Part 38 (2/2)
”Tout-a-l'heure, monsieur,” replied the landlord ”At the moment he is absent He went out to take the air a couple of hours ago, and is not yet returned”
”Heaven send he has walked into the sea!” Crispin broke out passionately Then as passionately he checked himself ”No, no, my God--not that! I meant not that”
”Monsieur will sup?”
”At once, and let hts” The host withdrew, to return a hted tapers, which he set upon the table
As he was retiring, a heavy step sounded on the stair, accoainst the baluster
”Here comes milord's country up in apprehension, saw fraan
He sat bolt upright, staring as though he beheld an apparition With a sad san advanced, and set his hand affectionately upon Galliard's shoulder
”Welcome to France, Crispin,” said he ”If not him whoreet you”
”Hogan!” gasped the knight ”What make you here? How came you here?
Where is Jocelyn?”
The Irishhed and sank down upon a chair ”You have brought the lady?” he asked
”She is here She will be with us presently”
Hogan groaned and shook his grey head sorrowfully
”But where is Jocelyn?” cried Galliard again, and his haggard face looked very wan and white as he turned it inquiringly upon his companion ”Why is he not here?”
”I have bad news”
”Bad news?”of the words ”Bad news?” he repeatedhiht the lady too!” Hogan complained ”Faith, I had hoped that you had failed in that at least”
”Sdeath, Harry,” Crispin exclaian pondered a moinning,” said he ”Soht in the eant and the troop forthwith to London with the prisoner, keeping just two troopers with me An hour or so later a coach clattered into the yard, and out of it stepped a short, lean man in black, with a very evil face and a crooked eye, who bawled out that he was Joseph Ashburn of Castle Marleigh, a friend of the Lord General's, and that he must have horses on the instant to proceed upon his journey to London I was in the yard at the tiuessed what his business in London was He entered the inn to refresh himself and I followed hihted on was your son He gasped at sight of him, and when he had recovered his breath he let fly as round a volley of blasphemy as ever I heard from the lips of a Puritan When that was over, ”Fool,” he yells, ”what rew confused At last--”I was detained here,” says he ”Detained!” thunders the other, ”and by who villain!” was the hot answer
”At that Master Ashburn grows very white and very evil-looking ”So,” he says, in a playful voice, ”you have learnt that, have you? Well, by God!
the lesson shall profit neither you nor that rascal your father But I'll begin with you, you cur” And with that he seizes a jug of ale that stood on the table, and empties it over the boy's face Soul of my body!
The lad showed such spirit then as I had never looked to find in hi at his sith one hand, and pointing to the door with the other ”Outside, you hound, where I can kill you!”
Ashburn laughed and cursed hi past me into the yard The place was empty at the moment, and there, before the clash of their blades had drawn interference, the thing was over--and Ashburn had sent his sword through Jocelyn's heart”