And the lad said, "Verily I know, and thou mayest trust me;" and with
that he muttered two or three words under his breath, which, because of
mine old ears, I could not catch. And the two men started and looked at
one another. Then the earl did turn to his friend, saying to him that
they could indeed trust the lad. So they three clasped hands. When that
was done, Lord Denbeigh turns to my master, and saith he, "Hast thou thy
dirk with thee?" and the lad answered that he had both sword and dagger.
"Not that there is any danger," quoth the earl, "but that thou mayest
feel easy."
But the lad said, "There is danger, as I have told thee; and thou art
putting thy life in jeopardy." At this Lord Denbeigh only laughed; but
as they went out into the street I marked that he kept the lad close at
his side, almost as a mother keeps a child.
The night was still and cold, and the sky full of little white clouds
that lapped the one over the other, like shells on a seashore. Now and
again the moon would strike through, in a long, bright ray, that seemed
like a keen blade or lance severing the misty air. The three went on and
on, through many winding ways, and still I followed, for I knew not into
what danger the lad might be hastening.
All at once, in a dark turning, there came the clang of swords and a
rushing and scuffling, but no cry of any kind; and methought the silence
was more hideous than sound. Stiff as were my old joints with disuse, I
drew my sword and lay about me lustily, striving to get between the
villains and my young master (which is no credit to me, as I was so
wrought with rage that I verily believe I would have no more felt the
thrust of a rapier than Marian's housewife the prick of a needle). But
there was no method in aught, neither could anything be seen; for the
moon had withdrawn behind the clouds, and we seemed to be fighting
underneath clear water, so pale and ghastly was the light shed about us
from the pale clouds. And as I struck out with my sword I saw a fellow
in a mask close with Lord Denbeigh, lifting a dagger high in his hand,
while another rascal pinned the earl's hands to his sides. And even as I
looked, the lad leaped between, and the thin knife went deep into his
breast. At the same time there was a louder clash of swords, and a
thudding of men's bodies together, and the masked wretches turned about
and did take to their heels with a good will. So I sheathed my sword and
ran forward.
Lord Denbeigh and his friend were bending over the lad, who lay
out-stretched between them, with his white face turned up to the white
sky, looking like the face of a dead man at the bottom of a clear pool.
Then could I not withhold my grief, but cried aloud, "My master, my
master!" and tried to feel with my trembling old hands for the wound.
Then said the earl, "Not here! I will carry him to a place of safety."
And he lifted the boy in his arms, as though he had been a hurt child.
When the other saw that, he laid hold on Lord Denbeigh's arm, saying,
"What mean you? are you distraught? There is but scarce time by the
clock."
And the earl said, "Go you on. I must take this boy where his wound can
be bound."
"Nay," said the man. "I tell you, you are mad!"
And Lord Denbeigh turned on him, and spoke in a harsh voice:
"I have said I will not go. I have done with thee and thine. Go thy ways
ere it be too late;" and he passed on and left the man to swallow the
moonshine with his great gaping mouth.
And he saith unto me, "Follow closely." So by-and-by we came to a great
gray house, and Lord Denbeigh opened the door and bade me enter with
him.
We passed through a vast hall, and up a ponderous staircase, and into a
room. A fire was burning on the hearth, and there was a fantastic kind
of lamp swinging from a silver chain above the bed's foot.
I guessed rightly that this was his lordship's own apartment. He laid
the lad on the bed, and fell to undoing his doublet of black velvet. I
did see him set to shivering, as 'twere, when he noted the red stains on
the shirt underneath, and my heart stood still within me. Then he opened
the red linen, and did put in his hand gently to feel if the heart were
yet beating; but no sooner had he done this than he gave a strange cry,
and drew out his hand dripping with blood, and stood staring and
trembling. At the same moment the lad stirred, and opened his eyes, and
began to clutch feebly at his doublet, drawing it together. I made
naught of it until Lord Denbeigh did turn to me, with the face of a dead
man, and quoth he, "Stay here while I fetch women," and so rushed out
like one in truth distraught.
Then did it all come upon me, and I knew that the face upon which I
looked was the face of my lady.
Ere another second had passed I heard the earl's voice without, and he
spoke with a woman:
"Do thou go instantly and clothe the lady within in some of thy
garments; and have care that thou say no word to any of what hath
happened, else will it not be well for thee."
When I heard the tone in which he spoke, methought in truth it would not
be well for her did she not heed his commands.
Shortly there entered a woman most marvellous fair, with hair that
seemed spun of black taffetas, and a skin like a white jasmine. When
she saw the blood her lips whitened, and she did close them more
closely, but no cry escaped her. Whereat I was much ashamed, remembering
the hullabaloo that I had raised.
I turned aside while she disrobed my lady and clothed her in clean
linen, and drew down the sheets, placing her between them. But the blood
still flowed in spite of all bandages, and the fair linen was soon
crimson.
And when all was prepared, the woman went to the door and said, "You can
enter," and the earl came into the chamber again. When, however, he did
see my lady he cried out, "God in heaven! she will bleed to death!" and
he called the woman, and showed her how to stanch the wound. Then, when
the steps of the surgeon were heard in the hall without, he said unto
her, "Remember. She is thy sister, and thieves have stabbed her for the
jewels on her neck." And she answered him, "I will remember."
And all this time methought I was in an evil dream, and that Marian, for
some spite, would not awaken me.
How it came about, to this day I recollect not, but ere two weeks had
sped we were again at Amhurste, and my lady in her own bower, under
Marian's care. As to that, Marian had been with my lady ever since the
fatal night whereon she was nigh done to death by that masked ruffian.
The earl did go himself to fetch her from Mistress Pepper's, and after
that she came neither of us saw the sloe-eyed woman any more.
None had known of my lady's stay in town, saving my lady herself, Lord
Denbeigh, the black-eyed woman (who never uttered word more, good or
bad, after that she had said, "I will remember"), Marian, and me. So
besides us five no one was the wiser.
It was towards the last of May that my lady did beg that we would lift
her out to sit in a long-chair on the east terrace. The birds were at
their morning gossiping in the shrubbery, and the air was most sweet
with the breath of the white lilacs. My lady looked like a snow-wreath
fallen suddenly among the greenery of spring, but her eyes did peep
softly, like bluebells, from the snows of her face. Methought she was
all white and blue, like the heavens above her, and her hair made
sunshine over all. Herne, the blood-hound, lay at her feet, and would
not be stirred, though for sport my lady had Marian to tempt him with
some comfits.
While we were all there, and my lady showing us how the light shined
through her thin hands, and discoursing right merrily, there came a page
and handed her a letter. Back fell she among her pillows, and her
eyelids dropped over her eyes, like snow-flakes fallen on violets. Anon
she opened the letter, and having read it, said unto Marian, "Nurse, go
bid him hither." So Marian beckoned me, and we left her. As we entered
the house, who should pass us but my Lord of Denbeigh, and o' my word he
was whiter than my lady, if anything, and wrapped as usual in a long
cloak. He seemed not to see us, and we went on in silence.
Here transpires the only part of this narrative concerning which I am
reluctant to write. I will out with it, however, and the Almighty knows
that I have not done with repentance even yet. So be it. There was a
window overhanging the terrace where my lady sat (the window out of
which she had leaned to speak to me about repairing to the Red Deer).
But let me not defer longer. I, Anthony Butter, of respectable parents,
and counted among my fellows and betters an honest man, did go to this
window, and did most deliberately listen to the words that passed
between my mistress and the Earl of Denbeigh. In fact (for I have sworn
to keep back no jot or tittle of the truth), I did speed me so fast that
I was at the window ere his lordship reached my lady's side.
He came slowly, but his look went before him, and was fast upon my
lady's face ere he himself was within ten yards of her. When at last he
was come to her side, he did stand and look down on her, but uttered no
word. And also my lady did look down, and there was a light like sunset
on her cheek.
Then suddenly did he drop upon his knees beside her, and bowed down his
head upon her knee and was silent. Then my lady (God forever keep her!)
did turn her eyes quickly, and stole a look to see that no one was nigh
(God forgive my dastardly presence!), and did reach out one pale hand,
half fearfully as 'twere, and did let it rest upon the man's bowed head,
as a white rose-leaf falls and rests on the earth. And she said but two
words, "My friend;" yet methought all love was in them. Whereat he
raised his head and looked at her, and it is so that men look upward
when they pray. He took her hands with his and held them to his breast,
and he saith, "Dear saint, if thou forgivest me, wilt thou but kiss my
brow?" And she bended forward and kissed him; and he trembled, calling
her by name; and she asked him what he would with her. Then kneeling at
her side, he spoke to her, and his words were as follows:
"Thou hast heard of my life and of my misfortunes, but all hath not been
told thee. Grant me but patience for a moment, that I myself may tell
thee all."