CHAPTER XXVIII. HOW THE COMRADES CAME OVER THE MARCHES OF FRANCE

l-will,butfortheadvancementofchivalryandthegloryofourladies.GivehimgreetingfromSirNigelLoring,andsaythattheglovewhichIbearinmycapbelongstothemostpeerlessandlovelyofhersex,whomIamnowreadytoupholdagainstanyladywhoseclaimhemightbedesirousofadvancing.” Thelandlordwashesitatingwhethertocarrythismessageorno,whenthedooroftheinnerroomwasflungopen,andthestrangerboundedoutlikeapantherfromitsden,hishairbristlingandhisdeformedfaceconvulsedwithanger. “Stillhere!”hesnarled.“DogsofEngland,mustyebelashedhence?Tiphaine,mysword!”Heturnedtoseizehisweapon,butashedidsohisgazefellupontheblazonryofsirNigel'sshield,andhestoodstaring,whilethefireinhisstrangegreeneyessoftenedintoaslyandhumoroustwinkle. “MortDieu!”criedhe,“itismylittleswordsmanofBordeaux.Ishouldrememberthatcoat-armor,seeingthatitisbutthreedayssinceIlookeduponitinthelistsbyGaronne.Ah!SirNigel,SirNigel!youowemeareturnforthis,”andhetouchedhisrightarm,whichwasgirtroundjustundertheshoulderwithasilkenkerchief. ButthesurpriseofthestrangeratthesightofSirNigelwasasnothingcomparedwiththeastonishmentandthedelightwhichshoneuponthefaceoftheknightofHampshireashelookeduponthestrangefaceoftheFrenchman.Twiceheopenedhismouthandtwicehepeeredagain,asthoughtoassurehimselfthathiseyeshadnotplayedhimatrick. “Bertrand!”hegaspedatlast.“BertrandduGuesclin!” “BySaintIves!”shoutedtheFrenchsoldier,withahoarseroaroflaughter,“itiswellthatIshouldridewithmyvizordown,forhethathasonceseenmyfacedoesnotneedtobetoldmyname.ItisindeedI,SirNigel,andhereismyhand!IgiveyoumywordthattherearebutthreeEnglishmeninthisworldwhomIwouldtouchsavewiththesharpedgeofthesword:theprinceisone,Chandosthesecond,andyouthethirdforIhaveheardmuchthatisgoodofyou.” “Iamgrowingaged,andamsomewhatspentinthewars,”quothSirNigel“butIcanlaybymyswordnowwithaneasymind,forIcansaythatIhavecrossedswordswithhimwhohaththebravestheartandthestrongestarmofallthisgreatkingdomofFrance.Ihavelongedforit,Ihavedreamedofit,andnowIcanscarcebringmymindtounderstandthatthisgreathonorhathindeedbeenmine.” “BytheVirginofRennes!youhavegivenmecausetobeverycertainofit,”saidDuGuesclin,withagleamofhisbroadwhiteteeth. “Andperhaps,mosthonoredsir,itwouldpleaseyoutocontinuethedebate.Perhapsyouwouldcondescendtogofartherintothematter.GodHeknowsthatIamunworthyofsuchhonor,yetIcanshowmyfour-and-sixtyquarterings,andIhavebeenpresentatsomebickeringsandscufflingsduringthesetwentyyears.” “Yourfameisverywellknowntome,andIshallaskmyladytoenteryournameuponmytablets,”saidSirBertrand.“Therearemanywhowishtoadvancethemselves,andwhobidetheirturn,forIrefusenomanwhocomesonsuchanerrand.Atpresentitmaynotbe,forminearmisstifffromthissmalltouch,andIwouldfaindoyoufullhonorwhenwecrossswordsagain.Comeinwithme,andletyoursquirescomealso,thatmysweetspouse,theLadyTiphaine,maysaythatshehathseensofamedandgentleaknight.” Intothechambertheywentinallpeaceandconcord,wheretheLadyTiphainesatlikequeenonthroneforeachinturntobepresentedtoher.Soothtosay,thestoutheartofSirNigel,whichcaredlittleforthewrathofherlion-likespouse,wassomewhatshakenbythecalm,coldfaceofthisstatelydame,fortwentyyearsofcamp-lifehadlefthimmoreateaseintheliststhaninalady'sboudoir.Hebethoughthim,too,ashelookedathersetlipsanddeep-setquestioningeyes,thathehadheardstrangetalesofthissameLadyTiphaineduGuesclin.Wasitnotshewhowassaidtolayhandsuponthesickandraisethemfromtheircoucheswhentheleecheshadspenttheirlastnostrums?Hadshenotforecastthefuture,andweretherenottimeswheninthelonelinessofherchambershewasheardtoholdconversewithsomebeinguponwhommortaleyeneverrested—somedarkfamiliarwhopassedwheredoorswerebarredandwindowshigh?SirNigelsunkhiseyeandmarkedacrossonthesideofhislegashegreetedthisdangerousdame,andyeterefiveminuteshadpassedhewashers,andnotheonlybuthistwoyoungsquiresaswell.Themindhadgoneoutofthem,andtheycouldbutlookatthiswomanandlistentothewordswhichfellfromherlips—wordswhichthrilledthroughtheirnervesandstirredtheirsoulslikethebattle-callofabugle. Ofteninpeacefulafter-dayswasAlleynetothinkofthatsceneofthewaysideinnofAuvergne.Theshadowsofeveninghadfallen,andthecornersofthelong,low,wood-panelledroomweredrapedindarkness.Thesputteringwoodfirethrewoutacircleofredflickeringlightwhic