"Well, it is small matter, but as we may see more of him hereafter it
will be wise to keep him in mind"--and he told of the encounter.
"What became of the damsel?" the squire asked.
"She disappeared during the scuffle; but doubtless the landlord can
advise you where to find her," De Lacy said good-naturedly.
"A most extraordinary tymbestere who refuses a Knight's caress,"
Dauvrey explained.
"But would not, you think, refuse a squire's?"
"Nay, my lord, what I think is that she might bear investigation. She
is in disguise, I will stake my head."
"How does that concern us?"
"Only as every mystery concerns us now. To solve one sometimes solves
another."
"It is a queer notion, Giles, but it will do no harm to question the
host. Meanwhile, I will await you without."
Night had fallen and it was very dark save when, at intervals, the
narrow crescent of the new moon cut through the clouds that were
crowding one another in heavy ranks across the sky. Before the inn the
street was illumined feebly by the reflection of the torches and
candles from within, and at wide intervals along the roadway light
shone from the houses. But all this only made more dense and visible
the blackness that lay around.
From far up the street came the sound of singing and laughter; and De
Lacy, recognizing the voices of some of his own men, envied them their
light hearts and freedom from care and sorrow. They lived for the day;
the morrow was sufficient when it came.
Presently the squire appeared.
"It is as I suspected," he said. "The girl has never before been seen
about the inn or even in the town. He says he knows all the
tymbesteres for miles around, but this one is not of them."
"It is a pity we had none to watch her when she left the room," De Lacy
replied. "However, I hear our men making merry out yonder, and after
going with me to see that they are up to no serious mischief you are at
liberty to devote the entire time until the morning in searching for
this mysterious maid--though it will be good sleep wasted, I have no
doubt."
The two started down the road, keeping well in the centre where the
walking was likely to be easiest. There were no side paths and the way
was rough and full of holes. Stumbling along in the dark they came,
after a little, to a house from the upper story of which a bright light
was shining. De Lacy glanced indifferently at the window--then halted
short and seizing Dauvrey's arm pointed upward.
Just inside the open casement, and standing so that every line of his
face and shoulders was distinctly visible, was the man De Lacy and all
the royal commanders of England had been seeking for the last three
weeks.
His thick red hair was bare of casquetel and there could be no
mistaking that great, flat nose, even if there had not been the bright
scar blazed across the face by Sir John de Bury's sword, and the short,
thick-set figure to complete the identification.
De Lacy's heart gave a great leap. Was this, then, the end of his
chase? Was Beatrix in yonder house? Would he soon hold her in his
arms--or was he about to learn that she was lost to him for ever? In
the tumultuous rush of feeling his power of quick decision left him for
the moment; but Dauvrey's muffled exclamation broke the spell.
"It is he--Flat-Nose!"
"Aye!" De Lacy whispered, drawing the squire aside into the shadow.
"He must be seized at once. Summon the men and surround the house. I
will remain on guard. Hasten, Giles! In God's name, hasten!"
Dauvrey plunged away into the darkness and Aymer, choosing a position
from which he could best watch the window, but at the same time be
himself hidden, settled back to his anxious wait.
Flat-Nose was not alone; presently he began to speak to some one behind
him, and hoping to overhear the conversation, Aymer worked his way with
great care across the road to the house. There were no lights on the
lower floor, and the upper story, projecting a foot or more over the
street, made him secure from observation.
But the new position was very little better than the other one; and try
as he might he could not catch anything but an occasional word which,
in itself, had no significance. He began to grow impatient--it seemed
most unduly long since Dauvrey had gone.
Then a chair was shoved back in the room above and some one began to
move about. Suddenly a head was thrust out and Flat-Nose peered into
the darkness.
"God in Heaven! what blackness!" he exclaimed. "The Devil's own night
for a ride. . . No danger," he went on, answering some remark from
within. "I know every path in Yorkshire."
It was evident he was preparing to depart and De Lacy drew his sword
and stood close beside the door. He wished only to disable the fellow;
but he would kill him rather than suffer him to escape. Just then, a
number of forms came slowly out of the darkness and at a motion from
the one in front flitted off toward the rear of the house. It was
Dauvrey and the men, at last, and the Knight gave a sigh of relief.
To avoid crossing the zone of light in regaining the place where he had
left his master, the squire drew close to the house and so chanced upon
him.
"Just in time," De Lacy whispered, "Flat-Nose is going."
An inside door was opened and a heavy step came down the stairs. There
was a fumbling with the fastenings of the street door; then it swung
back and a man stepped out and shut it behind him.
The next instant two pairs of strong arms closed around him, De Lacy's
hand fastened on his throat, he was borne to the ground, and before he
could struggle his legs were bound above the knees with Dauvrey's belt.
His arms were then quickly secured and a piece of cloth thrust into his
mouth as a gag. A low hiss brought the nearest soldier to guard him
and De Lacy and the squire cautiously entered the house.
It was darker there even than outside and they listened for a space;
but all was quiet. Then working carefully along the wall, they found
a door which stood ajar. De Lacy whispered to make a light, and the
squire, with as little noise as possible, struck the flint and ignited
the bit of candle he always carried in his pouch. As it flamed timidly
up they peered about them. The place was empty, save for a table and a
few chairs, but on each side was a door and in the rear the stairway to
the upper floor. An examination of the remaining two rooms was barren
of results; one was the kitchen and the other a sleeping chamber, but
the bed had not been disturbed. If the Countess of Clare were in the
house she was on the next floor; and, at least, the man who had been
with Flat-Nose must be there, so it would be two prisoners instead of
one if he were unable to give a good account of himself.
The stairs were old and shaky and creaked and groaned as they
cautiously ascended. And the noise was heard; for suddenly the door at
the head of the landing swung back--and Flat-Nose himself stood in the
opening.
"What is amiss, my lord?" he began--then stopped. "De Lacy!" he cried
and springing back hurled the door shut.
The appearance here of the man they thought was lying bound and
helpless in the road held both De Lacy and Dauvrey for an instant.
Then with sudden fury they flung themselves up the last few steps and
against the door. It yielded easily and they rushed into the
room--just as Flat-Nose leaped from the window ledge. And the fortune
that had befriended him so long still stood true, and a mocking laugh
came back, as the darkness wrapped itself about him.
De Lacy put his hand on the casement to follow when Dauvrey seized him
from behind.
"To the front, men, and after him!" he shouted through the window. . .
"Your pardon, my dear lord," he said with deep respect, "but you could
ill afford to take such risk now. Hark, sir, they are already in
pursuit."
Sir Aymer nodded. "You are right, Giles. It would have gained naught
but perchance a broken bone. He has escaped this time--on such a night
an army would be lost. . . But who, in the Fiend's name, is the fellow
we have below?"
Seizing the burning candle from the table, they hurried out, and
bending over De Lacy flashed the light across the prisoner's face--and
started back in vast amaze.
"Holy St. Denis! Lord Darby!"
For a space he stood looking down upon him; then motioning toward the
house he went within, and behind him Dauvrey and the guard bore the
captive--and none too easy were their hands.
In the front room De Lacy put down the candle.
"Release him," he ordered. . . "So, sir, you search for the Countess
of Clare in company with her abductor. Truly, it is wondrous strange
you have not found her. Tell me, my lord, might it be that though we
missed the servant we got the master?"
"What I can tell you, my French upstart," Darby retorted, "is that this
night's work will bring you heavy punishment."
"Forsooth! From whom?"
"From me perchance; from the King surely."
De Lacy laughed disdainfully. "You always were a braggart, I have
heard; yet you will need all your wits to save your own head when
arraigned before him."
"Arraigned! Save my head! These are queer expressions for such as you
to use to a Peer of England."
"No more queer than for a Peer of England to be an abductor of women."
"You are still pleased to speak in riddles," Darby answered with a
shrug.
"Pardieu! it will be a riddle for which you have a shrewd answer ready
for His Majesty."
"Methinks you have lost what little sense ever had and are not
responsible," said Darby; "therefore I have the pleasure of wishing you
a very good night," and he turned toward the door.
De Lacy laughed scornfully.
"Not so fast, my lord," he said. "You will have to bear with my poor
company for a space. The King is at Lincoln."
"What has that to do with me? . . . Stand aside, fellow," as Dauvrey
barred the way.
For answer the squire drew dagger and the man-at-arms laid a heavy hand
on Darby's shoulder. It was useless to try bare fists against such
odds and he wheeled about.
"What means this fresh outrage?" he demanded.
"It means that you are my prisoner."
"Your prisoner! And wherefore?"
"As the abductor of the Countess of Clare."
Darby held up his hands in amazement. "Are you clean daft?" he
exclaimed.
"It is useless, my lord, longer to play the innocent," said Aymer.
"Either confess what has been done with the Countess or to the King you
go straightway."
Darby shrugged his shoulders. "Since you have the rogues to obey you
and I have not the information you desire, it must be to the King," he
said. "And the more haste you use to reach him the quicker will come
my time to even scores with you," and he sat down and began to brush
the dirt from his garments.
De Lacy eyed him in stern silence, his resentment growing fiercer as he
held it in restraint; while the squire, in equal anger, kept shooting
his dagger back and forth in its sheath as if impatient to use it. And
but for the sake of the information Darby could furnish as to Beatrix,
the dagger might have been suffered to do its work and De Lacy raise no
hand to stay it. Nay, rather, would he have stood by and watched it
strike home with grim satisfaction.
Presently Darby had finished with his clothes and glancing up met De
Lacy's eyes. A taunting smile came to his lips and he began to whistle
softly to himself. It was De Lacy who spoke first.
"I should like to know," said he, "how one of your craftiness could be
so stupid as to carry off the Countess of Clare? What possible profit
could you think to gain?"
Darby did not answer at once. When he did, it was with a sneer.
"Methinks, good sir," he said, "you are too stupid to appreciate that
you have, yourself, unwittingly advanced the best proof of my
innocence. Fools, you know, sometimes speak truth."
"Aye, but even a fool would know that Flat-Nose and you were together
in yonder upper room. Can you explain that, my dear lord?"
Darby laughed. "Naught easier, Sir Frenchman, if His Majesty deem it
necessary. You will pardon me, however, if I keep you waiting until
then."
"So be it. We start for Lincoln at daybreak. Have I your word to ride
quietly and attempt no escape, rescue or no rescue?"
"And if I refuse the word?"
"Then shall you go bound hand and foot and strapped to saddle."
"Pasque Dieu! It would be most uncomfortable riding, so I pass my
word," Darby replied carelessly. "But, understand me, it is no
acknowledgment of your authority either to demand it or to receive it."
"As to that I am answerable to the King, not to you," said De Lacy.
"And further, Sir Abductor, if you violate your word--which, indeed, I
trust but lightly--you will have an arrow through your carcass ere you
have gone two paces. I wish you good-night," and leaving Dauvrey in
command he returned to the Red Lion.