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

ilAlleyneandthelandlordhadmountedonthetablethattheywereabletolifthimdown,whenhesankgaspingwithrageintoaseat,androlledhiseyesroundineverydirection. “Hashegone?”quothhe. “Gone?Who?” “He,themanwiththeredhead,thegiantman.” “Yes,”saidAlleyne,“hehathgone.” “Andcomesnotback?” “No.” “Thebetterforhim!”criedthelittleman,withalongsighofrelief.“MonDieu!What!amInotthechampionoftheBishopofMontaubon?Ah,couldIhavedescended,couldIhavecomedown,erehefled!Thenyouwouldhaveseen.Youwouldhavebeheldaspectaclethen.Therewouldhavebeenonerascalthelessuponearth.Mafoi,yes!” “GoodmasterPelligny,”saidthelandlord,“thesegentlemenhavenotgoneveryfast,andIhaveahorseinthestableatyourdisposal,forIwouldratherhavesuchbloodydoingsasyouthreatenoutsidethefourwallsofmineauberge.” “Ihurtmylegandcannotride,”quoththebishop'schampion.“IstrainedasinewonthedaythatIslewthethreemenatCastelnau.” “Godsaveyou,masterPelligny!”criedthelandlord.“Itmustbeanawesomethingtohavesomuchblooduponone'ssoul.AndyetIdonotwishtoseesovaliantamanmishandled,andsoIwill,forfriendship'ssake,rideafterthisEnglishmanandbringhimbacktoyou.” “Youshallnotstir,”criedthechampion,seizingtheinn-keeperinaconvulsivegrasp.“Ihavealoveforyou,Gaston,andIwouldnotbringyourhouseintoillrepute,nordosuchscathtothesewallsandchattelsasmustbefalliftwosuchmenasthisEnglishmanandIfalltoworkhere.” “Nay,thinknotofme!”criedtheinn-keeper.“WhataremywallswhensetagainstthehonorofFrancoisPoursuivantd'AmourPelligny,championoftheBishopofMontaubon.Myhorse,Andre!” “Bythesaints,no!Gaston,Iwillnothaveit!Youhavesaidtrulythatitisanawesomethingtohavesuchroughworkuponone'ssoul.Iambutarudesoldier,yetIhaveamind.MonDieu!Ireflect,Iweigh,Ibalance.ShallInotmeetthismanagain?ShallInotbearhiminmind?ShallInotknowhimbyhisgreatpawsandhisredhead?Mafoi,yes!” “AndmayIask,sir,”saidAlleyne,“whyitisthatyoucallyourselfchampionoftheBishopofMontaubon?” “Youmayaskaughtwhichitisbecomingtometoanswer.Thebishophathneedofachampion,because,ifanycausebesettotestofcombat,itwouldscarcebecomehisofficetogodownintothelistswithleatherandshieldandcudgeltoexchangeblowswithanyvarlet.Helooksaroundhimthenforsometriedfightingman,somehonestsmiterwhocangiveablowortakeone.Itisnotformetosayhowfarhehathsucceeded,butitissooththathewhothinksthathehathbuttodowiththeBishopofMontaubon,findshimselffacetofacewithFrancoisPoursuivantd'AmourPelligny.” Atthismomenttherewasaclatterofhoofsupontheroad,andavarletbythedoorcriedoutthatoneoftheEnglishmenwascomingback.Thechampionlookedwildlyaboutforsomecornerofsafety,andwasclamberinguptowardsthewindow,whenFord'svoicesoundedfromwithout,callinguponAlleynetohasten,orhemightscarcefindhisway.Biddingadieutolandlordandtochampion,therefore,hesetoffatagallop,andsoonovertookthetwoarchers. “Aprettythingthis,John,”saidhe.“ThouwilthaveholyChurchuponyouifyouhangherchampionsuponironhooksinaninnkitchen.” “Itwasdonewithoutthinking,”heansweredapologetically,whileAylwardburstintoashoutoflaughter. “Bymyhilt!monpetit,”saidhe,“youwouldhavelaughedalsocouldyouhaveseenit.Forthismanwassoswollenwithpridethathewouldneitherdrinkwithus,norsitatthesametablewithus,norasmuchasansweraquestion,butmustneedstalktothevarletallthetimethatitwaswelltherewaspeace,andthathehadslainmoreEnglishmenthanthereweretagstohisdoublet.OurgoodoldJohncouldscarcelayhistonguetoFrenchenoughtoanswerhim,sohemustneedsreachouthisgreathandtohimandplacehimverygentlywhereyousawhim.Butwemuston,forIcanscarceheartheirhoofsupontheroad.” “IthinkthatIcanseethemyet,”saidFord,peeringdownthemoonlitroad. “Pardieu!yes.Nowtheyrideforthfromtheshadow.AndyonderdarkclumpistheCastleofVillefranche.Enavantcamarades!orSirNigelmayreachthegatesbeforeus.Buthark,mesamis,whatsoundisthat?” Ashespokethehoarseblastofahornwasheardfromsomewoodsupontheright.Anansweringcallrungforthupontheirleft,andharduponittwoothersfrombehindthem. “Theyarethehornsofswine-herds,”quothAylward.“ThoughwhytheyblowthemsolateIcannottell.” “Letuson,then,”saidFord,andthewholeparty,settingtheirspurstotheirhorses,soonfoundthemselvesattheCastleofVillefranche,wherethedrawbridgehadalreadybeenloweredandtheportcullisraisedinresponsetothesummonsofDuGuesclin.