The White Company

by Arthur Conan Doyle

  CHAPTER XXV. HOW SIR NIGEL WROTE TO TWYNHAM CASTLE.

  On the morning after the jousting, when Alleyne Edricson went, as washis custom, into his master's chamber to wait upon him in his dressingand to curl his hair, he found him already up and very busily at work.He sat at a table by the window, a deer-hound on one side of him and alurcher on the other, his feet tucked away under the trestle on whichhe sat, and his tongue in his cheek, with the air of a man who is muchperplexed. A sheet of vellum lay upon the board in front of him, andhe held a pen in his hand, with which he had been scribbling in a rudeschoolboy hand. So many were the blots, however, and so numerous thescratches and erasures, that he had at last given it up in despair, andsat with his single uncovered eye cocked upwards at the ceiling, as onewho waits upon inspiration.

  "By Saint Paul!" he cried, as Alleyne entered, "you are the man who willstand by me in this matter. I have been in sore need of you, Alleyne."

  "God be with you, my fair lord!" the squire answered. "I trust that youhave taken no hurt from all that you have gone through yesterday."

  "Nay; I feel the fresher for it, Alleyne. It has eased my joints, whichwere somewhat stiff from these years of peace. I trust, Alleyne, thatthou didst very carefully note and mark the bearing and carriage ofthis knight of France; for it is time, now when you are young, that youshould see all that is best, and mould your own actions in accordance.This was a man from whom much honor might be gained, and I have seldommet any one for whom I have conceived so much love and esteem. CouldI but learn his name, I should send you to him with my cartel, that wemight have further occasion to watch his goodly feats of arms."

  "It is said, my fair lord, that none know his name save only the LordChandos, and that he is under vow not to speak it. So ran the gossip atthe squires' table."

  "Be he who he might, he was a very hardy gentleman. But I have a taskhere, Alleyne, which is harder to me than aught that was set before meyesterday."

  "Can I help you, my lord?"

  "That indeed you can. I have been writing my greetings to my sweet wife;for I hear that a messenger goes from the prince to Southampton withinthe week, and he would gladly take a packet for me. I pray you, Alleyne,to cast your eyes upon what I have written, and see it they are suchwords as my lady will understand. My fingers, as you can see, are moreused to iron and leather than to the drawing of strokes and turning ofletters. What then? Is there aught amiss, that you should stare so?"

  "It is this first word, my lord. In what tongue were you pleased towrite?"

  "In English; for my lady talks it more than she doth French.

  "Yet this is no English word, my sweet lord. Here are four t's and nevera letter betwixt them."

  "By St. Paul! it seemed strange to my eye when I wrote it," said SirNigel. "They bristle up together like a clump of lances. We must breaktheir ranks and set them farther apart. The word is 'that.' Now I willread it to you, Alleyne, and you shall write it out fair; for we leaveBordeaux this day, and it would be great joy to me to think that theLady Loring had word from me."

  Alleyne sat down as ordered, with a pen in his hand and a fresh sheetof parchment before him, while Sir Nigel slowly spelled out his letter,running his forefinger on from word to word.

  "That my heart is with thee, my dear sweeting, is what thine own heartwill assure thee of. All is well with us here, save that Pepin haththe mange on his back, and Pommers hath scarce yet got clear of hisstiffness from being four days on ship-board, and the more so becausethe sea was very high, and we were like to founder on account of a holein her side, which was made by a stone cast at us by certain sea-rovers,who may the saints have in their keeping, for they have gone fromamongst us, as has young Terlake, and two-score mariners and archers,who would be the more welcome here as there is like to be a very finewar, with much honor and all hopes of advancement, for which I go togather my Company together, who are now at Montaubon, where they pillageand destroy; yet I hope that, by God's help, I may be able to show thatI am their master, even as, my sweet lady, I am thy servant."

  "How of that, Alleyne?" continued Sir Nigel, blinking at his squire,with an expression of some pride upon his face. "Have I not told her allthat hath befallen us?"

  "You have said much, my fair lord; and yet, if I may say so, it issomewhat crowded together, so that my Lady Loring can, mayhap, scarcefollow it. Were it in shorter periods----"

  "Nay, it boots me not how you marshal them, as long as they are allthere at the muster. Let my lady have the words, and she will placethem in such order as pleases her best. But I would have you add what itwould please her to know."

  "That will I," said Alleyne, blithely, and bent to the task.

  "My fair lady and mistress," he wrote, "God hath had us in His keeping,and my lord is well and in good cheer. He hath won much honor at thejousting before the prince, when he alone was able to make it goodagainst a very valiant man from France. Touching the moneys, there isenough and to spare until we reach Montaubon. Herewith, my fair lady,I send my humble regards, entreating you that you will give the sameto your daughter, the Lady Maude. May the holy saints have you both intheir keeping is ever the prayer of thy servant,

  "ALLEYNE EDRICSON."

  "That is very fairly set forth," said Sir Nigel, nodding his bald headas each sentence was read to him. "And for thyself, Alleyne, if there beany dear friend to whom you would fain give greeting, I can send it forthee within this packet."

  "There is none," said Alleyne, sadly.

  "Have you no kinsfolk, then?"

  "None, save my brother."

  "Ha! I had forgotten that there was ill blood betwixt you. But are therenone in all England who love thee?"

  "None that I dare say so."

  "And none whom you love?"

  "Nay, I will not say that," said Alleyne.

  Sir Nigel shook his head and laughed softly to himself, "I see how itis with you," he said. "Have I not noted your frequent sighs and vacanteye? Is she fair?"

  "She is indeed," cried Alleyne from his heart, all tingling at thissudden turn of the talk.

  "And good?"

  "As an angel."

  "And yet she loves you not?"

  "Nay, I cannot say that she loves another."

  "Then you have hopes?"

  "I could not live else."

  "Then must you strive to be worthy of her love. Be brave and pure,fearless to the strong and humble to the weak; and so, whether this loveprosper or no, you will have fitted yourself to be honored by a maiden'slove, which is, in sooth, the highest guerdon which a true knight canhope for."

  "Indeed, my lord, I do so strive," said Alleyne; "but she is so sweet,so dainty, and of so noble a spirit, that I fear me that I shall neverbe worthy of her."

  "By thinking so you become worthy. Is she then of noble birth?"

  "She is, my lord," faltered Alleyne.

  "Of a knightly house?"

  "Yes."

  "Have a care, Alleyne, have a care!" said Sir Nigel, kindly. "The higherthe steed the greater the fall. Hawk not at that which may be beyond thyflight."

  "My lord, I know little of the ways and usages of the world," criedAlleyne, "but I would fain ask your rede upon the matter. You have knownmy father and my kin: is not my family one of good standing and repute?"

  "Beyond all question."

  "And yet you warn me that I must not place my love too high."

  "Were Minstead yours, Alleyne, then, by St. Paul! I cannot think thatany family in the land would not be proud to take you among them, seeingthat you come of so old a strain. But while the Socman lives----Ha, bymy soul! if this is not Sir Oliver's step I am the more mistaken."

  As he spoke, a heavy footfall was heard without, and the portly knightflung open the door and strode into the room.

  "Why, my little coz," said he, "I have come across to tell you thatI live above the barber's in the Rue de la Tour, and that there is avenison pasty in the oven and two flasks of the right vintage on thetable. By St. James! a blind ma
n might find the place, for one has butto get in the wind from it, and follow the savory smell. Put on yourcloak, then, and come, for Sir Walter Hewett and Sir Robert Briquet,with one or two others, are awaiting us."

  "Nay, Oliver, I cannot be with you, for I must to Montaubon this day."

  "To Montaubon? But I have heard that your Company is to come with myforty Winchester rascals to Dax."

  "If you will take charge of them, Oliver. For I will go to Montaubonwith none save my two squires and two archers. Then, when I have foundthe rest of my Company I shall lead them to Dax. We set forth thismorning."

  "Then I must back to my pasty," said Sir Oliver. "You will find us atDax, I doubt not, unless the prince throw me into prison, for he is verywroth against me."

  "And why, Oliver?"

  "Pardieu! because I have sent my cartel, gauntlet, and defiance to SirJohn Chandos and to Sir William Felton."

  "To Chandos? In God's name, Oliver, why have you done this?"

  "Because he and the other have used me despitefully."

  "And how?"

  "Because they have passed me over in choosing those who should joust forEngland. Yourself and Audley I could pass, coz, for you are mature men;but who are Wake, and Percy, and Beauchamp? By my soul! I was proddingfor my food into a camp-kettle when they were howling for their pap. Isa man of my weight and substance to be thrown aside for the first threehalf-grown lads who have learned the trick of the tilt-yard? But harkye, coz, I think of sending my cartel also to the prince."

  "Oliver! Oliver! You are mad!"

  "Not I, i' faith! I care not a denier whether he be prince or no. BySaint James! I see that your squire's eyes are starting from his headlike a trussed crab. Well, friend, we are all three men of Hampshire,and not lightly to be jeered at."

  "Has he jeered at you than?"

  "Pardieu! yes, 'Old Sir Oliver's heart is still stout,' said one of hiscourt. 'Else had it been out of keeping with the rest of him,' quoth theprince. 'And his arm is strong,' said another. 'So is the backbone ofhis horse,' quoth the prince. This very day I will send him my carteland defiance."

  "Nay, nay, my dear Oliver," said Sir Nigel, laying his hand upon hisangry friend's arm. "There is naught in this, for it was but saying thatyou were a strong and robust man, who had need of a good destrier. Andas to Chandos and Felton, bethink you that if when you yourself wereyoung the older lances had ever been preferred, how would you then havehad the chance to earn the good name and fame which you now bear? You donot ride as light as you did, Oliver, and I ride lighter by the weightof my hair, but it would be an ill thing if in the evening of our liveswe showed that our hearts were less true and loyal than of old. If sucha knight as Sir Oliver Buttesthorn may turn against his own prince forthe sake of a light word, then where are we to look for steadfast faithand constancy?"

  "Ah! my dear little coz, it is easy to sit in the sunshine and preach tothe man in the shadow. Yet you could ever win me over to your side withthat soft voice of yours. Let us think no more of it then. But, holyMother! I had forgot the pasty, and it will be as scorched as JudasIscariot! Come, Nigel, lest the foul fiend get the better of me again."

  "For one hour, then; for we march at mid-day. Tell Aylward, Alleyne,that he is to come with me to Montaubon, and to choose one archer forhis comrade. The rest will to Dax when the prince starts, which will bebefore the feast of the Epiphany. Have Pommers ready at mid-day with mysycamore lance, and place my harness on the sumpter mule."

  With these brief directions, the two old soldiers strode off together,while Alleyne hastened to get all in order for their journey.