CHAPTER XXX. HOW THE BRUSHWOOD MEN CAME TO THE CHATEAU OF VILLEFRANCHE.

ItwaslateereAlleyneEdricson,havingcarriedSirNigelthegobletofspicedwinewhichitwashiscustomtodrinkafterthecurlingofhishair,wasableatlasttoseekhischamber.Itwasastone-flaggedroomuponthesecondfloor,withabedinarecessforhim,andtwosmallerpalletsontheotherside,onwhichAylwardandHordleJohnwerealreadysnoring.Alleynehadkneltdowntohiseveningorisons,whentherecameatapathisdoor,andFordenteredwithasmalllampinhishand.Hisfacewasdeadlypale,andhishandshookuntiltheshadowsflickeredupanddownthewall. “Whatisit,Ford?”criedAlleyne,springingtohisfeet. “Icanscarcetellyou,”saidhe,sittingdownonthesideofthecouch,andrestinghischinuponhishand.“Iknownotwhattosayorwhattothink.” “Hasaughtbefallenyou,then?” “Yes,orIhavebeenslavetomyownfancy.Itellyou,lad,thatIamallundone,likeafrettedbow-string.Harkhither,Alleyne!itcannotbethatyouhaveforgottenlittleTita,thedaughteroftheoldglass-staineratBordeaux?” “Irememberherwell.” “SheandI,Alleyne,broketheluckygroattogetherereweparted,andshewearsmyringuponherfinger.'Caromio,'quothshewhenlastweparted,'Ishallbeneartheeinthewars,andthydangerwillbemydanger.'Alleyne,asGodismyhelp,asIcameupthestairsthisnightIsawherstandbeforeme,herfaceintears,herhandsoutasthoughinwarning—Isawit,Alleyne,evenasIseethosetwoarchersupontheircouches.Ourveryfinger-tipsseemedtomeet,ereshethinnedawaylikeamistinthesunshine.” “Iwouldnotgiveovermuchthoughttoit,”answeredAlleyne.“Ourmindswillplayusstrangepranks,andbethinkyouthatthesewordsoftheLadyTiphaineDuGuesclinhavewroughtuponusandshakenus.” Fordshookhishead.“IsawlittleTitaasclearlyasthoughIwerebackattheRuedesApotresatBordeaux,”saidhe.“Butthehourislate,andImustgo.” “Wheredoyousleep,then?” “Inthechamberaboveyou.Maythesaintsbewithusall!”Herosefromthecouchandleftthechamber,whileAlleynecouldhearhisfeetsoundinguponthewindingstair.Theyoungsquirewalkedacrosstothewindowandgazedoutatthemoonlitlandscape,hismindabsorbedbythethoughtoftheLadyTiphaine,andofthestrangewordsthatshehadspokenastowhatwasgoingforwardatCastleTwynham.Leaninghiselbowsuponthestonework,hewasdeeplyplungedinreverie,wheninamomenthisthoughtswerebroughtbacktoVillefrancheandtothescenebeforehim. Thewindowatwhichhestoodwasinthesecondfloorofthatportionofthecastlewhichwasnearesttothekeep.Infrontlaythebroadmoat,withthemoonlyinguponitssurface,nowclearandround,nowdrawnlengthwiseasthebreezestirredthewaters.Beyond,theplainslopeddowntoathickwood,whilefurthertotheleftasecondwoodshutouttheview.Betweenthetwoanopengladestretched,silveredinthemoonshine,withtherivercurvingacrossthelowerendofit. Ashegazed,hesawofasuddenamanstealforthfromthewoodintotheopenclearing.Hewalkedwithhisheadsunk,hisshoulderscurved,andhiskneesbent,asonewhostriveshardtoremainunseen.Tenpacesfromthefringeoftreesheglancedaround,andwavinghishandhecroucheddown,andwaslosttosightamongabeltoffurze-bushes.Afterhimtherecameasecondman,andafterhimathird,afourth,andafifthstealingacrossthenarrowopenspaceanddartingintothe