CHAPTER XXIX. HOW THE BLESSED HOUR OF SIGHT CAME TO THE LADY TIPHAINE.

,orthethumbikinsforanhour,thanpayoutadenierfortheirownfeudalfatherandliegelord.Yetthereisnotoneofthembuthathanoldstockingfullofgoldpieceshidawayinasnugcorner.” “Whydotheynotbuyfoodthen?”askedSirNigel.“BySt.Paul!itseemedtometheirboneswerebreakingthroughtheirskin.” “Itistheirgrutchingandgrumblingwhichmakesthemthin.Wehaveasayinghere,SirNigel,thatifyoupummelJacquesBonhommehewillpatyou,butifyoupathimhewillpummelyou.DoubtlessyoufinditsoinEngland.” “Mafoi,no!”saidSirNigel.“IhavetwoEnglishmenofthisclassinmytrain,whoareatthisinstant,Imakelittledoubt,asfullofyourwineasanycaskinyourcellar.Hewhopummelledthemmightcomebysuchapatashewouldbelikelytoremember.” “Icannotunderstandit,”quoththeseneschal,“fortheEnglishknightsandnobleswhomIhavemetwerenotmentobrooktheinsolenceofthebaseborn.” “Perchance,myfairlord,thepoorfolkaresweeterandofabettercountenanceinEngland,”laughedtheLadyRochefort.“MonDieu!youcannotconceivetoyourselfhowuglytheyare!Withouthair,withoutteeth,alltwistedandbentforme,IcannotthinkhowthegoodGodevercametomakesuchpeople.Icannotbearit,I,andsomytrustyRaoulgoeseverbeforemewithacudgeltodrivethemfrommypath.” “Yettheyhavesouls,fairlady,theyhavesouls!”murmuredthechaplain,awhite-hairedmanwithaweary,patientface. “SoIhaveheardyoutellthem,”saidthelordofthecastle“andformyself,father,thoughIamatruesonofholyChurch,yetIthinkthatyouwerebetteremployedinsayingyourmassandinteachingthechildrenofmymen-at-arms,thaningoingoverthecountry-sidetoputideasinthesefolks'headswhichwouldneverhavebeentherebutforyou.Ihaveheardthatyouhavesaidtothemthattheirsoulsareasgoodasours,andthatitislikelythatinanotherlifetheymaystandashighastheoldestbloodofAuvergne.Formypart,Ibelievethattherearesomanyworthyknightsandgallantgentlemeninheavenwhoknowhowsuchthingsshouldbearranged,thatthereislittlefearthatweshallfindourselvesmixedupwithbaseroturiersandswine-herds.Tellyourbeads,father,andconyourpsalter,butdonotcomebetweenmeandthosewhomthekinghasgiventome!” “Godhelpthem!”criedtheoldpriest.“AhigherKingthanyourshasgiventhemtome,andItellyouhereinyourowncastlehall,SirTristramdeRochefort,thatyouhavesinneddeeplyinyourdealingswiththesepoorfolk,andthatthehourwillcome,andmayevennowbeathand,whenGod'shandwillbeheavyuponyouforwhatyouhavedone.”Heroseashespoke,andwalkedslowlyfromtheroom. “Pesttakehim!”criedtheFrenchknight.“Now,whatisamantodowithapriest,SirBertrand?—foronecanneitherfighthimlikeamannorcoaxhimlikeawoman.” “Ah,SirBertrandknows,thenaughtyone!”criedtheLadyRochefort.“HavewenotallheardhowhewenttoAvignonandsqueezedfiftythousandcrownsoutofthePope.” “Mafoi!”saidSirNigel,lookingwithamixtureofhorrorandadmirationatDuGuesclin.“Didnotyourheartsinkwithinyou?Wereyounotsmittenwithfears?Haveyounotfeltacursehangoveryou?” “Ihavenotobservedit,”saidtheFrenchmancarelessly.“ButbySaintIves!Tristram,thischaplainofyoursseemstometobeaworthyman,andyoushouldgiveheedtohiswords,forthoughIcarenothingforthecurseofabadpope,itwouldbeagrieftometohaveaughtbutablessingfromagoodpriest.” “Harktothat,myfairlord,”criedtheLadyRochefort.“Takeheed,Ipraythee,forIdonotwishtohaveablightcastoverme,norapalsyofthelimbs.IrememberthatoncebeforeyouangeredFatherStephen,andmytire-womansaidthatIlostmorehairinsevendaysthaneverbeforeinamonth.” “Ifthatbesignofsin,then,bySaintPaul!Ihavemuchuponmysoul,”saidSirNigel,amidagenerallaugh.“Butinverytruth,SirTristram,ifImayventureawordofcounsel,Ishouldadvisethatyoumakeyourpeacewiththisgoodman.” “Heshallhavefoursilvercandlesticks,”saidtheseneschalmoodily.“AndyetIwouldthathewouldleavethefolkalone.Youcannotconceiveinyourmindhowstubbornandbrainlesstheyare.Mulesandpigsarefullofreasonbeside