l
exchange thrusts with him. but we must keep to this road upon
the left."
"nay, my fair lord," quoth aylward. "the road to montaubon is
over the river, and so through quercy and the agenois."
"true, my good aylward; but i have learned from this worthy
knight, who hath come over the french marches, that there is a
company of englishmen who are burning and plundering in the
country round villefranche. i have little doubt, from what he
says, that they are those whom we seek."
"by my hilt! it is like enough," said aylward. "by all accounts
they had been so long at montaubon, that there would be little
there worth the taking. then as they have already been in the
south, they would come north to the country of the aveyron."
"we shall follow the lot until we come to cahors, and then cross
the marches into villefranche," said sir nigel. "by st. paul! as
we are but a small band, it is very likely that we may have some
very honorable and pleasing adventure, for i hear that there is
little peace upon the french border."
all morning they rode down a broad and winding road, barred with
the shadows of poplars. sir nigel rode in front with his
squires, while the two archers followed behind with the sumpter
mule between them. they had left aiguillon and the garonne far
to the south, and rode now by the tranquil lot, which curves blue
and placid through a gently rolling country. alleyne could not
but mark that, whereas in guienne there had been many townlets
and few castles, there were now many castles and few houses. on
either hand gray walls and square grim keeps peeped out at every
few miles from amid the forests while the few villages which they
passed were all ringed round with rude walls, which spoke of the
constant fear and sudden foray of a wild frontier land. twice
during the morning there came bands of horsemen swooping down
upon them from the black gateways of wayside strongholds, with
short, stern questions as to whence they came and what their
errand. bands of armed men clanked along the highway, and the
few lines of laden mules which carried the merchandise of the
trader were guarded by armed varlets, or by archers hired for the
service.
"the peace of bretigny hath not made much change in these parts,"
quoth sir nigel, "for the country is overrun with free companions
and masterless men. yonder towers, between the wood and the
hill, mark the town of cahors, and beyond it is the land of
france. but here is a man by the wayside, and as he hath two
horses and a squire i make little doubt that he is a knight. i
pray you, alleyne, to give him greeting from me, and to ask him
for his titles and coat-armor. it may be that i can relieve him
of some vow, or perchance he hath a lady whom he would wish to
advance."
"nay, my fair lord," said alleyne, "these are not horses and a
squire, but mules and a varlet. the man is a mercer, for he hath
a great bundle beside him."
"now, god's blessing on your honest english voice!" cried the
stranger, pricking up his ears at the sound of alleyne's words.
"never have i heard music that was so sweet to mine ear. come,
watkin lad, throw the bales over laura's back! my heart was nigh
broke, for it seemed that i had left all that was english behind
me, and that i would never set eyes upon norwich market square
again." he was a tall, lusty, middle-aged man with a ruddy face,
a brown forked beard shot with gray, and a broad flanders hat set
at the back of his head. his servant, as tall as himself, but
gaunt and raw-boned, had swung the bales on the back of one mule,
while the merchant mounted upon the other and rode to join the
party. it was easy to see, as he approached, from the quality
of his dress and the richness of his trappings, that he was a man
of some wealth and position.
"sir knight," said he, "my name is david micheldene, and i am a
burgher and alderman of the good town of norwich, where i live
five doors from the church of our lady, as all men know on the
banks of yare. i have here my bales of cloth which i carry to
cahors--woe worth the day that ever i started on such an errand!
i crave your gracious protection upon the way for me, my servant,
and my mercery; for i have already had many perilous passages,
and have now learned that roger club-foot, the robber-knight of
quercy, is out upon the road in front of me. i hereby agree to
give you one rose-noble if you bring me safe to the inn of the
'angel' in cahors, the same to be repaid to me or my heirs if any
harm come to me or my goods."
"by saint paul!" answered sir nigel, "i should be a sorry knight
if i ask pay for standing by a countryman in a strange land. you
may ride with me and welcome, master micheldene, and your varlet
may follow with my archers."
"god's benison upon thy bounty!" cried the stranger. "sho
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