Part 38 (1/2)
”Pull him up!” he whispered, and for an instant the gray glimmer above him was obscured.
”We have him, fair sir,” said Simon.
”Then drop me the rope and hold it fast.”
A moment later Nigel stood among the group of men who had gathered round their captive. It was too dark to see him, and they dare not strike flint and steel.
Simon pa.s.sed his hand roughly over him and felt a fat clean-shaven face, and a cloth gabardine which hung to the ankles. ”Who are you?” he whispered. ”Speak the truth and speak it low, if you would ever speak again.”
The man's teeth chattered in his head with cold and fright. ”I speak no English,” he murmured.
”French, then,” said Nigel.
”I am a holy priest of G.o.d. You court the ban of holy Church when you lay hands upon me. I pray you let me go upon my way, for there are those whom I would shrive and housel. If they should die in sin, their d.a.m.nation is upon you.”
”How are you called then?”
”I am Dom Peter de Cervolles.”
”De Cervolles, the arch-priest, he who heated the brazier when they burned out my eyes,” cried old Andreas. ”Of all the devils in h.e.l.l there is none fouler than this one. Friends, friends, if I have done aught for you this night, I ask but one reward, that ye let me have my will of this man.”
But Nigel pushed the old man back. ”There is no time for this,” he said.
”Now hark you, priest--if priest indeed you be--your gown and tonsure will not save you if you play us false, for we are here of a set purpose and we will go forward with it, come what may. Answer me and answer me truly or it will be an ill night for you. In what part of the Castle does this tunnel enter?”
”In the lower cellar.”
”What is at the end?”
”An oaken door.”
”Is it barred?”
”Yes, it is barred.”
”How would you have entered?”
”I would have given the pa.s.sword.”
”Who then would have opened?”
”There is a guard within.”
”And beyond him?”
”Beyond him are the prison cells and the jailers.”
”Who else would be afoot?”
”No one save a guard at the gate and another on the battlement.”
”What then is the pa.s.sword?”