Evening star., 1905-11-05
THE WHITE COMPANY
BY A. CONAN DOYLE.

yet 1t Is sooth that when 1 was taken al
Poictiers twas all that my wife and foster
brother could 90 to raise the money from
them for my ransom. The sulky dogs would
rather have three twists OF a rack or the
thumbikins for an hour than pay out a
dernier for their own feudal father and
ltege lord. Yet there Is not one of them
but hath an old stocking full of gold pieces
hid away in a snug corner"
why do they not buy food then?" asked
Sir Nigel by st. Paul! 1t seemed to me
their bones were breaking through their
skim
1T is their grutchng and grumbling
which makes them thin. We have saying
here. Sir Nigel, that If you pummel Jacques
Bonhomme he will pat you, but II you pat
him he will pummel you. Doubtless you
find 1t so in England"
Ma fol. no!' said Sir Nigel Il have
two Englishnien Of this class in my train,
who are at this instant. I make little doubt
as full OF your wine as any cask in your
cellar. He who pummeled them might
come by such a pat as he would be likely
to remember"
II cannot understand It," quoth the SEN
eschal. for the English knights and mobiles
whom l have met were not men to brook
the insolence OF the base born"
"Perchance. my fair lord, the poor folk
are sweeter and of a better countenance IN
England. laughed the Lady Rochefort.
self how ugly they are Without hair,
without teeth, all twisted and bent: for
me. cannot think how the good God ever
came to make such people. / cannot bear
1t, /. and so my trusty Raoul goes ever be-
fore me with cudgel to drive them from
my yvoa path ,hor ,,ro so,, .,
have souls! murmured the chaplain, a
whlte-hatred man with a weary, patient
face.
$50 have heard you tell them" said the
lord of the castle; "and for myself father.
though am true son Of holy church, yet
l think that you were better employed in
saving your mass and in tea ching the chill
dren OF my men-at-arms than In going over
the countryside to put ideas in these folks
heads which would never have been there
but for you. l have heard that you have
said to them that their souls are as good
as ours. and that it is likely that In another
life they may stand as high as the oldest
blood of Auvergne. For my part, believe
that there are so many worthy knights and
gallant gentlemen In heaven who know
how such things should be arranged that
there Is little fear that we shall find our
selves mixed up with base roturiers and
swine-herds. Tell your beads, father, and
con your psalter, but do not come between
me and those whom the king has given to
me!"
God help themr' cried the old priest "a
higher King than yours has given them to
me- and l will tell you here In your own
castle hall, Sir Trfstram de Rochefort that
you have sinned deeply in your dealings
with these poor folk. and that the hour Will
come. and may even now be at hand, when
Gods hand will be heavy upon you for
what you have done"
He rose as he spoke and walked slowly
from the room.
Pest take him. cried the French knight
Now, what Is man to do with priest.
Sir Bertrand?-for one can neither fight him
like a man nor coax him like a woman"
"Ah. Sir Bertrand knows, the naughty
one" cried the Lady Rochefort. Have
we not all heard how he went to Avignon
and squeezed fifty thousand crowns out Of
the pope"
Ma foil" said Sir Nigel looking with a
mixture OF horror and admiration at Du
Guesclin. did not your heart sink within
you? Were you not smitten with fears?
Have you not felt curse hang over your"
Il have not observed It," said the French
man. carelessly. But, by st. Ives! iris
tram. this chaplain Of yours seems to me
to be worthy man, and you should give
heed to his words. for though 1 care moth
ing for the curse of a bad pope 1t would
be grief to me to have aught but a bless
ing from a good priest"
''Hark to that my fair lord" cried the
Lady Rochefort. Take heed, / pray thee
for / do not wish to have a blight cast
over me. nor a palsy of the limbs I re-
member that once before you angered Faith
er Stephen. and my tire-woman said that
/ lost more hair in seven days than ever
before In month"
IF that be sign of sin. then. by st. Paul.
have much upon my SOUL" said Sir Nigel
amid a general laugh. But in very truth
Sir Tristram. II I may venture a word OF
counsel, should advise that you make
your peace Fith this good man..
He shall have four silver candleSttckD,"