第6章

StillIwastroubledaboutthismatter,forsomeofthesepriestswereveryfierceandintolerant,andIwassurethatintimetheywouldpushthebusinessfurther。

OnemorethingInoticedaboutKari,namely,thatheshrankfromwomenandindeedseemedtohatethem。Themaidswhohadremainedwithmesincemyuncle"sdeathnoticedthis,bynatureasitwere,andinrevengewouldnotservehim。Theendofitwasthat,fearinglesttheyshoulddohimsomeevilturnwiththepriestsorotherwise,Isentthemawayandhiredmentotaketheirplace。ThisdistasteofKariforwomenIsetdowntoallthathehadsufferedatthehandsofhisfalseandbeautifulwifenotwronglyasIthink。

CHAPTERV

THECOMINGOFBLANCHE

Oneday,itwasthelastoftheyear,theanniversaryofthedeathofmyunclewhosegoodnessandwisdomIponderedonmoreandmoreastimewentby,havingalittletimetosparefromlargeraffairs,Ichancedtobeintheshopinthefrontofthehouse,which,asJohnGrimmerhadsaid,hekeptasatrapto"snaretheladybirds,"andIcontinued,becauseIknewthathewouldnotwishthatanythingshouldbechanged。

HereIwaspleasingmyselfbylookingoversuchpiecesaswehadtosellwhichtheheadcraftsmanwasshowingtome,sincemyselfIknewlittleofthem,exceptasamatterofaccount。

WhilstIwasthusengagedthereenteredtheshopaveryfineladyaccompaniedbyastillfinerlordlingarrayedsosimilarlythat,atfirstsight,intheirhoodederminecloaksitwasdifficulttoknowwhichwasmanandwhichwaswoman。Whentheythrewtheseaside,however,fortheshopwaswarmaftertheopenair,Iknewmorethanthat,sincewithasuddenstoppageoftheheartIsawbeforemenoneotherthantheladyBlancheAleysandherrelative,thelordDeleroy。

She,whointheolddaysoftheHastingsburningshadbeenbutalilybud,wasnowanopenflowerandbeautifulexceedingly;indeedinherownfashionthemostbeautifulwomanthateverIbeheld。Tallshewasandstatelyasalilybloom,whiteasalilyalso,saveforthosewondrousblueeyesoverwhichcurledthedarklashes。Inshape,too,shewasperfect,full—breasted,yetnottoofull,small—waisted,andwithdelicatelimbs,averyVenus,suchanoneasIhadseeninancientmarblebroughtinashipfromItalyandgiven,asIbelieve,totheKing,wholovedsuchthings,tobesetupinhispalace。

Mylordalsowasyethandsomerthanhehadbeen,moresetandmanly,thoughstillheaffectedhiscoxcombparty—coloureddresswiththeturned—upshoesofwhichthepointswerefastenedbylittlegoldenchainsbeneaththeknee。Stillhewasafinemanwithhisrovingblackeyes,hisloosemouthandlittlepointedbeardfromwhich,asfromhishair,cameanodourofscents。Seeingmeinmymerchant"sgown,forI

remainedmindfulofmyuncle"sadviceasregardsattire,hespoketomeasgreatmendotoshop—keepers。

"Wellmet,Goldsmith,"hesaidinhisround,well—trainedvoice,"I

wouldmakeanew—yeargifttotheladyhere,andIamtoldthatyouhaveplate—waresofthebest;goldcupsandjewelsofrichandraredesign,stampedallofthemwiththeimageofthesunwhichonewouldwishtorememberonsuchadayasthis。Buthearken,letJohnGrimmerhimselfcometoservemeforIwouldtreatwithnounderlings,ortakemetohimwhereheis。"

NowIbowedbeforehim,rubbingmyhands,andanswered,forsothehumourledme:"ThenIfearthatImusttakemylordfartherthanmylordwouldwishtotraveljustatpresent,thoughwhoknows？

Perchance,liketherestofus,hemaytakethatjourneysoonerthanhethinks。"

NowatthesoundofmyvoiceIsawtheladyBlanchestareatme,tryingtocatchsightofmyfacebeneaththehoodwhichIworeonthiscoldday,whileDeleroystartedandsaidbriefly:

"Yourmeaning？"

"Itisplain,mylord。JohnGrimmerisdeadandIknownotwherehedwellsatpresentsincehetookthatsecretwithhim。ButI,whounworthilycarryonhistrade,amatyourlordship"sservice。"

ThenIturnedandbadetheshopmancommandKaritocomehitherandbringwithhimthechoicestofourcupsandjewels。

HewentandIbusiedmyselfinsettingstoolsforthesenoblecustomerstorestonbeforethefire。AsIdidsobychancemyhandtouchedthatoftheladyBlanche,whereatoncemoreshestrovetopeerbeneathmyhood。Itwasasthoughthenatureinherknewthattouchagain,asbysomeinstincteverywomandoes,ifoncethetoucher"slipshavebeennearherown,thoughitbelongago。ButIonlyturnedmyheadawayanddrewthathoodthecloser。

NowKaricameandwithhimtheshopman,bearingthepreciouswares。

Kariworeawool—linedrobe,veryplain,whichyetbecamehimsowellthatwithhisfine—cutfaceandflashingeyeshelookedlikeanEasternprincedisguised。Athimthisfinepairstared,forneverhadtheyseensuchaman,buttakingnonote,withmanybowsheshowedthejewelsonebyone。Amongthesewasagemofgreatvalue,alarge,heart—shapedrubythatKarihadsetinasurroundoftwistedgoldenserpentswithheadsraisedtostrikeandlittleeyesofdiamonds。UponthisbroochtheladyBlanchefixedhergazeanddiscardingallothers,begantoplaywithit,tillatlengththelordDeleroyaskedtheprice。IconsultedwithKari,explainingthatmyselfIdidnothandlethisbranchofmybusiness,thennameditcarelessly;itwasagreatsum。

"God"struth！Blanche,"saidDeleroy,"thismerchantthinksIammadeofgold。Youmustchooseacheaperornamentforyournewyear"sgift,orhewillhavetowaitforpayment。"

"WhichmayhapIshouldbewillingtodofromoneofyourquality,mylord,"Iinterrupted,bowing。

Helookedatmeandsaid:

"CanIhaveawordapartwithyou,merchant？"

AgainIbowedandledhimtotheeating—roomwherehegazedabouthim,amazedattherichnessofthefurnishings。HesathimdownuponacarvenchairwhileIstoodbeforehimhumblyandwaited。

"Iamtold,"hesaidatlength,"thatJohnGrimmerdidotherbusinessbesidesthatofsellingjewels。"

"Yes,mylord,someforeigntrade。"

"Andsomehometradealso。Imeanthathelentmoney。"

"Attimes,mylord,andongoodsecurity,ifhechancedtohaveanyatcommand,andatacertaininterest。Perhapsmylordwillcometohispoint。"

"Itisshortandclear。ThoseofuswhoareatCourtalwayswantmoneywhereitisneedfulifwewouldhaveadvancementandearntheroyalfavourofonewhodoesnotpay,atleastingold。"

"Bepleasedtostatetheamountandthesecurityoffered,mylord。"

Hedidso。Thesumwashighandthesecuritywasbad。

"Arethereanywhowouldstandsuretyformylord？"

"Yes,oneofgreatestate,SirRobertAleys,whohaswidelandsinSussex。"

"Ihaveheardthename,andifmylordwillbidhislawyersputthematterinwriting,Iwillcausethelandstobevaluedandgiveananswerasquicklyasmaybe。"

"Forayoungmanyouarecareful,merchant。"

"Alas！suchasIneedtobewhomustguardoursmallearningsinthesetroubloustimesofwarandtumult。SuchasumasyouspeakofwouldtakeallthatJohnGrimmerandIhavelaidbyafteryearsoftoil。"

Againhelookedatthefurnishingsoftheroomandshruggedhisshoulders,thensaid:

"Good,itshallbedonefortheneedisurgent。Towhomisthelettertobesent？"

"ToJohnGrimmer,attheBoatHouse,Cheapside。"

"ButyoutoldmethatJohnGrimmerwasdead。"

"Andsoheis,mylord,buthisnameremains。"

ThenwereturnedtothesopandaswewentIsaid,"Ifyourlordship"sladyshouldsetherheartupontherubythecostofitcanstandoverawhile,sinceIknowthatitishardforahusbandtodisappointawifeofwhatshedesires。"

"Man,sheismydistantcousin,notmywife。Iwouldshewere,buthowcantwohigh—placedpauperswed？"

"Perhapsitisforthisreasonthatmylordwishestoborrowmoney。"

Againheshruggedhisshoulders,andasweenteredtheshopIthrewbackthehoodfromoffmyheaduponwhichIworeamerchant"scapofvelvet。TheladyBlanchecaughtsightofmeandstarted。

"Surely,surely,"shebegan,"youarehewhoshotthethreearrowsatthecave"smouthatHastings。"

"Yes,mylady,anddidyourhawkescapethedogsupontheLondonroad？"

"Nay,itwascrippledanddied,whichwasthefirstofmanytroubles,forIthinkmyluckrodeawaywithyouthatday,MasterHubertofHastings,"sheaddedwithasigh。

"Thereareotherhawksandluckreturns,"Ireplied,bowing。"Perhapsthistrinketwillbringitbacktoyou,mylady,"andtakingthesnake—surroundedrubyheart,Iprofferedittoherwithanotherbow。

"Oh！"shesaid,herblueeyesshiningwithpleasure,"oh！itisbeautiful,butwhenceisthepricetocomeforsocostlyathing？"

"Ithinkthematterisonethatcanwait。"

AtthatmomentthelordDeleroybrokein,saying,"SoyouarethemanwhoslewtheFrenchknightwithanancientsword,andafterwardsshotthreeotherFrenchmenwiththreeshafts,sendingoneofthemthroughshieldandmailandbody,atalethatwasspokenofafterwards,eveninLondon。God"struth！youshouldbeservingtheKinginthewars,notyourselfbehindthecounter。"

"Therearemanywaysofserving,mylord,"Ianswered,"bypenandmerchandiseaswellasbysteelandshafts。Nowwithmeitistheturnoftheformer,thoughperhapstheancientswordandthegreatblackbowwaittilltheirtimecomesagain。"

Hestaredatmeandmuttered,halftohimself:

"Astrangemerchantandagrim,asthosedeadFrenchmenmayhavethought。Itellyou,SirTrader,thatyourtalkandtheeyesofthattallMoorofyoursturnmybackcold;itisasthoughsomeonewalkedovermygrave。Come,Blanche,letusbegoneereourhorsesbechilledasIam。MasterGrimmer,orHastings,youshallhearfromme,unlessI

candomybusinessotherwise,andforthetrinketsendmeanoteatyourleisure。"

Thentheywent,butastheladyBlanchelefttheshopshecaughtherrobeandturnedtofreeit,whileshedidsoflashingatmeoneofhersweetlookssuchasIrememberedwell。

Karifollowedtothedoorandwatchedthemmounttheirhorsesatthegate,thenhesearchedthegroundwithhiseyes。

"Whatwasithookedhercloak？"Iasked。

"Adream,ortheair,Master,forthereisnothingelsetowhichitcouldhavehung。Thosewhowouldthrowspearsbehindthemmustfirstturnround。"

"Whatthinkyouofthosetwo,Kari？"

"Ithinkthattheywillnotpayforyourjewel,butperhapsthiswasbutabaituponthehook。"

"Andwhatmore,Kari？"

"Ithinkthattheladyisveryfairandfalse,andthatthegreatlord"sheartisasblackasarehiseyes。AlsoIthinkthattheyaredeartoeachotherandwellmatched。Butitseemsthatyouhavemetthembothbefore,Master,soyouwillknowbetteraboutthemthanyourslave。"

"Yes,Ihavemetthem,"Iansweredsharply,forhiswordsaboutBlancheangeredme,adding,"Ihavenoted,Kari,thatyouhaveneveragoodwordforanyonewhomIfavour。Youarejealous—natured,Kari,especiallyofwomen。"

"Youask,Ianswer,"hereplied,fallingintobrokenEnglish,aswashisfashionwhenmoved,"anditistruethatthosewhohavemuchlove,aremuchjealous。Thatisafaultinmypeople。AlsoIlovenotwomen。

NowIgomakeanotherpieceforthatwhichMastergivethelady。Onlythistimeitallsnakeandnoheart。"

Hewent,takingthetrayofjewelswithhim,andI,too,wenttotheeating—roomtothink。

Howstrangewasthismeeting。IhadneverforgottentheladyBlanche,butinasenseIhadlivedhermemorydownandmindfulofmyuncle"scounsel,hadnotsoughttolookuponheragain,forwhichreasonI

keptawayfromHastingswhereIthoughtthatIshouldfindher。AndnowhereshewasinLondonandinmyhouse,broughtthitherbyfate。

Norwasthatall,sincethoseblueeyesofhershadre—lightedthedeadfiresinmyheartand,seatedtherealone,IknewthatIlovedher;indeedhadneverceasedtoloveher。Shewasmoretomethanallmywealth,morethananything,andalas！betweenustherewasstillagreatgulffixed。

Shewasnotwed,itwastrue,butshewasahighlyplacedlady,andI

butamerchantwhocouldnotevencallmyselfasquire,orbylawweargarmentsmadeofcertainstuffswhichIhandleddailyinmytrade。Howmightthatgulfbecrossed？

ThenasImusedthereroseinmymindamemoryofcertainsayingsofmywiseolduncle,andwithitananswertothequestion。Goldwouldbridgethewideststreamsofhumandifference。Thesefinefolkforalltheirflauntingswerepoor。Theycametometoborrowmoneywherewithtogildtheircoronetsandsatisfytheimportunatecreditorsattheirdoor,lesttheyshouldbepulledfromtheirhighplaceandforcedbackintothenumberofthecommonherdasthosewhocouldnolongereithergiveorpay。

Andafterall,wasthisdifferencebetweenthemandmesowide？ThegrandsireofSirRobertAleys,Ihadbeentold,gatheredhiswealthbytradeandusuryintheoldwars;indeed,itwassaidthathewasonewhodealtincattle,whileLordDeleroywasreportedtobeabastard,ifofthebluestblood,sobluethatitrannightotheroyalpurple。

Well,whatwasmine？Onthefather"sside,SaxondescendedfromthatofThaneswhowentdownbeforetheNormansandthereafterbecamehumblelandedfolkofthelessersort。Onthemother"s,oftheraceoftheoldsea—kingswhoslewandconqueredthroughalltheworldtheyknew。WasIthensofarbeneaththeseothers？Nay,butlikemyfatherandmyuncleIwasonewhoboughtandsoldandthehandofthedyerwasstainedtothecolourofhisvat。

Thusstoodthebusiness。I,astubbornman,notill—favoured,towhomFortunehadgivenwealth,wasdeterminedtowinthiswomanwho,itseemedtome,lookeduponmewithnounkindeyesinceIhadsavedherfromcertainperils。TomyselfthenandthereIsworeIwouldwinher。

Thequestionwas——howcoulditbedone？ImightentertheserviceoftheKingandfighthisbattlesanddoubtlesswinmyselfaknighthood,ormore,whichwouldopentheclosedgate。

Nay,itwouldtaketoolong,andsomethingwarnedmethattimepressed。Thatstrangeforeignman,Kari,saidthatBlanchewasenamouredofthisDeleroy,andalthoughIwaswrathwithhim,settinghiswordsdowntojealousyofanyonwhomIlookedwithkindness,I

knewwellthatKarisawfar。IfItarried,thisrarewhitebirdwouldslipfrommyhandintoanother"scage。Imuststiratonceorletthematterbe。Well,Ihadwealth,soletwealthbemyfriend。Timeenoughtotrywarwhenitfailedme。

Onthethirddayofthenewyear,whichatthistimeofCourtrevelryshowedthatthemattermustindeedbepressing,IreceivedthoseparticularsforwhichIhadasked,togetherwithalistofthelandsandtenementsthatSirRobertAleyswasreadytoputinpawnonbehalfofhisfriendandrelative,thelordDeleroy。Whyshouldhedothis,I

wondered？Therecouldonlybeoneanswer:becauseheandnotDeleroywastoreceivethemoney,ormostofit。

Nay,anothercameintomymindasprobable。BecausehelookeduponDeleroyashisheir,which,shouldhemarrytheladyBlanche,hewouldbecome。IfthisweresoImustact,andquickly,thatis,ifIwouldeverseemoreoftheladyBlanche,asperchanceImightdobytreadingthisgold—pavedroad,butnototherwise。Istudiedthelistoflands。

AsitchancedIknewmostofthem,fortheylayaboutPevenseyandHastings,andsawthattheywerescarcelyworththemoneyswhichwereaskedofme。Well,whatofit？Thismatterwasnotoneoftradeandlargeasthesummightbe,IwouldriskitforthechanceofwinningBlanche。

TheendofitwasthatwaitingfornovaluingsIwrotethatonproofoftitlecleanandunencumberedandcompletionofalldeeds,Iwouldpayoverthegoldtowhoevermightbeappointedtoreceiveit。

Thisletterofmineprovedtobebutthebeginningofalongbusinesswhereofthedetailsmaybeleftuntold。OntheverynextdayindeedI

wassummonedtothehouseofSirRobertAleyswhichwasneartothepalaceandabbeyofWestminster。HereIfoundthegruffoldknightgrowngreyerandhaving,asitseemedtome,ahuntedair,andwithhimthelordDeleroyandtwofoxylawyersofwhomIdidnotlikethelook。Indeed,forthefirst,IsuspectedthatIwasbeingtrickedandhaditnotbeenfortheladyBlanche,wouldhavebrokenofftheloan。

Becauseofher,however,thisIdidnotdo,buthavingstatedmytermsanew,andtherateanddatesofinterest,satforalongwhilesayingaslittleaspossible,whiletheothersunfoldedparchmentsandtalkedandtalked,tellingtalesthatoftencontradictedeachother,tillatlengththelordDeleroy,whoseemedillatease,grewwearyandleftthechamber。Atlastallwasdonethatcouldbedoneatthatsittinganditbeingpastthehourofdinner,Iwastakenintoeat,consenting,becauseIhopedthatIshouldseetheladyBlanche。

Abutler,orchamber—groom,ledmetothedining—hallandsatmewiththelawyersatatablebeneaththedais。PresentlyonthisdaisappearedSirRobertAleys,hisdaughterBlanche,thelordDeleroy,andperhapseightortenotherfinefolkwhomIhadneverseen。She,lookingabouther,sawmeseatedatthelowertable,andspoketoherfatherandDeleroy,reasoningwiththelatter,asitwouldappear。

Indeed,inasuddenhushIcaughtsomeofherwords。Theywere,"Ifyouarenotashamedtotakehismoney,youshouldnotbeashamedtositatmeatwithhim。"

Deleroystampedhisfoot,buttheendofitwasthatIwassummonedtothehightablewheretheladyBlanchemadeplaceformebesideher,whileDeleroysathimselfdownbetweentwosplendiddamesattheotherendoftheboard。

Here,then,IstayedbyBlanchewho,Inoted,woretherubyheartencircledbyserpents。Indeed,thiswasthefirstthingofwhichshespoketome,saying,"Itlookswelluponmyrobe,doesitnot,andIthankyouforit,MasterHubert,whoknowsurelythatitisnotmycousinDeleroy"sgift,butyours,sinceforityouwillneverseeyourmoney。"

BywayofanswerIlookedatthesumptuousplateandfurnishings,theprofusionoftheviands,andthenumberoftheserving—men。Readingmythought,shereplied,"Aye,butpledged,allofit。Itellyou,MasterHubert,thatwearestarvedhounds,thoughweliveinakennelwithgoldenbars。Andnowtheywouldpawnyouthatkennelalso。"

Then,whileIwonderedwhattosay,shebegantotalkofourgreatadventureinbygoneyears,recallingeverytinythingthathadhappenedandeverywordthathadbeenspokenbetweenus,someofwhichIhadforgotten。Ofonethingonlyshesaidnothing——thekisseswithwhichweparted。Amongstmuchelse,shespokeofhowtheancientswordhadshornthroughthearmouroftheFrenchknight,andItoldherthattheswordwasnamedWave—Flameandthatithadcomedowntomefrommyancestor,ThorgrimmertheViking,andofwhatwaswrittenonitsblade,toallofwhichshelistenedgreedily。

"Andtheythoughtyounotfittositatmeatwiththem,youwhoseraceissooldandwhoaresogreatawarrior,asyoushowedthatday。AnditistoyouthatIowemylifeandmorethanlife,toyouandnottothem。"

Sosayingsheshotaglanceatmethatpiercedmethroughandthrough,asmyarrowshadpiercedtheFrenchmen,andwhatismorebeneaththecoveroftheboardforamomentletherslimhandrestuponmyown。

Afterthisforawhileweweresilent,forindeedIcouldnotspeak。

Thenwetalkedonaswecoulddowellenough,sincetherewasnooneonmyleftwheretheboardended,andonBlanche"srightwasafatoldlordwhoseemedtobedeafandoccupiedhimselfindrinkingmorethanheshouldhavedone。Itoldhermuchaboutmyself,alsowhatmymotherhadsaidtomeonthedayoftheBurning,andofhowshehadprophesiedthatIshouldbeawanderer,wordsatwhichBlanchesighedandanswered:

"YetyouseemtobewellplantedinLondonandinrichsoil,MasterHubert。"

"Aye,Lady,butitisnotmynativesoilandfortherestwegowhereFateleadsus。"

"Fate！Whatdoesthatwordbringtomymind？Ihaveit;yonderMoorofyourswhomakesthosejewels。HehastheveryeyesofFateandIfearhim。"

"Thatisstrange,Lady,andyetnotsostrange,foraboutthismanthereissomethingfateful。EverheswearstomethatIshallaccompanyhimtosomedimlandwherehewasborn,ofwhichlandheisaprince。"

ThenItoldherallthestoryofKari,towhichshelistenedopen—eyedandwondering,sayingwhenIhadfinished,"Soyousavedthispoorwandereralso,anddoubtlesshelovesyouwell。"

"Yes,Lady,almosttoowell,seeingthatattimesheisjealousofme,thoughGodknowsIdidlittleforhimsavepickhimfromacrowduponthequay。"

"Ah！Iguessit,whosawhimwatchingyoutheotherday。Yetitisstrange,forIthoughtthatonlywomencouldbejealousofmen,andmenofwomen。Hush！theyaremockingusbecausewetalksofriendly。"

Ilookedup,followingherglance,andsawthatDeleroyandthetwofineladiesbetweenwhomhesat,allofwhomappearedtohavehadenoughofwine,werepointingatus。Indeed,inasilence,suchasnowandagainhappensatfeasts,Iheardoneofthemsay,"Youhadbestbewarelestthatfairwhitedoveofyoursdoesnotslipyourhandandbegintocooinanother"sear,myLordDeleroy,"andheardhisanswer,"Nay,Ihavehertoofast,andwhocaresforapiningdovewhereofthefeathersadornanother"scap？"

WhilstIwaswonderingwhatthisdarktalkmightmeanthecompanybrokeup,theladyBlancheglidingawaythroughadooratthebackofthedais,followed,asInoted,byDeleroywhoseemedflushedandangry。

ManytimesIvisitedthatprodigalhousewhichseemedtometobethehauntoffolkwho,howeverhighlyplacedandgreatlyfavouredatCourt,wereaslooseintheirlivesastheywereintheirtalk。

Indeed,althoughIwasnosaint,Ilikedthemnotatall,especiallythemenwiththeirscentedhair,turned—upshoes,andparty—colouredclothes。NorasIthought,didSirRobertAleyslikethem,who,whateverhisfaults,wasabluffknightoftheoldersort,whohadfoughtwithcreditintheFrenchwars。YetInotedthatheseemedtobehelplessintheirhands,orratherinthoseofDeleroy,theKing"sfavourite,whowasthechiefofallthegang。Itwasasthoughthatgayandhandsomeyoungmanhadsomeholdovertheoldsoldier,yes,andoverhisdaughteralso,thoughwhatthismightbeIcouldnotguess。

NowIwillmoveonwiththetale。Induecoursetheparchmentsweresignedanddelivered,andthemoneyingoodgoldwaspaidoveronmybehalf,afterwhichthegreathouseholdatWestminsterbecamemoreprodigalthanbefore。Butwhenthetimecameforthedischargeoftheinterestduenotagroatwasforthcoming。Thenafterwardstherewastalkofmytakingovercertainofthepledgedlandsinlieuofthisinterest。SirRobertsuggestedthisandIassented,becauseBlanchehadtoldmethatitwouldhelpherfather。Onlywhenthematterwassetonfootbymylawyerswasitfoundthattheselandswerenothistotransfer,inasmuchastheyhadbeenalreadymortgagedtotheirvalue。

ThentherewasafiercequarrelbetweenSirRobertAleysandthelordDeleroy,atwhichIwaspresent。SirRobertwithmanyoathsaccusedhiscousinofhavingforgedhisnamewhenhewasabsentinFrance,whileDeleroydeclaredthatwhathedidwasdonewithdueauthority。

Almosttheydrewswordsoneachother,tillatlengthDeleroytookAleysasideandwithafiercegrinwhisperedsomethingintohisearwhichcausedtheoldknighttosinkdownonastoolandcallout,"Getyougone,youfalserogue！Getoutofthishouse,aye,andoutofEngland。IfImeetyouagain,byGod"sBloodIswearthatKing"sfavouriteornoKing"sfavourite,I"llthroatyoulikeahog！"