THE ARREST
Loud and trembling blew the trumpets to arouse the lazy sleepers and
warn them that the second and last day of the grand tournament had
dawned. Then, had one but had the heads of AEgeon, and had he been able
to place heads in separate parts of the field, among the tents of
knights and squires, his numerous ears had heard low-muttered curses
issue from each tent, as the inmates awakened, protested, turned to the
other side, shrugged up their each particular pair of shoulders and
again sank into sleep.
Another hour passed, and again rang out the trumpets, with their
unwelcome sound. This time they must not be denied, as the sun was
well started on his circling journey.
Michael was busy superintending the preparing of our morning meal.
Harleston, as ever, did not rise until the last moment; and then he
hurriedly arose and joined me at breakfast.
"Well, Michael," said Frederick, "whom dost thou think it was last
night, that thou didst handle so roughly? Thinkst thou that it was
Catesby?"
"Sure, sor, Oi know not fer a surety, but methinks it must ha' bin
anither."
"And why?"
"Because, sor, he seemed to lack the stringth that Catesby doth
possiss."
"Methinks that it had been all one to thee had he been possessed of
twice the power of Catesby. I doubt me much that thou had noticed any
difference," laughed Frederick.
At this compliment to his strength Michael blushed like a maiden, and
returned no answer.
"Come, Walter, what wilt thou wager that the would-be assassin of last
night was or was not Catesby?" asked my friend.
"Truly, my wish is so strong that it was mine old enemy that I will
make it father of the thought, and for the wager,--say--a new cloak, of
Paris's latest fashion."
"Done, by Heaven! That cloak will suit me well. I'll lay on Michael's
judgment."
When we were fully armed we strolled forth from our tent to watch the
spectators arrive in one continuous stream, like a sluggish, winding
river, and well nigh as unceasing.
Michael again did ask permission to be absent for a little while, that
he might escort the old ladies unto their seats, and protect them in
the enormous crowd. In a short time we saw his head moving towards the
rows of seats, as he brushed aside, as though they had been reeds, the
groups of angry tradesmen, that he might make way for those which he
did escort.
"What friends of Michael's are those same old ladies, to which he
showeth such faithful attention and care?" asked Frederick.
"Thou knowest them as well as I."
"Nay, but hast thou never asked him?"
"No; I thought it of but little moment until now. But methinks that I
have seen those same figures somewhere ere this; though where, I cannot
now recall," said I, as Michael and his charge appeared from out the
crowd. "I will ask Michael when he returns."
But ere my squire did return the heralds rode into the lists, and
started their tedious recitation of the rules of that day's sports; the
which we were so absorbed in listening to, in the effort to gather some
small particle of sense from, that I thought not of that which I had
intended asking Michael.
The marshals then entered the field, and took up their customary
positions to enforce the rules of the joust; the which were, as near as
I could make out, not different from the first day's.
"There, Walter, I have won my wager; for, if mine eyes do serve me
aright, thine ancient foe, Catesby, hath taken his place among the
King's guards."
"Thou art right; the cloak is thine. But see! he wears not his armour,
although his both arms appear to be whole and sound."
"True, your treatment of him yesterday hath been sufficient to satisfy
his appetite for glory and revenge, such as he obtained in the lists."
Then, as mine enemy turned his head, Michael, who was now standing
behind me, exclaimed, in a voice low but heavy, like the roll of
distant thunder:--"The damned villain's head is cracked; fer look at
the clout that shows beneath his cap. Sure its bad luck that the blow
that did it stopped ere it rached the varmint's chin."
* * * * *
That evening, as we journeyed slowly and wearily back from the field
that had been during the last two days the scene of so many noble feats
of arms, and of which nothing now remained but the long and narrow
strip of sandy ground where the sod had been removed to leave a level
and firm place for the list, and the black spots to point out the
places where had glowed the fires, Harleston remarked in his low and
musing voice:--
"Verily, yon place doth represent the lives of men."
"How so?" I asked.
"Records of our deeds are imprinted in the sand. If a storm doth arise
to-night, all the little mounds that indicate some noble courses run
shall be levelled, and a traveller passing there to-morrow will notice
nothing but a barren strip, with nowhere on its face a mark to tell of
glorious deeds performed."
The thought of this was sad, and yet 'twas true; as are the most of
gloomy thoughts. It is for this same reason that I ever try to turn my
mind's eye to the pleasures and the joys of life, the which are far
from few. I therefore, on this occasion, turned from the contemplation
of this dreary sight to the scene that should await me when, that
evening, I would go unto the Sanctuary; for such was mine intent. I
could picture, in my mind's eye, my fair Hazel waiting and watching
with the agony of expectation for me; wondering if I ever should return
from that sport which she so much disliked on account of its
"inhumanity," as she had said.
I wondered if Harleston's mind were not drawing the same picture. Had
he yet asked Mary to be his wife? I believed he had; for the day
before we rode forth to the tournament, when we had visited the girls,
Hazel had let drop a remark that did arouse my suspicions; and when I
questioned her upon the point she laughingly informed me of the fact
that I was "too inquisitive," the which I doubt not. And try as I
would I could get nothing more from her. I had not liked to ask
Harleston; for there seems to be a something, the name of which I know
not, that ever doth keep us from mentioning this subject to one which
we believe to be in love, unless they first do bring it up.
By this time we had almost reached the Palace of King Richard.
Loud cheered the people as the King rode along the crowd-lined streets
and scattered gold among them with a lavish hand.
"God save King Richard!" rang out on every side.
I had as soon cried:--"God save the devil!"
The broken-headed Catesby rode beside the King. The two seemed to be
conversing as we reached Crosby Place.
"Not favourable to me," said I in Harleston's ear, as I nodded in the
direction of the hump-backed King and his adviser.
My friend did not reply, in words; but he shook his head in a manner
which showed that he realized my danger fully.
After giving our horses to our grooms we entered the great hall, and
from there--when the King had withdrawn himself--we went to mine own
room.
How gloomy and lonely did it seem. Something huge, black and terrible
did seem to vanish from the centre of the room, dividing into a score
of parts, and each part retaining, for an instant only, a pair of fiery
eyes, as the light of our lamp burst into the room, dispelling all the
darkness.
Now, on this night my room seemed not the same. Ever did I expect to
see some spirit of evil arise before mine eyes and stretch out its
fantastic arms to seize me. A great gloom had fallen on us both.
Neither spoke for some time; and when at length I said to Harleston:--
"No longer can I bear this life; to-morrow I leave this Palace
forever," mine own voice did seem to startle me; so hollow and
unnatural did it sound.
Then, as if the words I had said were to be turned into a prophecy, a
knock came at the door, and, upon opening, in walked Sir James Tyrrell
and a half a score of men-at-arms.
"I regret, Sir Walter Bradley, that I am compelled to ask you for your
sword, and to tell thee that I now arrest thee."
"Upon what charge?"
"High treason, Sir Walter."
Harleston arose and grasped my hand in a grip that could not be
mistaken.
"Tell not my dear Hazel of this; that is, not at present."
"Keep up thy courage," he replied; "thou shalt not die by the hand of
an executioner. I, thy friend, Harleston, have said it, and I never
yet have told a lie."
I thanked him for his kind words with the pressure of my hand, and with
a firm step marched from the room.
In the hall I met Michael on his way to my quarters. When he saw me he
made a movement as though he thought to attack the soldiers which
surrounded me.
"Farewell, Michael," I said, as a great lump arose in my throat, and I
gripped his mighty hand. "Go to Sir Frederick, in my room, and in
future serve him as faithfully as in the past thou hast served me."
He dropped to one knee and, though I tried to prevent him, he kissed my
hand as though I were a King. Then he arose and walked slowly toward
the door where Harleston stood.
As I marched on I wiped two drops of moisture from the back of my hand.