,andIshalltrywhetherIcannotbetterthispainting.” DameElizalookeddoubtfullyathim,asthoughfearingsomeotherstratagem,but,ashemadenodemandforale,shefinallybroughtthepaints,andwatchedhimashesmearedonhisbackground,talkingthewhileaboutthefolkroundthefire. “Thefourforestladsmustbejoggingsoon,”shesaid.“TheybideatEmeryDown,amileormorefromhere.Yeomenprickerstheyare,whotendtotheKing'shunt.ThegleemaniscalledFloytingWill.Hecomesfromthenorthcountry,butformanyyearshehathgonetheroundoftheforestfromSouthamptontoChristchurch.Hedrinksmuchandpayslittlebutitwouldmakeyourribscrackletohearhimsingthe'JestofHendyTobias.'Mayhaphewillsingitwhenthealehaswarmedhim.” “Whoarethosenexttohim?”askedAlleyne,muchinterested.“Heofthefurmantlehasawiseandreverentface.” “Heisasellerofpillsandsalves,verylearnedinhumors,andrheums,andfluxes,andallmannerofailments.Hewears,asyouperceive,thevernicleofSaintedLuke,thefirstphysician,uponhissleeve.MaygoodSt.ThomasofKentgrantthatitmaybelongbeforeeitherIormineneedhishelp!Heishereto-nightforherbergage,asaretheothersexcepttheforesters.Hisneighborisatooth-drawer.ThatbagathisgirdleisfulloftheteeththathedrewatWinchesterfair.Iwarrantthattherearemoresoundonesthansorry,forheisquickathisworkandatrifledimintheeye.ThelustymannexthimwiththeredheadIhavenotseenbefore.Thefouronthissideareallworkers,threeofthemintheserviceofthebailiffofSirBaldwinRedvers,andtheother,hewiththesheepskin,is,asIhear,avilleinfromthemidlandswhohathrunfromhismaster.Hisyearanddayarewell-nighup,whenhewillbeafreeman.” “Andtheother?”askedAlleyneinawhisper.“Heissurelysomeverygreatman,forhelooksasthoughhescornedthosewhowereabouthim.” Thelandladylookedathiminamotherlywayandshookherhead.“Youhavehadnogreattruckwiththeworld,”shesaid,“oryouwouldhavelearnedthatitisthesmallmenandnotthegreatwhoholdtheirnosesintheair.Lookatthoseshieldsuponmywallandundermyeaves.Eachofthemisthedeviceofsomenoblelordorgallantknightwhohathsleptundermyroofatonetimeoranother.YetmildermenoreasiertopleaseIhaveneverseen:eatingmybaconanddrinkingmywinewithamerryface,andpayingmyscorewithsomecourteouswordorjestwhichwasdearertomethanmyprofit.Thosearethetruegentles.Butyourchapmanoryourbearwardwillswearthatthereisalimeinthewine,andwaterintheale,andflingoffatthelastwithacurseinsteadofablessing.ThisyouthisascholarfromCambrig,wheremenarewonttobeblownoutbyalittleknowledge,andlosetheuseoftheirhandsinlearningthelawsoftheRomans.ButImustawaytolaydownthebeds.Somaythesaintskeepyouandprosperyouinyourundertaking!” Thuslefttohimself,Alleynedrewhispanelofwoodwher