CHAPTER VIII. THE THREE FRIENDS.

dbetoyou,seeingthatneitherbytrainingnorbynatureamIfittedforthewars,andthereseemstobenoughtbutstrifeinthoseparts.” “Thatcomesfrommyfool'stalk,”criedthearcher“forbeingamanofnolearningmyself,mytongueturnstobladesandtargets,evenasmyhanddoes.KnowthenthatforeveryparchmentinEnglandtherearetwentyinFrance.Foreverystatue,cutgem,shrine,carvenscreen,orwhatelsemightpleasetheeyeofalearnedclerk,thereareagoodhundredtoourone.AtthespoilingofCarcasonneIhaveseenchambersstoredwithwriting,thoughnotonemaninourCompanycouldreadthem.Again,inArlesandNimes,andothertownsthatIcouldname,therearethegreatarchesandfortalicesstillstandingwhichwerebuiltofoldbygiantmenwhocamefromthesouth.CanInotseebyyourbrightenedeyehowyouwouldlovetolookuponthesethings?Comethenwithme,and,bythesetenfinger-bones!thereisnotoneofthemwhichyoushallnotsee.” “Ishouldindeedlovetolookuponthem,”Alleyneanswered“butIhavecomefromBeaulieuforapurpose,andImustbetruetomyservice,evenasthouarttruetothine.” “Bethinkyouagain,monami,”quothAylward,“thatyoumightdomuchgoodyonder,sincetherearethreehundredmenintheCompany,andnonewhohaseverawordofgraceforthem,andyettheVirginknowsthattherewasneverasetofmenwhowereinmoreneedofit.Sickerlytheonedutymaybalancetheother.Yourbrotherhathdonewithoutyouthismanyayear,and,asIgather,hehathneverwalkedasfarasBeaulieutoseeyouduringallthattime,sohecannotbeinanygreatneedofyou.” “Besides,”saidJohn,“theSocmanofMinsteadisaby-wordthroughtheforest,fromBramshawHilltoHolmesleyWalk.Heisadrunken,brawling,perilouschurl,asyoumayfindtoyourcost.” “ThemorereasonthatIshouldstrivetomendhim,”quothAlleyne.“Thereisnoneedtourgeme,friends,formyownwisheswoulddrawmetoFrance,anditwouldbeajoytomeifIcouldgowithyou.Butindeedandindeeditcannotbe,sohereItakemyleaveofyou,foryondersquaretoweramongstthetreesupontherightmustsurelybethechurchofMinstead,andImayreachitbythispaththroughthewoods.” “Well,Godbewiththee,lad!”criedthearcher,pressingAlleynetohisheart.“Iamquicktolove,andquicktohateand'foreGodIamlothtopart.” “Woulditnotbewell,”saidJohn,“thatweshouldwaithere,andseewhatmannerofgreetingyouhavefromyourbrother.Youmayprovetobeaswelcomeastheking'spurveyortothevillagedame.” “Nay,nay,”heanswered“yemustnotbideforme,forwhereIgoIstay.” “Yetitmaybeaswellthatyoushouldknowwhitherwego,”saidthearcher.“WeshallnowjourneysouththroughthewoodsuntilwecomeoutupontheChristchurchroad,andsoonwards,hopingto-nighttoreachthecastleofSirWilliamMontacute,EarlofSalisbury,ofwhichSirNigelLoringisconstable.Thereweshallbide,anditislikeenoughthatforamonthormoreyoumayfindusthere,erewearereadyforourviagebacktoFrance.” ItwashardindeedforAlleynetobreakawayfromthesetwonewbutheartyfriends,andsostrongwasthecombatbetweenhisconscienceandhisinclinationsthathedarednotlookround,lesthisresolutionshouldslipawayfromhim.Itwasnotuntilhewasdeepamongthetreetrunksthathecastaglancebackwards,whenhefoundthathecouldstillseethemthroughthebranchesontheroadabovehim.Thearcherwasstandingwithfoldedarms,hisbowjuttingfromoverhisshoulder,andthesungleamingbrightlyuponhishead-pieceandthelinksofhischain-mail.Besidehimstoodhisgiantrecruit,stillcladinthehome-spunandill-fittinggarmentsofthefullerofLymington,witharmsandlegsshootingoutofhisscantygarb.EvenasAlleynewatchedthemtheyturnedupontheirheelsandploddedofftogetherupontheirway.