CHAPTER XXV. HOW SIR NIGEL WROTE TO TWYNHAM CASTLE.

Onthemorningafterthejousting,whenAlleyneEdricsonwent,aswashiscustom,intohismaster'schambertowaituponhiminhisdressingandtocurlhishair,hefoundhimalreadyupandverybusilyatwork.Hesatatatablebythewindow,adeer-houndononesideofhimandalurcherontheother,hisfeettuckedawayunderthetrestleonwhichhesat,andhistongueinhischeek,withtheairofamanwhoismuchperplexed.Asheetofvellumlayupontheboardinfrontofhim,andheheldapeninhishand,withwhichhehadbeenscribblinginarudeschoolboyhand.Somanyweretheblots,however,andsonumerousthescratchesanderasures,thathehadatlastgivenitupindespair,andsatwithhissingleuncoveredeyecockedupwardsattheceiling,asonewhowaitsuponinspiration. “BySaintPaul!”hecried,asAlleyneentered,“youarethemanwhowillstandbymeinthismatter.Ihavebeeninsoreneedofyou,Alleyne.” “Godbewithyou,myfairlord!”thesquireanswered.“Itrustthatyouhavetakennohurtfromallthatyouhavegonethroughyesterday.” “NayIfeelthefresherforit,Alleyne.Ithaseasedmyjoints,whichweresomewhatstifffromtheseyearsofpeace.Itrust,Alleyne,thatthoudidstverycarefullynoteandmarkthebearingandcarriageofthisknightofFranceforitistime,nowwhenyouareyoung,thatyoushouldseeallthatisbest,andmouldyourownactionsinaccordance.Thiswasamanfromwhommuchhonormightbegained,andIhaveseldommetanyoneforwhomIhaveconceivedsomuchloveandesteem.CouldIbutlearnhisname,Ishouldsendyoutohimwithmycartel,thatwemighthavefurtheroccasiontowatchhisgoodlyfeatsofarms.” “Itissaid,myfairlord,thatnoneknowhisnamesaveonlytheLordChandos,andthatheisundervownottospeakit.Soranthegossipatthesquires'table.” “Behewhohemight,hewasaveryhardygentleman.ButIhaveataskhere,Alleyne,whichishardertomethanaughtthatwassetbeforemeyesterday.” “CanIhelpyou,mylord?” “Thatindeedyoucan.IhavebeenwritingmygreetingstomysweetwifeforIhearthatamessengergoesfromtheprincetoSouthamptonwithintheweek,andhewouldgladlytakeapacketforme.Iprayyou,Alleyne,tocastyoureyesuponwhatIhavewritten,andseeittheyaresuchwordsasmyladywillunderstand.Myfingers,asyoucansee,