LETTERS of fire on the church wall had just inquired, with an appearance
of genuine curiosity, why there was no mass for the duke in this time of
trouble. The supernatural expostulation had been seen by many, and had
gradually faded, leaving the spectators glued there gaping. The upshot
was, that the corporation, not choosing to be behind the angelic powers
in loyalty to a temporal sovereign, invested freely in masses. By this
an old friend of ours, the curé, profited in hard cash; for which he had
a very pretty taste. But for this I would not of course have detained
you over so trite an occurrence as a miracle.
Denys begged for his arms, "Why disgrace him as well as break his
heart?"
"Then swear on the cross of thy sword not to leave the Bastard's service
until the sedition shall be put down." He yielded to necessity, and
delivered three volleys of oaths, and recovered his arms and liberty.
The troops halted at "The Three Fish," and Marion at sight of him cried
out, "I'm out of luck; who would have thought to see you again?" then
seeing he was sad, and rather hurt than amused at this blunt jest, she
asked him what was amiss? He told her. She took a bright view of the
case. Gerard was too handsome and well-behaved to come to harm. The
women too would always be on his side. Moreover, it was clear that
things must either go well or ill with him. In the former case he would
strike in with some good company going to Rome; in the latter, he would
return home, perhaps be there before his friend; "for you have a trifle
of fighting to do in Flanders by all accounts." She then brought him his
gold pieces, and steadily refused to accept one, though he urged her
again and again. Denys was somewhat convinced by her argument, because
she concurred with his own wishes, and was also cheered a little by
finding her so honest. It made him think a little better of that world
in which his poor little friend was walking alone.
Foot-soldiers in small bodies down to twos and threes were already on
the road, making lazily towards Flanders, many of them penniless, but
passed from town to town by the bailiffs, with orders for food and
lodging on the innkeepers.
Anthony of Burgundy overtook numbers of these, and gathered them under
his standard, so that he entered Flanders at the head of six hundred
men. On crossing the frontier he was met by his brother Baldwyn, with
men, arms, and provisions; he organized his whole force and marched on
in battle array through several towns, not only without impediment, but
with great acclamations. This loyalty called forth comments not
altogether gracious.
"This rebellion of ours is a bite," growled a soldier called Simon, who
had elected himself Denys's comrade.
Denys said nothing, but made a little vow to St. Mars to shoot this
Anthony of Burgundy dead, should the rebellion, that had cost him
Gerard, prove no rebellion.
That afternoon they came in sight of a strongly fortified town; and a
whisper went through the little army that this was a disaffected place.
But, when they came in sight, the great gate stood open, and the towers
that flanked it on each side were manned with a single sentinel apiece.
So the advancing force somewhat broke their array and marched
carelessly.
When they were within a furlong, the draw-bridge across the moat rose
slowly and creaking till it stood vertical against the fort, and, the
very moment it settled into this warlike attitude, down rattled the
portcullis at the gate, and the towers and curtains bristled with lances
and cross-bows.
A stern hum ran through the Bastard's front rank and spread to the rear.
"Halt!" cried he. The word went down the line, and they halted. "Herald
to the gate!" A pursuivant spurred out of the ranks, and, halting twenty
yards from the gate, raised his bugle with his herald's flag hanging
down round it, and blew a summons. A tall figure in brazen armour
appeared over the gate. A few fiery words passed between him and the
herald, which were not audible, but their import clear, for the herald
blew a single keen and threatening note at the walls, and came galloping
back with war in his face. The Bastard moved out of the line to meet
him, and their heads had not been together two seconds ere he turned in
his saddle and shouted, "Pioneers, to the van!" and in a moment hedges
were levelled, and the force took the field and encamped just out of
shot from the walls; and away went mounted officers flying south, east,
and west, to the friendly towns, for catapults, palisades, mantelets,
raw hides, tar barrels, carpenters, provisions, and all the materials
for a siege.
The bright perspective mightily cheered one drooping soldier. At the
first clang of the portcullis his eyes brightened and his temple
flushed; and when the herald came back with battle in his eye he saw it
in a moment, and for the first time this many days cried, "Courage, tout
le monde, le diable est mort."
If that great warrior heard, how he must have grinned!