CHAPTER XXV. HOW SIR NIGEL WROTE TO TWYNHAM CASTLE.

aremoreusedtoironandleatherthantothedrawingofstrokesandturningofletters.Whatthen?Isthereaughtamiss,thatyoushouldstareso?” “Itisthisfirstword,mylord.Inwhattonguewereyoupleasedtowrite?” “InEnglishformyladytalksitmorethanshedothFrench. “YetthisisnoEnglishword,mysweetlord.Herearefourt'sandneveraletterbetwixtthem.” “BySt.Paul!itseemedstrangetomyeyewhenIwroteit,”saidSirNigel.“Theybristleuptogetherlikeaclumpoflances.Wemustbreaktheirranksandsetthemfartherapart.Thewordis'that.'NowIwillreadittoyou,Alleyne,andyoushallwriteitoutfairforweleaveBordeauxthisday,anditwouldbegreatjoytometothinkthattheLadyLoringhadwordfromme.” Alleynesatdownasordered,withapeninhishandandafreshsheetofparchmentbeforehim,whileSirNigelslowlyspelledouthisletter,runninghisforefingeronfromwordtoword. “Thatmyheartiswiththee,mydearsweeting,iswhatthineownheartwillassuretheeof.Alliswellwithushere,savethatPepinhaththemangeonhisback,andPommershathscarceyetgotclearofhisstiffnessfrombeingfourdaysonship-board,andthemoresobecausetheseawasveryhigh,andwewereliketofounderonaccountofaholeinherside,whichwasmadebyastonecastatusbycertainsea-rovers,whomaythesaintshaveintheirkeeping,fortheyhavegonefromamongstus,ashasyoungTerlake,andtwo-scoremarinersandarchers,whowouldbethemorewelcomehereasthereisliketobeaveryfinewar,withmuchhonorandallhopesofadvancement,forwhichIgotogathermyCompanytogether,whoarenowatMontaubon,wheretheypillageanddestroyyetIhopethat,byGod'shelp,ImaybeabletoshowthatIamtheirmaster,evenas,mysweetlady,Iamthyservant.” “Howofthat,Alleyne?”continuedSirNigel,blinkingathissquire,withanexpressionofsomeprideuponhisface.“HaveInottoldherallthathathbefallenus?” “Youhavesaidmuch,myfairlordandyet,ifImaysayso,itissomewhatcrowdedtogether,sothatmyLadyLoringcan,mayhap,scarcefollowit.Wereitinshorterperiods——” “Nay,itbootsmenothowyoumarshalthem,aslongastheyareallthereatthemuster.Letmyladyhavethewords,andshewillplacetheminsuchorderaspleasesherbest.ButIwouldhaveyo