The sun., 1891-06-21
THE WHITE COMPANY.
BY CON AN DOYLE.
CHAPTER XVIII.
CHAPTER AVIII
How sIn NIGEL LoRtNa PUT A PAroH uPoN
HIS EYE.

How SIR NIGEL LoBtNa PUT A PArcH urol
HIS EYE
It was on tho morning OF Friday. the eight
snd-twentisth dav OF November. two days b.
fore the feast OF St. Andrew. that the cog ant
her two prisoners after weary tackinG NJ
the Gironde and the daronne, dropped ancho
at last in front OF the noble city OF Bordeaux
with wonder and admiration Alleyns, leaning
over the bulwarks, gazed at the forest o
mssts. the swarm Of boats darting hithsr and
thither on the bosom OF the broad curvipR
stream, and the gray orescent-shaped citI
which stretched with many tower and minare
along tho western shore. Never had he In his
auiet life seen so great o town. nor was there
n thevhole OF England. save London alone
one which might match Il in size or In wealth.
Hero came the merchandise OF all the fail
countries which are wstered by the 9aron ne
and the Dordogne-the cloths OF tho south. the
skins OF Guienne. tho wines OF the Medoc-to
be borne away to Hull, Exeter, Dartmouth.
Bristol. or Chester. in exchange for the woods
and woolfels OF England. Here. too. dwell
those famous smelters and welders who had
made the Bordeaux steel the most trusty upon
earth. and could give q tenpor to lance or to
sword which might mean dear life to its owner.
Alleyne could see the smoke Of their forces
'reeking up in the clear morning air. The
storm had died down now to . gentle breeze.
WNlCU WbItou 10 uIb 0hES tu0 iOuRsuEhWu Btlts
ring buRle calls which sounded from the an
eient ramparts.
"HolA. mon petiti" said Aylward. coming mp
20 where he stood. "Thou art . squire now.
and like enough to win the golden spurs. while
! am still the master bowman, and master
bowman shall bide. I dare scarce waR my
tongue so freely with you as whom We tramped
together past Wilverey Chase. else might Be
your guide now. for indeed know every house
IN Bordeaux as a friar knows his rosary"
NAY. Aylward." said Alleyne. laying his
hand upon tho sleeve OF his companion's .
frayed jerkin, you cannot think me 90 thrall
as to throw aside an old friend because have
had some small share OF good fortuna. I take
It unkind that you should have thought such
evil OF me-"
"Nay. mon gar. Twas but Q flight shot to
see II the wind blew steady. though were .
rogue to doubt it."
why. had I not mot you. Aylward. at the
Lyndhurst inn. who can say where had now
been! Certes. had not gone to Twynham
Castle nor become squire to Sir Nigel. nor
met -" Re paused abruptly and flushed to
his hair. but the bowman was too busy with
his own thoughts to notice his young com.
panion's embarrassment.
It was a good hostel. that Of the Pied Msr-
lin.' he remarked. by my ten finger bonesl
when hang bow on nail and change my brig.
andine for tunic. might do worse than take
over the dame and her business"
II thought" said Alleyne. that you wore
betrothed to some one at Christohurch."
ITO three" Aylward answered moodily. ito
three. I fear may not go back to Christ
church. / might chance to see hotter service
In Hampshire than have ever done In Gascony.
But mark you now yonder lofty turret In tho
centre. which stands back from the river
and hath q broad banner upon the summit
See the rising sun flashes full upon 1t and
sparkles on the golden lions. 'Tis tho royal
banner OF England. crossed by the PRINCES
label. There he dwells in tho Abbey OF st.
Andrew. where he hath kent his court these
years back. Beside 1t is the minister Of tho
same saint who hath the town under his very
special care"
"Anl how Of yon gray turret ON the lsft1"
"'Ts the fame OF St Michael. as that upon
tho right is Of st. Remi. There. too. above
the poop Of yonder nief. you see the towers Of
Saint CroIx and OF Pey Berand Mark also tho
mighty ramparts which are pier sod BY tho three
water gates. and sixteen others to the land
ward side"
And how Is It. good Aylward. that there
comes so much music from the town. seem
to hear q hundred trumpets all calling In
chorus"
1T would be strange else. seeing that all
within The walls aud each would have his
trumpeter blow as loud as his neiRhbor. lost 1t
might be thought that bis dignity had been
abated. Ma fol they mako as much loustsr
as q Scotch army. where every man fllls him
self with girdle cakes. and sits up all night to
blow upon the toodle pipe. See all along the
banks how the pages water the horses. and
there beyond the town how they gallop them
over the plain For every horse you see q
belted knight hath herberSaRe In tho town.
for. I learn the men-at-arms and archers
have airendy gone forward to Dax."
% trust. Ayiward." said Sir Nigel. coming
upon deck. that tho mon are ready for the
land. CO tell them that the boats will bs for
them within the hour"
The archer raised his hand In salute. and
hnstene forward. In tho mean time Sir Oliver |
Ind followed his brother knigh' and the two |
pa el the poop together. Sir Nigel IN his plum
co!ored velvot suit and fiat cap OF the same.
ndornol In front it'll the Lady Lorng's glovs !
and grt round with curling ostrich feather. |
The lustv knight. on the other hand. was clad |
In tho very latest mode. with c5te-hardie, |
donbe pourDoint. courtpie. and pa atock OF
olive green. picked out with pink and jagged |
at the ieeS. A roll chaperon or cap. with |
10 e hanGing cornette. sat daintily on the
back o. his black-curled head. while his gold
liued ahneS were twisted up Il la pduldine,
a. |! tie toes were shooting forth q tendrl
which might hope in time 10 entwine itself
around his massive leg.
"pnce more. sir Oliver" said Sir Nigel. look
ing shoreward with sparkling eyes. do We
find ourselves at the gate ~ honor. the door
which hath so often I'D US 10 all that Is nightly
and worthy. There flies the princes banner,
and ii would be we'll that we haste ashore and
pav our oUcisance TO him. The boats al eady
swarm from the bank"
There Is goodly hostel near tho west gate,
which s famed for The stewlng OF spiced pul.
let's" remarked Sir Oliver. I'VE might take
The edge OF our hunger Off ore we seek the
primes. for though his tables are gay with
tamask and silver he Is no trencherman him
self, and hath no sympathy for those who arc
his bettcrs."
:" His tetters p
Ills betters before the tranchoir. lad. BniY
not eason where mono Is meant have seen
him smile in his quiet way because had
ooked for the fourth time toward tho carving
'luire. Andindeed. to watch him dallying with
! little gobbot of bread. or slipping his cup OF