Evening star., 1905-10-05
CHAPTER v.
How Strange Company Gathered at
the Pied Merlin.

How a Strange Company Gathered at
the Pied Merlin.
The night had already fallen. and the
| moon was shining between the riffs of rag
ged, drifting clouds. before Alleyne Edric-
sen. footsore and weary from the unwonted
exercise, found himself In front of the for
est inn which stood upon the outskirts of
Lyndhurst. The building was long and
| low. standing back a little from the road,
with two fambeaus blazing on either side
of the door as welcome to the traveller.
From one window there thrust forth long
pole with bunch of greenery tied to the
End of it--a sign that liquor was to be sold
within. AS Alleyne walked up to 1t he per
ceived that it was rudely fashioned out OF
beams of wood, with twinkling lights all
over where the glow from within shone
through the chinks. The roof was
| contrast to it there ran all along
| under the caves a line OF wooden
shields, most gorgeously painted with chew
| ron, bend and satire. and every heraldic
device. By the door horse stood tethered,
the ruddy glow beating strongly upon his
brown head and patient eyes, while his
body stood back in the shadow.
Alleyne stood still In the roadway for a
| few minutes. rejecting upon what he
should do. 1t was. he knew, only a few
miles further to Minstead, where his broth
er dwelt. On the other hand, he had never
seen THIS DrOIner since cDlIQQOOQ, ana the
reports which had come to his ears concern
ing him were seldom to his advantage. BY
all accounts he was hard and a bitter
man.
1t might be an evil start to come to his
door so late and claim the shelter of his
roof. Better to sleep here at this inn, and
then travel on to Minstead in the morning.
If his brother would take him in, well and
good.
He would bIde with him for time and
do what he might to serve him. If. on the
other hand, he should have hardened his
heart against him. he could only go on his
way and do the best he might by his skill
as a craftsman and a scrivener. At the
,nd of year he would be free to return to
the closters. for such had been his fathers 9
bequest A monkish upbringing. one year
In the world after the age of twenty, and
then free selection one way or the other
1t was a strange course which had been
| marked out for him. Such as it was how
ever. he had no choice but to follow 1t. and
IL he were to begin by making a friend of
his brother. he had best wait until morning
before he knocked at his dwelling.
The rude plank door was ajar. but as AL
leyne approached it there came from within
such q gust of rough laughter and ciatter
of tongues, that he stood irresolute upon
the threshold. Summoning courage, how
ever, and rejecting that it was a public
dwelling, in which he had much right as
any other man. he pushed 1t open and STEP
ped into the common room.
Though it was autumn evening, and
somewhat warm, huge fire of heaped BILL
lets of wood cracked and sparkled In a
broad, open CRATE, some of the smoke es-
Gaping up a rude chimney, but the greater
part rolling out into the room, SO that the
air was thick with it, and a man coming
from without could scarce catch his breath.
On this fire a great caldron dubbed and
simmered, giving forth rich and promis-
ing smell Seated round it were dozen or
so folk, of all ages and conditions, who set
up such shout as Alleyne entered that he
ctnn nnl ing nf thnrn
uncertain what this riotous greeting might
portend.
"A rouse! a rouser' cried one rough
looking fellow in a tattered jerkin. zone
more round of mead or ale, and the score
to the last conner"
"'Tis the law of the Pied Merlin"
shouted another. ''Ho, there, Dame Eliza!
Here is fresh custom come to the house,
and not a drain for the company
Il will take your orders, gentles! / will
assuredly take your orders.' the landlady
answered, bustling in with her hands full
of leather drinking cups. What Is it that
you drink, then? Beer for the lads of the
forest mead for the gleeman, strong wa
ters for the tinker and wine for the rest.
1t is an old custom of the house. young
sir. 1t has been the use at the Pied Mer-
lin this many a year back that the COM
papy should drink to the health of the last
| conner. Is it your pleasure to humor it?"
"Wl-y. good dame" said Alleyne, Il would
not offend the customs of your house. but
1t is only sooth when l say that my purse
is thin one. AS far as twopence will go,
however, / shall be right glad to do my
part
Plainly said and bravely spoken, my
sucking friarl' roared a deep voice, and a
heavy hand fell upon Alleyne's shoulder.
Looking up. he saw beside him his former
cloister companion, the renegade monk,
Horde John.
By the thorn of Glastonbury! Ill days
are coming upon Beaulieu," said he.
Here they have got rid in one day of the
only two men within their walls-for L
have had mine eyes upon thee, youngster,
and 1 know that. for all thy baby face
| there is the making of a man in thee.
Then there is the abbot, too. l am no
| friend of his, nor he of mine; but he has
warm blood in his veins. He is the only
| man left among them. The others. what
are they?'
They are holy men," Alleyne answered,
gravely.
Holy men? Holy cabbages! holy beam
pods! What do they do Tut live and suck
in sustenance and grow fat? If that be
holiness, l could show you hogs in this
forest who are fit to head the calendar.
Think you 1t was Tor such a life that this
good arm was fixed upon my shoulder or
that head placed upon your neck? There is
work in the world, man, and it is not by
hiding behind stone walls that We shall do
why. then, did you join the brothers?"
asked Alleyne.
"A fair enough question:; but it Is as
lalrly answered L joined them because
Margery Alspaye of Bolder married
Crooked Thomas of Ringwood, and left a.
certain John of Horde In the cold, for
that he was a ranting. rowing blade who
was not to be trusted in wedlock That
was why being fond and hotvheaded, I
left the world and that is why having
had time to take thought, l am right glad
to find myself back in it once more III
betide the day that ever l took off my
yoeman's jerkin to put on the white gown,'
While he was speaking, the landiady came
In again, bearing a broad platter, upon
which stood all the beakers and fiagons
charged to the brim with the brown ale
or the ruby wine. Behind her came maid
with high pile of wooden plates, and
great sheaf of spoons. one of which she
handed round 10 each of the travellers.
Two of the company, who were dressed
in the weather-stained green doublet of
foresters, lifted the big pot off the fire. and
a third, with a huge pewter ladle, served
out portion of steaming collops to each
guest. Alleyne bore his share and his ale
mug away with him to a retired trestle in
the corner, where he could sup in peace
and watch the strange scene, which was so
different to those silent and weIl-ordered
meals to which he was accustomed
The room was not unlike a stable. The
low ceiling, smoke-blackened and dingy
was pierced by several square trap doors
IfNrt,- l..l III