The Cloister and the Hearth: A Tale of the Middle Ages by Charles Reade

  CHAPTER XLI

  DENYS, placed in the middle of his companions, lest he should be so madas attempt escape, was carried off in an agony of grief and remorse. Forhis sake Gerard had abandoned the German route to Rome; and what was hisreward? left all alone in the centre of Burgundy. This was the thoughtwhich maddened Denys most, and made him now rave at heaven and earth,now fall into a gloomy silence so savage and sinister that it was deemedprudent to disarm him. They caught up their leader just outside thetown, and the whole cavalcade drew up and baited at the "Tete d'Or."

  The young landlady, though much occupied with the count, and still morewith the Bastard, caught sight of Denys, and asked him somewhatanxiously what had become of his young companion?

  Denys, with a burst of grief, told her all, and prayed her to send afterGerard. "Now he is parted from me, he will maybe listen to my rede,"said he; "poor wretch he loves not solitude."

  The landlady gave a toss of her head. "I trow I have been somewhatover-kind already," said she, and turned rather red.

  "You will not?"

  "Not I."

  "Then,"--and he poured a volley of curses and abuse upon her.

  She turned her back upon him, and went off whimpering, and saying shewas not used to be cursed at; and ordered her hind to saddle two mules.

  Denys went north with his troop, mute and drooping over his saddle, and,quite unknown to him, that veracious young lady made an equestriantoilet in only forty minutes, she being really in a hurry, and spurredaway with her servant in the opposite direction.

  * * * * *

  At dark, after a long march, the Bastard and his men reached "the WhiteHart;" their arrival caused a prodigious bustle, and it was some timebefore Manon discovered her old friend among so many. When she did, sheshowed it only by heightened colour. She did not claim the acquaintance.The poor soul was already beginning to scorn.

  "The base degrees by which she did ascend."

  Denys saw, but could not smile. The inn reminded him too much of Gerard.

  Ere the night closed the wind changed. She looked into the room andbeckoned him with her finger. He rose sulkily, and his guards with him.

  "Nay, I would speak a word to thee in private." She drew him to a cornerof the room, and there asked him under her breath, would he do her akindness.

  He answered out loud, "No, he would not, he was not in the vein to dokindnesses to man or woman. If he did a kindness it should be to a dog:and not that if he could help it."

  "Alas, good archer, I did you one eftsoons, you and your prettycomrade," said Manon, humbly.

  "You did, dame, you did; well then, for his sake--what is't to do?"

  "Thou knowest my story. I had been unfortunate. Now I am worshipful. Buta woman did cast him in my teeth this day. And so 'twill be ever whilehe hangs there. I would have him ta'en down; well-a-day!"

  "With all my heart."

  "And none dare I ask but thee. Wilt do't?"

  "Not I, even were I not a prisoner."

  On this stern refusal the tender Manon sighed, and clasped her palmstogether despondently. Denys told her she need not fret. There weresoldiers of a lower stamp, who would not make two bites of such acherry. It was a mere matter of money; if she could find two angels, hewould find two soldiers to do the dirty work of the "White Hart."

  This was not very palatable. However, reflecting that soldiers werebirds of passage, drinking here to-night, knocked on the head thereto-morrow, she said, softly, "Send them out to me. But prithee, tellthem that 'tis for one that is my friend; let them not think 'tis forme. I should sink into th' earth; times are changed."

  Denys found warriors glad to win an angel apiece so easily. He sent themout, and instantly dismissing the subject with contempt, sat brooding onhis lost friend.

  Manon and the warriors soon came to a general understanding. But whatwere they to do with the body when taken down? She murmured, "The riveris nigh the--the--place."

  "Fling him in, eh?"

  "Nay, nay; be not so cruel! Could ye not put him--gently--in--withsomewhat weighty?"

  She must have been thinking on the subject in detail; for she was notone to whom ideas came quickly.

  All was speedily agreed, except the time of payment. The mail-claditched for it, and sought it in advance. Manon demurred to that.

  What, did she doubt their word? then let her come along with them, orwatch them at a distance.

  "Me?" said Manon, with horror. "I would liever die than see it done."

  "Which yet you would have done."

  "Ay, for sore is my need. Times are changed." She had already forgottenher precept to Denys.

  * * * * *

  An hour later the disagreeable relic of caterpillar existence ceased tocanker the worshipful matron's public life, and the grim eyes of thepast to cast malignant glances down into a white hind's clover field.

  Total. She made the landlord an average wife, and a prime house-dog, andoutlived everybody.

  Her troops, when they returned from executing with mediaeval naivete theprecept "Off wi' the auld love," received a shock. They found themarket-place black with groups; it had been empty an hour ago.Conscience smote them. This came of meddling with the dead. However, thebolder of the two, encouraged by the darkness, stole forward alone, andslily mingled with a group: he soon returned to his companion, saying,in a tone of reproach not strictly reasonable,

  "Ye born fool, it is only a miracle."