Part 68 (2/2)
On this stern refusal the tender Manon sighed, and clasped her palms together despondently. Denys told her she need not fret. There were soldiers of a lower stamp, who would not make two bites of such a cherry. It was a mere matter of money; if she could find two angels, he would find two soldiers to do the dirty work of the ”White Hart.”
This was not very palatable. However, reflecting that soldiers were birds of pa.s.sage, drinking here to-night, knocked on the head there to-morrow, she said, softly, ”Send them out to me. But prithee, tell them that 'tis for one that is my friend; let them not think 'tis for me. I should sink into th' earth; times are changed.”
Denys found warriors glad to win an angel apiece so easily. He sent them out, and instantly dismissing the subject with contempt, sat brooding on his lost friend.
Manon and the warriors soon came to a general understanding. But what were they to do with the body when taken down? She murmured, ”The river is nigh the--the--place.”
”Fling him in, eh?”
”Nay, nay; be not so cruel! Could ye not put him--gently--in--with somewhat weighty?”
She must have been thinking on the subject in detail; for she was not one to whom ideas came quickly.
All was speedily agreed, except the time of payment. The mail-clad itched for it, and sought it in advance. Manon demurred to that.
What, did she doubt their word? then let her come along with them, or watch them at a distance.
”Me?” said Manon, with horror. ”I would liever die than see it done.”
”Which yet you would have done.”
”Ay, for sore is my need. Times are changed.” She had already forgotten her precept to Denys.
An hour later the disagreeable relic of caterpillar existence ceased to canker the wors.h.i.+pful matron's public life, and the grim eyes of the past to cast malignant glances down into a white hind's clover field.
Total. She made the landlord an average wife, and a prime house-dog, and outlived everybody.
Her troops, when they returned from executing with mediaeval navete the precept ”Off wi' the auld love,” received a shock. They found the market-place black with groups; it had been empty an hour ago.
Conscience smote them. This came of meddling with the dead. However, the bolder of the two, encouraged by the darkness, stole forward alone, and slily mingled with a group: he soon returned to his companion, saying, in a tone of reproach not strictly reasonable,
”Ye born fool, it is only a miracle.”
CHAPTER XLII
LETTERS of fire on the church wall had just inquired, with an appearance of genuine curiosity, why there was no ma.s.s for the duke in this time of trouble. The supernatural expostulation had been seen by many, and had gradually faded, leaving the spectators glued there gaping. The upshot was, that the corporation, not choosing to be behind the angelic powers in loyalty to a temporal sovereign, invested freely in ma.s.ses. By this an old friend of ours, the cure, profited in hard cash; for which he had a very pretty taste. But for this I would not of course have detained you over so trite an occurrence as a miracle.
Denys begged for his arms, ”Why disgrace him as well as break his heart?”
”Then swear on the cross of thy sword not to leave the b.a.s.t.a.r.d's service until the sedition shall be put down.” He yielded to necessity, and delivered three volleys of oaths, and recovered his arms and liberty.
The troops halted at ”The Three Fish,” and Marion at sight of him cried out, ”I'm out of luck; who would have thought to see you again?” then seeing he was sad, and rather hurt than amused at this blunt jest, she asked him what was amiss? He told her. She took a bright view of the case. Gerard was too handsome and well-behaved to come to harm. The women too would always be on his side. Moreover, it was clear that things must either go well or ill with him. In the former case he would strike in with some good company going to Rome; in the latter, he would return home, perhaps be there before his friend; ”for you have a trifle of fighting to do in Flanders by all accounts.” She then brought him his gold pieces, and steadily refused to accept one, though he urged her again and again. Denys was somewhat convinced by her argument, because she concurred with his own wishes, and was also cheered a little by finding her so honest. It made him think a little better of that world in which his poor little friend was walking alone.
Foot-soldiers in small bodies down to twos and threes were already on the road, making lazily towards Flanders, many of them penniless, but pa.s.sed from town to town by the bailiffs, with orders for food and lodging on the innkeepers.
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