Lord Robert spoke with Lord Denbeigh at some length, but he was not to
be turned from his purpose (which, methought, must be a very strange and
grewsome one, judging by their words). So finally they went out
separately, and I got me back to Amhurste.
The next morning I did relate to my lady all that had passed, but
mentioning no names, as I saw that she wished it not. And when I was
finished she bade me go straightway to London and find out the
whereabouts of Lord Denbeigh. Moreover, she told me that she herself
would be there shortly with Marian, and that they two would lodge at the
house of Marian's aunt, one Mistress Pepper, a linen-draper's wife. At
this I wondered greatly, the more that she should keep silent concerning
her brother than that she should follow him to London. And all that I
could think was that Lord Robert was in some dire conspiracy, likewise
the earl, and that she feared for the lives of one or both. So we all go
to London, I earlier than my lady and Marian.
For a day I lost sight of Lord Denbeigh (whom I had followed closely all
the way from Warwickshire), but the next afternoon I marked him as he
passed along a by-way, and heard him speak with some one of his friends,
naming a tavern where he would meet him at a certain hour that night.
So first I found out where the tavern was, then straight to my lady and
acquainted her with all that I had discovered.
She said naught but to commend my diligence, and she went whiter than a
just washed sheep at shearing-time. Quoth I to myself, "Butter, there is
more here than thou wottest of;" which was very true.
That night, a little before the hour set upon, I did get me to the
tavern, and lurked quietly in the shadows where none might observe; and
there, verily, was the earl and him with whom he had spoken in the
afternoon. He had but said a word or so when Lord Robert entered, and
went and stood at his elbow, but did not touch him or pluck at his
cloak. Albeit, the earl seemed to feel his presence, for shortly he
turned and saw the lad.
"How!" quoth he. "Thou here?"