Evening star., 1905-11-06
CHAPTER xxx.
How the Brushwood Men Came to the
Chauteau of Villefranche.


carried Sir Nigel the goblet of spiced wine
which 1t was his custom to drink after the
curling of his hair. was able at last to seek
his chamber. 1t was stone-hagged room
upon the second floor, with a bed in re
cess for him, and two smaller pallets on
the other side on which Aylward and Hor-
die John were already snoring. Alleyne
had knelt down to his evening prisons,
when there came a tap at his door, ana
Ford entered with a small! lamp in his hand.
His face was deathly pale and his hand
shook until the shadows fiickered up ana
down the wall.
what is II, Ford?' cried Alleyne, spring
ing to his feet. ,
II can scarce tell you" said he, sitting
down on the SIDE of the couch, and resting
his chin upon his hand. Il know not Wnat
to say or what to think.
HAS aught befallen you, them?
Yes, or l have been slave to my own
fancy l tell you, lad, that l am all un-
done. like fretted bow-string. Hark
hither. Alleyne! It cannot be that you have I'VE
forgotten little Tita, the daughter or the
old glass-stainer at Bordeaux?
Il remember her we'll
she and l, Alleyne broke the lucky
groat together ere parted and she wears
my ring upon her finger. caro- mlo, quoth
she when last parted, L SHAH be near
thee in the wars and thy danger Will be my
danger Aueyne. as God is my help as L
came up the stairs this night l saw her
stand before me, her face in tears, her
hands out as though in warming saw II,
Alleyne even as | see those TWO archers
upon their couches Our very finger-tips
seemed to meet ere she th!nned away ike
a mist in the sunshine.
'I would not give overmuch thought to
it, answered Alleyne. ''Our minds will
play us strange pranks, and bethnk you
that these words of the Lady Tiphalne du
Guescln have wrought upon us and shaken
U.S."
Ford shook his head.
II saw little Tita clearly as though L
were back at the Rue des Apotres at Bor-
deaux," said he. But the hour Is late,
and l must go"
Where do you sleep. them .,o
"In the chamber above you. May the
saints be with us all!'
He rose from the couch and left the
chamber, while Alleyne could hear his 1eet
sounding upon the winding starr Inc
young squire walked across to the wlndoW
and gazed out at the moonlit landscape. MS
mind absorbed by the thought of the Lazy
Tiphaine and Of the strange words that she
had spoken as TO what was gong forward u
at Castle Twynham. Leaning his elbows
upon the stone work, he was deeply
plunged in reverie, when in moment MS
thoughts were brought back to Villefranche
and to the scene before him.
Ihe window at which he stood was in the
second floor of that portion of the castle
which was nearest to the keep. In front
lay the broad moat, with the moon lying
upon It's surface, now clear and round, now
drawn lengthw as the breeze stirred the
waters. Beyond the plain sloped down TO
a thick wood while further to the lef q
second wood shut out the view. Between
the two an open glade stretched silvered
in the moonshine, with the river curv1ng
across the lower end of 1t.
AS he gazed he saw of a sudden man
steal forth from the wood into the open
clearing. He walked with his head sunk.
his shoulders curved and his knees bent, as
one who strives hard to remain unseen.
Ten PAGES from the fringe of trees he
glanced around, and waving his hand, he
crouched down and was lost to sight among
belt of furze bushes. After him there
came second man, and after him third.
a fourth and fifth, stealing across the
narrow open space and darting into the
shelter of the brushwood Nine -and-seventy
Alleyne counted of these dark figures fit
ting across the line of the moonlight. many
bore huge burdens upon their backs. though
what 1t was that they carried ne could not
tell at the distance. Out OF the one wood
and into the other they passed. all with the
same crouching, furtive gait, until the
black bristle of trees had swallowed up the
last OF them.
dow, still staring down at the silent forest.
uncertain TO what ne should think OF
these midnight walkers. Their he bethought
him that there was one beside him who was
filter to judge on such a matter. His fin
gers had scarce rested upon Aylward' s
shoulder ere the bowman was on his feet
with his hand outstretched to his sword.
"Qui var he cried. "Holai mon petit.
By my hiIt! thought there had been a
canlisade What then, mon gar?"
Come hither by the window, Ayiward, = ;
said Aleyne. \ have Aoo1 1ourocoro men