Evening star., 1905-10-05
THE WHITE COMPANY
BY A. CONAN DOYLE.

middle-aged gleeman. clad in faded garb
OF Norwich cloth, the tunic of which was
SO outgrown that 1t did not fasten at the
len and coarse. and his watery, protrudng
eyes spoke of life which never wan-
dered very far from the wine pot. A gilt
harp, blotched with many stains and with
two of its strings missing, was tucked under
one or his arms, while with the other he
scooped greedily at his platter. Next to
him sat two other men of about the same
age. one with trimming of fur to his
coat. which gave him dignity which was
evidently dearer to him than his comfort.
for he still Grew 1t round him. in spite of
the hot glare of the fagots. The other.
clad in dirty russet suit with long,
sweeping doublet, had cunning foxy face
with keen, twinkling eyes and a peaky
beard. Next to him sat Horde John, and
beside him three other rough, unkempt fell
lows with tangled boards and matted hair
free laborers from the adjoining farms,
where small patches Of freehold property
had been suffered to remain scattered about
In the heart of the royal demesne-> The
company was completed by peasant in a
rude dress of undyed sheepskin, with the
old-fashioned galligaskins about his legs.
and gayiy dressed young man with striped
cloak jagged at the edges and parti-colored
hesen. who looked about him with high
disdaln upon his face. ano held a blue SMELL
ing flask to his nose with one hand, while
he brandished busy spoon with the other.
In the corner q very fat man was lying
all a-sprawl upon truss. snoring ster-
torously. and evidently in the last stage of
drunkenness.
lady, sitting down beside Alleyne, and
pointing with the ladle to the sleeping man.
That is he who paints the signs and the
tokens. Aiack and alas that ever should
have been fool enough to trust him! Now,
young man, what manner of bird would
you suppose pied merlin to be-that being
the proper sign of my hostei?'
Why" said Alleyne, "a merlin is a bird
=, Far oil or "a
I can we'll remember that learned Brother
Bartholomew, who is deep in all the secrets
of nature. pointed one out to me as we
walked together near Vinney Ridge.
"A falcon or an eagle, quotha? And pied.
that is of two several caiors. So any man
would say. except this barrel of lies. He
came to me. look you, saying that
IL would furnish him with a gal
lon of ale, wherewith to strengthen
himself as he worked, and also the
pigments and board. he would paint
for me noble pied merlin which L might
hang along with the blazonry over my
door. l. poor, simple fool. gave him the
ale and ali that he craved, leaving him
alone, too, because he said that a mans
mind must be left untroubled wnen he had
great work to do. When l came back the
gallon jar was empty, and he lay as you
see him, with the board in front of him
with this sorry device.
She raised up panel which was leaning
against the wall and showed a rude paint
ing of scraggy and angular fowl, with
very long legs and a spotted body.
'Was that she asked. like the bird
which thou hast seen?''
Alleyne shook his head, smiling.
NO nor any other bird that ever wagged
a feather. 1t is most like a plucked pullet
which has died of the spotted fever. And
scarlet, too! What would the gentles, Sir
Nicholas Boarhunte, or Sir Bernard Bro
cas- of Roche Court, say If they saw such
a thng-or perhaps, even the kings own
majesty himself, who often has ridden past
this way, and who loves his falcons as he
loves his sons? 1t would be the downfall
of my house"
1.-THE matter is not past mendng," said
Alleyne. Il pray you, good dame. to give
me those three pigment pots and the brush.
and 1 shall try whether l cannot better
this painting"
CTo be continued tomorrow)