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that his crooked back sped him ill in his wooing。〃
〃Alas； Sir John！ It is his mind that is more crooked than his
back。 He is a perilous man with women； for the Devil hath given
him such a tongue and such an eye that he charms them even as the
basilisk。 Marriage may be in their mind； but never in his； so
that I could count a dozen and more whom he has led to their
undoing。 It is his pride and his boast over the whole
countryside。〃
〃Well； well； and what is this to me or mine？〃
〃Even now； Sir John； as I rode my mule up the road I met this man
speeding toward his home。 A woman rode by his side； and though
her face was hooded I heard her laugh as she passed me。 That
laugh I have heard before； and it was under this very roof； from
the lips of Mistress Edith。〃
The Knight's knife dropped from his hand。 But the debate had been
such that neither Mary nor Nigel could fail to have heard it。 Mid
the rough laughter and clatter of voices from below the little
group at the high table had a privacy of their own。
〃Fear not； father；〃 said the girl … 〃indeed； the good Father
Athanasius hath fallen into error； and Edith will be with us anon。
I have heard her speak of this man many times of late； and always
with bitter words。〃
〃It is true； sir；〃 cried Nigel eagerly。 〃It was only this very
evening as we rode over Thursley Moor that Mistress Edith told me
that she counted him not a fly； and that she would be glad if he
were beaten for his evil deeds。〃
But the wise priest shook his silvery locks。 〃Nay； there is ever
danger when a woman speaks like that。 Hot hate is twin brother to
hot love。 Why should she speak so if there were not some bond
between them？〃
〃And yet；〃 said Nigel； 〃what can have changed her thoughts m three
short hours？ She was here in the hall with us since I came。 By
Saint Paul； I will not believe it！〃
Mary's face darkened。 〃I call to mind；〃 said she； 〃that a note
was brought her by Hannekin the stable varlet when you were
talking to us； fair sir； of the terms of the chase。 She read it
and went forth。〃
Sir John sprang to his feet； but sank into his chair again with a
groan。 〃Would that I were dead；〃 he cried； 〃ere I saw dishonor
come upon my house； and am so tied with this accursed foot that I
can neither examine if it be true； nor yet avenge it！ If my son
Oliver were here； then all would be well。 Send me this stable
varlet that I may question him。〃
〃I pray you； fair and honored sir；〃 said Nigel； 〃that you will
take me for your son this night； that I may handle this matter in
the way which seems best。 On jeopardy of my honor I will do all
that a man may。〃
〃Nigel； I thank you。 There is no man in Christendom to whom I
would sooner turn。〃
〃But I would lean your mind in one matter； fair sir。 This man；
Paul de la Fosse； owns broad acres； as I understand； and comes of
noble blood。 There is no reason if things be as we fear that he
should not marry your daughter？〃
〃Nay； she could not wish for better。〃
〃It is well。 And first I would question this Hannekin； but it
shall be done in such a fashion that none shall know； for indeed
it is not a matter for the gossip of servants。 But if you will
show me the man； Mistress Mary； I will take him out to tend my own
horse； and so I shall learn all that he has to tell。〃
Nigel was absent for some time； and when he returned the shadow
upon his face brought little hope to the anxious hearts at the
high table。 〃I have locked him in the stable loft； lest he talk
too much；〃 said he； 〃for my questions must have shown him whence
the wind blew。 It was indeed from this man that the note came；
and he had brought with him a spare horse for the lady。〃
The old Knight groaned； and his face sank upon his hands。
〃Nay； father they watch you！〃 whispered Mary。 〃For the honor of
our house let us keep a bold face to all。〃 Then； raising her
young clear voice； so that it sounded through the room： 〃If you
ride eastward； Nigel； I would fain go with you； that my sister may
not come back alone。〃
〃We will ride together； Mary；〃 said Nigel； rising； then in a lower
voice： 〃But we cannot go alone； and if we take a servant all is
known。 I pray you to stay at home and leave the matter with me。〃
〃Nay； Nigel； she may sorely need a woman's aid； and what woman
should it be save her own sister？ I can take my tire…woman with
us。〃
〃Nay； I shall ride with you myself if your impatience can keep
within the powers of my mule；〃 said the old priest。
〃But it is not your road； father？〃
〃The only road of a true priest is that which leads to the good of
others。 Come； my children； and we will go together。〃
And so it was that stout Sir John Buttesthorn； the aged Knight of
Duplin； was left alone at his own high table； pretending to eat；
pretending to drink； fidgeting in his seat； trying hard to seem
unconcerned with his mind and body in a fever； while below him his
varlets and handmaids laughed and jested； clattering their cups
and clearing their trenchers； all unconscious of the dark shadow
which threw its gloom over the lonely man upon the dais above。
Meantime the Lady Mary upon the white jennet which her sister had
ridden on the same evening； Nigel on his war…horse； and the priest
on the mule； clattered down the rude winding road which led to
London。 The country on either side was a wilderness of heather
moors and of morasses from which came the strange crying of
night…fowl。 A half…moon shone in the sky between the rifts of
hurrying clouds。 The lady rode in silence； absorbed in the
thought of the task before them； the danger and the shame。
Nigel chatted in a low tone with the priest。 From him he learned
more of the evil name of this man whom they followed。 His house
at Shalford was a den of profligacy and vice。 No woman could
cross that threshold and depart unstained。 In some strange
fashion； inexplicable and yet common； the man； with all his evil
soul and his twisted body； had yet some strange fascination for
women； some mastery over them which compelled them to his will。
Again and again he had brought ruin to a household； again and
again his adroit tongue and his cunning wit had in some fashion
saved him from the punishment of his deeds。 His family was great
in the county； and his kinsmen held favor with the King； so that
his neighbors feared to push things too far against him。 Such was
the man； malignant and ravenous； who had stooped like some foul
night…hawk and borne away to his evil nest the golden beauty of
Cosford。 Nigel said little as he listened； but he raised his
hunting…dagger to his tightened lips； and thrice he kissed the
cross of its handle。
They had passed over the moors and through the village of Milford
and the little township of Godalming； until their path turned
southward over the Pease marsh and crossed the meadows of
Shalford。 There on the dark hillside glowed the red points of
light which marked the windows of the house which they sought。 A
somber arched avenue of oak…trees led up to it； and then they were
in the moon…silvered clearing in front。
》From the shadow of the arched door there sprang two rough
serving…men； bearded and gruff； great cudgels in their hands； to
ask them who they were and what their errand。 The Lady Mary had
slipped from her horse and was advancing to the door； but they
rudely barred her way。
〃Nay； nay； our master needs no more！〃 cried one； with a hoarse
laugh。 〃Stand back； mistress； whoever you be！ The house is shut；
and our lord sees no guests to…night。〃
〃Fellow；〃 said Nigel； speaking low and clear； 〃stand back from us！
Our errand is with your master。〃
〃Bethink you； my children；〃 cried the old priest； 〃would it not be
best perchance； that I go in to him and see whether the voice of
the Church may not soften this hard heart？ I fear bloodshed if
you enter。〃
〃Nay； father； I pray you to stay here for the nonce；〃 said Nigel。
〃And you； Mary； do you bide with the good priest； for we know not
what may be within。〃
Again he turned to the door； and again the two men barred his
passage。
〃Stand back； I say； back for your lives！〃 said Nigel。 〃By Saint
Paul！ I should think it shame to soil my sword with such as you；
but my soul is set； and no man shall bar my path this night。〃
The men shrank from the deadly menace of that gentle voice。
〃Hold！〃 said one of them； peering through the darkness； 〃is it not
Squire Loring of Tilford？ 〃
〃That is indeed my name。〃
〃Had you spoken it I for one would not have stopped your way。 Put
down your staff； Wat； for this is no stranger； but the Squire of
Tilford。〃
〃As well for him；〃 grumbled the other； lowering his cudgel with an
inward prayer of thanksgiving。 〃Had it been otherwise I should
have had blood upon my soul tonight。 But our master said nothing
of neighbors when he ordered us to hold the door。 I will enter
and ask him what is his will。〃
But already Nigel was past them and had pushed open the outer
door。 Swift as he was； the Lady Mary was at his very heels； and
the two passed together into the hall beyond。
It was a great room； draped and curtained with black shadows； with
one vivid circle of light in the ce