Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-10-28
CHAPTER XXI.
How Agostino Pisano Risked his
Head

Head.
Even the souires' table at the Abbey OF
ST Andrews. at Bordeaux, was on a very
sumptuous scale while the prince held his
court there. Here first, after the meager
fare of Reaul!eu and the stnted board of
the Lady Loring, Alleyne learned the
lengths to which luxury and refinement
might be pushed. Roasted peacocks, with
the feathers all carefully replaced, so that
the bird lay upon the dish even as it had
strutted in life, boars heads with tusks
silded and the mouth lined with silver foil,
jelies in the shape of the twelve Apostles,
and a great pastry which formed an ex-
act model OF the kings new castle at Wind
sor-theSe were a few of the strange dlshes
which faced him. An archer had brought
him a change of clothes from the cog ana
he had already, with the elasticity OF youth,
shaken off the troubles and fatgues OF the
morning 4 page from the inner banquet
ing hall had come with word that their mas
ter intended to drink wine at the lodgings
of the Lord Chandos that night, and that he
desired his squires to sleep at the hotel OF
the Half Moon on the Rue des Apotres
Thther. then, they both set out in the twi-
light, after the long course of Juggling
tricks and glee singing with which the prin-
cipal meal was concluded
a thin rain was falling as the two youths
with their Cloaks over their heads, made
their way foot through the streets OF
the old town, leaving their horses in the
royal stables. An occasional oil lamp at
the corner of a street, or in the portico of
some wealthy burgher, threw faint gllm-
mer over the shining cobblestones, and the
varied motley crowd VINO, in spite or the
weat Their, ebbed and flowed along every
highway In those scattered circles of dim
radiance might be seen the whole busy pam
Drama of life in a wealthy and martial city
Here passed the round-faced burgher, swol-
len with prosperity, his sweeping, dark
ca
leather belt. and dangling pouch all speak
ing of comfort and of wealth. Behind him
his serving wench her blue whimple over
her head, and one hand thrust forth to bear
the lanthorn which threw golden bar of
light along her masters path. Behind them
a group of staggering, half-drunken YORK
shire dalesmen, speaking dialect which
their own southland countrymen could
scarce comprehend, their jenkins marked
with the pelican. which showed that they
had come over in the train of the north
country Stapletons. The burgher glanced
back at their fierce faces and quickened his
step, while the girl pulled her whimple
closer round her, for there was meaning
in their wild eyes, they stared at the
purse and the maiden, which men OF all
tongues could understand. Then came
archers of the guard, shrll-voced women
of the camp, English pages with their fair
skins and blue, wondering eyes, dark
robed friars, lounging men-at-arms, sWarthy,
loud-tongued Gascon serving men, seamen
from the river rude peasants of the Me
doc and becloaked and befeathered squires
Of the court, all jostling and pushing in an
ever-changtng, many-colored stream, While
English French, Welsh, Basque and the
varied dialects of Gascony and Guenne
filled the air with their babel From time
to time the throng would be burst asunder
and a lady's horse litter would trot past
toward the abbey, or there would come
knot of torch-tearing archers walking in
front of Gascon baron or English knight
as he sought his lodgings after the palace
revels Chatter of hoofs, clinking of wea-
pons shouts from the drunken brawlers
and high laughter of women, they all rose
up. like the mist from a marsh, out of the
crowded streets of the dim-lit city.
One couple out of the moving throng es-
pecially engaged the attention of the two
young squires. the more so as they were
going in their own direction and imme-
diately in front of them. They consisted of
a man and a girl, the former very tall with
rounded shoulders, a limp of one foot, and
large fiat object covered with dark cloth
under his arm. His companion was young
and straight, with quick, elastic step and
graceful bearing, though so swathed in q
black mantle that little could be seen of her
face save d flash of dark eyes and a curve
of raven hair. The tall man leaned heavily
upon her to take the weight off his tender
foot while he held his burden betwixt him.
self and the wall cuddling 1t jealousy to
his side, and thrusting forward his young
companion to act as a buttresS whenever
the pressure of the crowd threatened to
bear him away. The evident anxiety of
the man, the appearance of his attendant,
and the joint care with which they de-
Tended their concealed possession excited
the interest of the two young Englishmen
who walked within hand touch of them.
Courage, child!' they heard the tall man
exclaim in strange hybrid French. IF we
can win another sixty PAGES We are safe"
Hold Ii safe, father" the other answered.
in the same soft, mincing dialect I'VE
have no cause to fear.
Verify they are heathens and barba-
rians," cried the man: mad, bowling,
drunken barbariansi Forty more PAGES, Tfta
mia, and l swear TO the holy Eloi, patron
of all learned craftsmen, that / will never
set foot over my door again until the whole
swarm are safely hived in their camp at
OAK, or wherever else they curse with
their presence. Twenty more PAGES, my
TREASURED An. my God! how they push and
brawl! Get in their way, Tita miai Put
your little elbow bravely out! Set your
shoulders squarely against them, girl. Why
should you give way TO these mad islanders
All, cospetto, we are ruined and destroyed"
The crowd had thickened in front, so that
the lame man and the girl had come to a
stand. Several half-drunken English arch
ers, attracted, JAe squires had BEEN by
their singular appearance, were facing to-
ward them. and peering at them through
the dim light
by the three kings" cried one here is
an old dotard shrew to have so goodly a
crutch Use the leg that God hath given
you; man, and do not bear so heavily upon
the wench."
Twenty devils fly away with himn'
shouted another. What how man! are
brave archers to go madless while an old
man uses one as a walking Staff"
Come with me. my honey bird" cried a
third, plucking al he girls mantle
Nay, with me, my hearts desired" said
the first. by St. George! our life is short,
and we should be merry while we may
May | never see Chester Bridge again, if
she Is not a right winsome LASS"
What hath the old toad under his arm?'
cried one of the others He hugs 1t to him
as the devil Rugged The pardoner."
Let US see. cd bag of bones; let us see
what 1t is that you have under your arm.'
lhey crowded in upon In, while he igno-
rant of their language. could but clutch the
girl with one hand and the parcel with the
other, looking wildly about In search of
help.
Nay. lads, nayn,. cried Ford. pushing
back the nearest archer. This is but scurvy
conduct Keep your hands. off, or il will be
the worse for you"
Keep yoyr tonp,,e stiu <,r 3. x,,i,i -. 81.