Evening star., 1905-11-05
Z :yE
CHAPTER xxx.
How the Blessed Hour Of Sight Came
to the Lady Tiphaine.

to the Lady Tiphaine.
Sir Tristram de Rochefort. Seneschal Of
Auvergne and Lord of Villefranche, was
fierce and renowned soldier who had
grown gray in the English wars. AS lord
of the marches and guardian of an exposed
countryside, there was little rest for him
even In times of so-called peace, and his
whole life was spent in raids and outfalls
Upon the Brabanters, latecomers, fayers.
free companions, and rowing archers who
wandered over his province. At times he
would come back in triumph. and dozen
corpses swinging from the summit Of his
keep would warn evil-doers that there was
still a law in the land. At others his VEN
lures were not so happy, and he and his
troop would spur it over the draw bridge
with clatter of hoofs hard at their heels and
whistle of arrows about their ears. Hard
he was of hand and harder OF heart. hated
by his foes. and yet not loved by those
whom he protected. for twice he had been
taken prisoner, and twice his ransom had
been wrung by dint of blows and tortures
out of the starving peasants and ruined
farmers Wolves or watch dogs, it was
hard to say from which the sheep had most
t) fear.
The castle of Villefranche was harsh and
S a
outer wall turreted at the corners, with
q great black keep towering above also
1t lay before them in the moonlight. BY
the light of two flambeaus, protruded
through the narrow slit-shaped openings at
either side of the ponderous gate. they
caught a glimpse of the glitter of fierce
eyes and of the gleam of the weapons of
the guard. The sight of the two-headed
eagle of Du Guescln, however, was pass
port into any fortalice in France, and ere
they had passed the gate the old border
knight came running forward with hands
out-thrown to greet his famous country
man. Nor was he less glad to see Sir Nigel,
when the Engishman's errand was eN-
planned to him, for these archers had been
a sore thorn in his side and had routed
two expeditions which he had sent against
them. A happy day 1t would be for the
Seneschal of Auvergne when they should
learn that the last yew bow was over the
marches.
The material for a feast was ever at
hand In days when, If there was grim
want In the cottage. there was at least
rude plenty in the castle. Within
an hour the guests were seated
around board which creaked under the
great pasties and joints of meat, varied py
those more dainty dishes in which the
French excelled, the spiced ortolan and the
truffied beccaficoes. The Lady Rochefort,
a bright and laughter-loving dame, sat
upon the left of her warlike spouse. with
Lady Tiphaine upon the right; Heheaan .,a
Amory Monticourt of the Order Of the Hos
pitallers and Sir Otto Harnit, wandering
knight from the kingdom of Bohemia.
These with Alleyne and Ford, four trencn
squires and the castle chaplain. made the
company who sat together that night and
made good cheer in the Castle OF Vilie-
franche. The great fire cracked in the
crate, the hooded hawks slept upon their
perches, the rough deer hounds with ex-
pectant eyes crouched upon the tiled floor;
close at the elbows OF the guests stood the
dapper little Hlac-coated pages; the laugh
and jest circled round, and all was har-
ynony and comfort. Little they rocked OF
the brushwood men who crouched in their
rags along the fringe of the forest and
looked with wild and haggard eyes at the
rich warm glow which shot a golden bar
of light from the high arched windows or
the castle.
Supper over. the tables dormant were
cleared away as by magic. and trestles and
bancals arranged around the blazing fire.
for there was bitter nip in the air The
Lady Tiphaine had sunk back in her cush-
ioned chair. and her long. dark lashes
dropped low over her sparkling eyes AL
leyne, glancing at her. noted that her
breath came quick and short, and that her
cheeks had blanched to a lily white. Du
GuesclIn eyed her keenly from time to
time, and passed his brquf brown fingers
through his crisp, curly b TX hair with the
air OF d man who is perplexed in his mind.
These folk here" said the knight of Bo-
hemia, s'they do not seem too well fed
"Ah. canailer' cried the Lord OF VILE
franche ssYou would scarce credit II, and