CHAPTER XXII. HOW THE BOWMEN HELD WASSAIL AT THE “ROSE DE GUIENNE.”

“MonDieu!Alleyne,sawyoueversolovelyaface?”criedFordastheyhurriedalongtogether.“Sopure,sopeaceful,andsobeautiful!” “Insooth,yes.AndthehueoftheskinthemostperfectthateverIsaw.Markedyoualsohowthehaircurledroundthebrow?Itwaswonderfine.” “Thoseeyes,too!”criedFord.“Howclearandhowtender—simple,andyetsofullofthought!” “Iftherewasaweaknessitwasinthechin,”saidAlleyne. “Nay.Isawnone.” “Itwaswellcurved,itistrue.” “Mostdaintilyso.” “Andyet——” “Whatthen,Alleyne?Wouldstfindflawinthesun?” “Well,bethinkyou,Ford,wouldnotmorepowerandexpressionhavebeenputintothefacebyalongandnoblebeard?” “HolyVirgin!”criedFord,“themanismad.AbeardonthefaceoflittleTita!” “Tita!WhospokeofTita?” “Whospokeofaughtelse?” “ItwasthepictureofSt.Remi,man,ofwhichIhavebeendiscoursing.” “Youareindeed,”criedFord,laughing,“aGoth,Hun,andVandal,withalltheotherhardnameswhichtheoldmancalledus.Howcouldyouthinksomuchofasmearofpigments,whentherewassuchapicturepaintedbythegoodGodhimselfintheveryroomwithyou?Butwhoisthis?” “Ifitpleaseyou,sirs,”saidanarcher,runningacrosstothem,“Aylwardandotherswouldberightgladtoseeyou.Theyarewithinhere.HebademesaytoyouthattheLordLoringwillnotneedyourserviceto-night,ashesleepswiththeLordChandos.” “Bymyfaith!”saidFord,“wedonotneedaguidetoleadustotheirpresence.”Ashespoketherecamearoarofsingingfromthetavernupontheright,withshoutsoflaughterandstampingoffeet.Passingunderalowdoor,anddownastone-flaggedpassage,theyfoundthemselvesinalongnarrowhalllitupbyapairofblazingtorches,oneateitherend.Trussesofstrawhadbeenthrowndownalongthewalls,andrecliningonthemweresometwentyorthirtyarchers,alloftheCompany,theirsteelcapsandjacksthrownoff,theirtunicsopenandtheirgreatlimbssprawlingupontheclayfloor.Ateveryman'selbowstoodhisleathernblackjackofbeer,whileatthefurtherendahogsheadwithitsendknockedinpromisedanabundantsupplyforthefuture.Behindthehogshead,onahalfcircleofkegs,boxes,andrudesettles,satAylward,John,BlackSimonandthreeorfourotherleadingmenofthearchers,togetherwithGoodwinHawtayne,themaster-shipman,whohadlefthisyellowcogintherivertohavealastrousewithhisfriendsoftheCompany.FordandAlleynetooktheirseatsbetweenAylwardandBlackSimon,withouttheirentrancecheckinginanydegreethehubbubwhichwasgoingon. “Ale,mescamarades?”criedthebowman,“orshallitbewine?Nay,butyemusthavetheoneortheother.Here,Jacques,thoulimbofthedevil,bringabott