those----"
"bertrand, bertrand!" cried the lady in the same mutterings far-
away voice, "the blessed hour passes. use it, bertrand, while
you may."
"i will, my sweet. tell me, then, what fortune comes upon me?"
"danger, bertrand--deadly, pressing danger--which creeps upon you
and you know it not."
the french soldier burst into a thunderous laugh, and his green
eyes twinkled with amusement. "at what time during these twenty
years would not that have been a true word?" he cried. "danger
is in the air that i breathe. but is this so very close,
tiphaine?"
"here--now--close upon you!" the words came out in broken,
strenuous speech, while the lady's fair face was writhed and
drawn like that of one who looks upon a horror which strikes, the
words from her lips. du guesclin gazed round the tapestried
room, at the screens, the tables, the abace, the credence, the
buffet with its silver salver, and the half-circle of friendly,
wondering faces. there was an utter stillness, save for the
sharp breathing of the lady tiphaine and for the gentle soughing
of the wind outside, which wafted to their ears the distant call
upon a swine-herd's horn.
"the danger may bide," said he, shrugging his broad shoulders.
"and now, tiphaine, tell us what will come of this war in spain."
"i can see little," she answered, straining her eyes and
puckering her brow, as one who would fain clear her sight.
"there are mountains, and dry plains, and flash of arms and
shouting of battle-cries, yet it is whispered to me that by
failure you will succeed."
"ha! sir nigel, how like you that?" quoth bertrand, shaking his
head. "it is like mead and vinegar, half sweet, half sour. and
is there no question which you would ask my lady?"
"certes there is. i would fain know, fair lady, how all things
are at twynham castle, and above all how my sweet lady employs
herself."
"to answer this i would fain lay hand upon one whose thoughts
turn strongly to this castle which you have named. nay, my lord
loring, it is whispered to me that there is another here who hath
thought more deeply of it than you."
"thought more of mine own home?" cried sir nigel. "lady, i fear
that in this matter at least you are mistaken."
"not so, sir nigel. come hither, young man, young english squire
with the gray eyes! now give me your hand, and place it here
across my brow, that i may see that which you have seen. what is
this that rises before me? mist, mist, rolling mist with a
square black tower above it. see it shreds out, it thins, it
rises, and there lies a castle in green plain, with the sea
beneath it, and a great church within a bow-shot. there are two
rivers which run through the meadows, and between them lie the
tents of the besiegers."
"the besiegers!" cried alleyne, ford, and sir nigel, all three in
a breath.
"yes, truly, and they press hard upon the castle, for they are an
exceeding multitude and full of courage. see how they storm and
rage against the gate, while some rear ladders, and others, line
after line, sweep the walls with their arrows. they are many
leaders who shout and beckon, and one, a tall man with a golden
beard, who stands before the gate stamping his foot and hallooing
them on, as a pricker doth the hounds. but those in the castle
fight bravely. there is a woman, two women, who stand upon the
walls, and give heart to the men-at-arms. they shower down
arrows, darts and great stones. ah i they have struck down the
tall leader, and the others give back. the mist thickens and i
can see no more."
"by saint paul!" said sir nigel, "i do not think that there can
be any such doings at christchurch, and i am very easy of the
fortalice so long as my sweet wife hangs the key of the outer
bailey at the head of her bed. yet i will not deny that you have
pictured the castle as well as i could have done myself, and i am
full of wonderment at all that i have heard and seen."
"i would, lady tiphaine," cried the lady rochefort, "that you
would use your power to tell me what hath befallen my golden
bracelet which i wore when hawking upon the second sunday of
advent, and have never set eyes upon since."
"nay, lady," said du guesclin, "it does not befit so great and
wondrous a power to pry and search and play the varlet even to
the beautiful chatelaine of villefranche. ask a worthy question,
and, with the blessing of god, you shall have a worthy answer."
"then i would fain ask," cried one of the french squires, "as to
which may hope to conquer in these wars betwixt the english and
ourselves."
"both will conquer and each will hold its own," answered the lady
tiphaine.
"then we shall still hold gascony and guienne?" cried sir nigel.
the lady shook her head. "french land, french blood, french
speech," she answered. "they ar
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