At Agincourt

by G. A. Henty

  CHAPTER VII -- IN THE STREETS OF PARIS

  They crossed the bridge to the right bank of the river, and followed thestream down for some distance. Passing through some narrow lanes, theypresently emerged into a street of higher pretensions, and stopped at thedoor of a small house wedged in between two of much larger size. The boytook a key from his girdle, opened the door, and entered.

  "Stand here a moment, I pray you," he said; "I will fetch a light."

  In a few seconds he appeared with a lantern. He shut and barred the door,and then led the way upstairs and showed them into a small but well-furnished room, which was lighted by a hanging lamp. He then went to abuffet, brought out a flask of wine and two goblets, and said: "Will itplease you to be seated and to help yourselves to the wine; my master maypossibly be detained for some little time before he is able to see you."Then he went out and closed the door behind him.

  "It is evident, Tom," Guy said, as he took off his hat and cloak, andseated himself, "that the doctor has a good idea of making himselfcomfortable. Sit down, we may have to wait some time."

  "Do you think that it will be safe to touch the wine, Master Guy?Perchance it may be drugged."

  "Why should it be?" Guy asked. "We are not such important personages thatanyone can desire to make away with us. I am convinced that the doctor wasin earnest when he told me that story that I repeated to you this evening.It is possible that he may not be able to give us as much information ashe said, but that he means well by us I am certain; and I think we may besure that his wine is as good as his apartments are comfortable."

  This turned out to be the case; the wine was excellent, and the archersoon laid aside any doubt he might have entertained. From time to timesteps could be heard in the apartment above, and it was evident that itwas here that the interview between the doctor and his visitor was takingplace. Presently a ring was heard below.

  "Another visitor," Guy said. Getting up, he slightly drew aside a thickcurtain that hung before a casement, a moment later he let it fall again."There are two men-at-arms standing on the other side of the street andone at the door." He heard the door opened, then the boy's step was heardon the stairs, two or three minutes later there was a movement above andthe sound of the footsteps of two men coming down. Presently the outsidedoor closed, two or three minutes elapsed; then the door opened and theItalian entered.

  "I regret that I have kept you so long," he said courteously, "but myvisitor was not to be got rid of hastily. It was a lady, and there is nohurrying ladies. When a man comes in, I have already ascertained what hedesires to know; he listens to my answer and takes his departure. A woman,on the contrary, has a thousand things to ask, and for the most part theyare questions quite beyond my power to answer."

  "I have, as you see, Signor Montepone, brought my tall countryman with me;as you noticed me, I doubt not for a moment that you also marked him whenwe entered the city. Knowing nothing of the ways of Paris, but havingheard that the streets were very unsafe after dark, I thought it best tobring him with me; and I am indeed glad that I did so, for we met withseveral very rough-looking characters on our way to Notre Dame, and had Ibeen alone I might have had trouble."

  "You did quite right," the Italian said; "I regretted afterwards that Idid not myself advise you to bring some one with you, for indeed it is notsafe for one man to go abroad alone after dark. And now, will youaccompany me upstairs; this tall fellow will doubtless be able to pass thetime with that flask of wine until you return."

  "He should be able to do so," Guy said with a smile, "for indeed it is thebest wine I have tasted, so far as my judgment goes, since I crossed theChannel, and indeed the best I have ever tasted."

  "'Tis good wine. I received a cask of it from the grower, a Burgundiannoble, who had, as he believed, gained some advantage from following myadvice."

  The man led the way upstairs. The room he entered there was much largerthan that which they had left, extending over the whole floor. It wasdraped similarly to that in the booth, but was far more handsomely andelaborately got up. The hangings were of heavy cloth sprinkled with stars,the ceiling was blue with gold stars, a planisphere and astrolabe stood inthe centre of the room, and a charcoal fire burned in a brazier besidethem. A pair of huge bats with outstretched wings hung by wires from theceiling, their white teeth glistening in the light of four lamps onstands, some six feet high, one in each corner of the room. The floor wascovered with a dark Eastern carpet, a large chair with a footstool infront stood at a short distance from the planisphere; at one end was amassive table on which were retorts, glass globes, and a variety ofapparatus new to Guy. At the other end of the room there was a frame someeight feet square on which a white sheet was stretched tightly.

  "Now, Master Guy," the Italian said, "firstly, I beg you to give me thedate of your birth and if possible the hour, for I would for my owninformation if not for yours, cast your horoscope. I like to know for myown satisfaction, as far as may be, the future of those with whom I haveto deal. If I perceive that misfortunes and perhaps death threaten them,it is clearly of no use my entering into relations with them. In yourcase, of course, it is with your mistress that I am chiefly concerned;still as your fortunes are at present so closely mixed up with hers, I maylearn something of much utility to me from your horoscope."

  "I was born on the 8th of December, 1394, and shall be therefore seventeenin a fortnight's time. I was born a few minutes after midnight, for I haveheard my mother say that the castle bell had sounded but a few minutesbefore I was born. She said that she had been anxious about it, because anold woman had predicted that if she ever had a child born on the 7th dayof the month, it would be in every way unfortunate; so my mother wasgreatly pleased that I had escaped the consequences predicted."

  "And now," the Italian went on, having made a note in his tablets, "whatsaid your lady?"

  "She bid me say, sir, that she was very sensible of the advantage that itwould be to her to receive news or warning from one so well informed asyourself; and that she on her part promises that she will befriend andprotect your daughter should you at any time bring her to her castle inEngland, or should she come alone with such tokens from you as that shemight be known; and this promise my lady vows on the sacraments to keep."

  "Then we are in agreement," the Italian said; "and right glad am I to knowthat should aught befall me, my daughter will be in such good hands. Asfar as worldly means are concerned her future is assured, for I have laidout much of the money I have received in jewels of value, which willproduce a sum that will be an ample dowry for her. Now I can give you somenews. The Duke of Berri with the queen came two days since from Melun toCorbeil, and Louis of Bavaria came on here yesterday to the Duke ofAquitaine with a message to Burgundy and to the butchers, asking that theywould allow him to attend the queen to Paris, and that she might reside inhis house of Nasle. Burgundy was minded to grant her leave, but at ameeting of the chiefs of the guild of butchers this afternoon theyresolved to refuse the request; and this evening they have broken everydoor and window of the Duke of Berri's house, and committed great damagesthere, so that it should not be habitable; they resolved that Berri shouldnot enter Paris, but that the queen might come. I hear that it has beendetermined that the king shall be placed in the Louvre, where the citizensof Paris can keep guard over him and prevent any attempt by the Orleaniststo carry him away.

  "All this will make no difference to your mistress directly; the point ofit is that the power of these butchers, with whom go the guild of skinnersand others, is so increasing that even the Duke of Burgundy is forced togive in to them. Some of the other guilds and the greater part of therespectable traders are wholly opposed to these men. They themselves maycare little whether Orleans or Burgundy sways the court and the king, butthis usurpation of the butchers, who have behind them the scum of Paris,is regarded as a danger to the whole city, and the feeling may grow intoso hot a rage that there may be serious rioting in the streets. I tell youthis that you may be prepared. Assuredly t
he butchers are not likely tointerfere with any save such of the townspeople as they may deem hostileto them, and no harm would intentionally be done to her or to any otherhostage of Burgundy. But the provost of the silversmiths is one of thosewho withstands them to the best of his power, and should matters come toserious rioting his house might be attacked. The leaders of the butchers'guild would be glad to see him killed, and their followers would stillmore like to have the sacking of his rich magazine of silver goods and thespoiling of his furniture.

  "I say not that things are likely to come to that yet, but there is notelling how far they may be carried. It is but a dark cloud in thedistance at present, but it may in time burst into a storm that willdeluge the streets of Paris with blood. I may tell you that, against youas English there is no strong feeling at present among the Burgundians,for I am informed that the duke has taken several bodies of Englisharchers into his pay, and that at Soissons and other towns he has enlisteda score or two of these men. However, I am sure to gain information longbefore matters come to any serious point, except a sudden outbreak arisefrom a street broil. I may tell you that one result of the violence of thebutchers to-day may be to cause some breach between them and theBurgundian nobles, who are, I am told, greatly incensed at their refusingto give permission to the Duke of Berri to come here after Burgundy hadacceded to his request, and that these fellows should venture to damagethe hotel of one of the royal dukes seemed to them to be still moreintolerable. The Duke of Burgundy may truckle to these fellows, but hisnobles will strongly resent their interference and their arrogantinsolence, and the duke may find that if he is to retain their support hewill have to throw over that of these turbulent citizens. Moreover, theirconduct adds daily to the strength of the Orleanists among the citizens,and if a strong Armagnac force approaches Paris they will be hailed by nosmall portion of the citizens as deliverers."

  "In truth I can well understand, Signor Montepone, that the nobles shouldrevolt against this association with butchers and skinners; 'tis past allbearing that fellows like these should thus meddle in public affairs."

  "The populace of Paris has ever been turbulent," the Italian replied. "Inthis it resembles the cities of Flanders, and the butchers are ever at thebottom of all tumults. Now I will introduce my daughter to you; it is wellthat you should know her, for in case of need she may serve as amessenger, and it may be that I may some day ask you to present her toyour lady."

  He opened the door. "Katarina!" he said without raising his voice, and atonce a girl came running up from the floor below.

  "This is my daughter, Master Aylmer; you have seen her before."

  Katarina was a girl of some fourteen years of age. She was dressed inblack, and was tall and slight. Her complexion was fairer than that of herfather, and she already gave promise of considerable beauty. Guy bowed toher as she made her reverence, while her face lit up with an amused smile.

  "Your father says I have seen you before, signora, but in sooth I know notwhere or how, since it was but this morning that I arrived in Paris."

  "We parted but half an hour since, monsieur."

  "Parted?" Guy repeated with a puzzled expression on his face. "Surely youare jesting with me."

  "Do you not recognize my messenger?" the Italian said with a smile. "Mydaughter is my assistant. In a business like mine one cannot trust astranger to do one service, and as a boy she could come and go unmarkedwhen she carries a message to persons of quality. She looks a saucy pagein the daytime when she goes on the business, but after nightfall she isdressed as you saw her this evening. As a girl she could not traverse thestreets unattended, and I am far too busy to bear her company; but as aboy she can go where she likes, and indeed it is only when we are alone,and there is little chance of my having visitors, that she appears in herproper character."

  "You must be very courageous, signora," Guy said; "but, indeed, I can wellimagine that you can pass where you will without anyone suspecting you tobe a girl, for the thought that this was so never entered my head."

  "I am so accustomed to the disguise," she said, "that I feel morecomfortable in it than dressed as I now am, and it is much more amusing tobe able to go about as I like than to remain all day cooped up here whenmy father is abroad."

  "And now, Master Aylmer, that you have made my daughter's acquaintance,and I have told you what news I have gathered, it needs not that I shoulddetain you longer; the hour is getting late already, and your lady maywell be getting anxious at your absence. Can you read?"

  "Yes, signor; the priest at my lady's castle in England, of which myfather is castellan during my lord's absences, instructed me."

  "It is well; for sometimes a note can be slipped into a hand when it wouldnot be safe to deliver a message by word of mouth. From time to time ifthere be anything new you shall hear from me, but there will be nooccasion for you to come hither again unless there is something ofimportance on which I may desire to have speech with you, or you with me.Remain here, Katarina, until my return; I will see monsieur out, and barthe door after him."

  GUY AND LONG TOM COME TO THE RESCUE OF COUNT CHARLES.]

  Passing downstairs Guy looked in at the room where he had left the archer.The latter sprung to his feet as he entered with a somewhat dazedexpression on his face, for indeed, he had fallen off into a sound sleep.

  "We are going now, Tom," Guy said. "I have concluded my business with thisgentleman. We will not go back the way we came," he went on, as theyissued into the street, "for I am sure we should never find our waythrough those alleys. Let us keep along here until we come to a broaderstreet leading the way we wish to go; fortunately, with the river to ourleft, we cannot go very far wrong."

  They presently came to a street leading in the desired direction. They hadscarcely entered it when they heard ahead of them the sound of a fray. Aloud cry arose, and there was a clashing of sword-blades.

  "Come on, Tom!" Guy said; "it may be that some gentleman is attacked bythese ruffians of the streets."

  Starting off at a run, they soon arrived at the scene of combat, thefeatures of which they were able to see by the light of the lamp that hungin the centre of the street. A man was standing in a narrow doorway, whichprevented his being attacked except in front, and the step on which hestood gave him a slight advantage over his adversaries. These were nearlya dozen in number, and were evidently, as Guy had supposed, streetruffians of the lowest class. Without hesitation Guy and the archer fellupon them, with a shout of encouragement to the defender of the doorway,who was evidently sorely pressed. Tom's quarter-staff sent two of the menrolling on the ground almost before they realized that they were attacked,while Guy ran another through the body. For a moment the assailantsscattered, but then, seeing that they were attacked by only two men, theyfell upon them with fury.

  Guy defended himself stoutly, but he would have fared badly had it notbeen for the efforts of Long Tom, whose staff descended with suchtremendous force upon the heads of his assailants that it broke down theirguard, and sent man after man on to the pavement. Guy himself received asharp wound in the shoulder, but cut down another of his assailants; andthe defender of the door, leaving his post of vantage, now joined them,and in a couple of minutes but four of the assailants remained on theirfeet, and these, with a shout of dismay, turned and took to their heels.Guy had now opportunely arrived. As the latter took off his hat he sawtime to look at the gentleman to whose assistance he had so that thestranger was but a year or two older than himself.

  "By our Lady, sir," the young man said, "you arrived at a lucky moment,for I could not much longer have kept these ruffians at bay. I have tothank you for my life, which, assuredly, they would have taken, especiallyas I had disposed of two of their comrades before you came up. May I askto whom I am so indebted? I am Count Charles d'Estournel."

  "My name is Guy Aylmer, sir; I am the son of Sir James Aylmer, an Englishknight, and am here as the esquire of Dame Margaret de Villeroy, whoarrived but this morning in Paris."

  "And who is th
is stalwart fellow whose staff has done more execution thanboth our sword-blades?" the young count asked; "verily it rose and felllike a flail on a thrashing-floor."

  "He is one of Dame Margaret's retainers, and the captain of a band ofarchers in her service, but is at present here as one of her men-at-arms."

  "In truth I envy her so stout a retainer. Good fellow, I have to thank youmuch, as well as Monsieur Guy Aylmer, for your assistance."

  "One is always glad of an opportunity to stretch one's arms a bit whenthere is but a good excuse for doing so," the archer said; "and one needsno better chance than when one sees a gentleman attacked by such scum asthese ruffians," and he motioned to the men lying stretched on the ground.

  "Ah, you are English!" D'Estournel said with a slight smile at Tom's verybroken French. "I know all about you now," he went on, turning to Guy. "Iwas not present today when your lady had audience with Burgundy, but Iheard that an English dame had arrived, and that the duke came but badlyout of the encounter in words with her. But we had best be moving on or wemay have the watch on us, and we should be called upon to account forthese ten fellows lying here. I doubt not but half of them are onlystunned and will soon make off, the other six will have to be carriedaway. We have a good account to give of ourselves, but the watch wouldprobably not trouble themselves to ask any questions, and I have no fancyfor spending a night locked up in the cage with perhaps a dozen unsavourymalefactors. Which way does your course lie, sir?"

  "We are lodged at the house of Maitre Leroux, provost of thesilversmiths."

  "Then you are going in the wrong direction. You return up this street,then turn to your right; his house is in the third street to the left. Ishall do myself the honour of calling in the morning to thank you morefully for the service you have rendered me, which, should it ever fallinto my power, you can count on my returning. My way now lies in theopposite direction."

  After mutual salutes they parted, and Guy followed the directions given tothem.

  "That was a sharp skirmish, Master Guy," Long Tom said contentedly; "theodds were just enough to make it interesting. Did you escape scatheless?"

  "Not altogether, Tom, I had a sword-thrust in my shoulder; but I can dowith it until I get back, when I will get you to bandage it for me."

  "That will I; I did not get so much as a scratch. A quarter-staff is arare weapon in a fight like that, for you can keep well out of the reachof their swords. In faith I have not had so pleasant an exercise sincethat fight Dickon and I had in the market-place at Winchester last Lammasfair."

  "I am afraid Dame Margaret will scold us for getting into a fray."

  "Had it not been for your wound we need have said nothing about it; butyou may be sure that you will have to carry your arm in a sling for a dayor two, and she will want to know the ins and outs of the matter."

  "I think the affair has been a fortunate one, for it has obtained for methe friendship of a young Burgundian noble. Friendless as we are here,this is no slight matter, and I by no means grudge the amount of blood Ihave lost for such a gain. There is a light in Dame Margaret's casement;she said that she should sit up till my return, and would herself let mein, for the household would be asleep two hours ago; and as Maitre Lerouxand his wife have shown themselves so kindly disposed towards us, sheshould not like the household disturbed at such an hour. I was to whistlea note or two of _Richard Mon Roi_, and she would know that we werewithout."

  He whistled a bar or two of the air, they saw a shadow cross the casement,then the light disappeared, and in a minute they heard the bolts undrawnand the door opened.

  "You are late, Guy," she said; "I have been expecting you this hour past.Why, what has happened to you?" she broke off as she saw his face.

  "It is but a trifle, lady," he said; "a sword-thrust in the shoulder, anda little blood. Long Tom will bind it up. Our delay was caused partly bythe fact that the Italian was engaged, and it was half-an-hour before Icould see him. Moreover, we had been kept at the trysting-place, as theguide did not recognize me owing to Tom being with me; and lastly, we weresomewhat delayed by the matter that cost me this sword-thrust, which I inno way grudge, since it has gained for us a friend who may be useful."

  Tom had by this time barred the door and had gone upstairs. "I amdisappointed in you, Guy," Dame Margaret said severely when they enteredthe room. "I told you to keep yourself free from frays of all kinds, andhere you have been engaged in one before we have been twelve hours inParis."

  "I crave your pardon, madam, but it is not in human nature to stand bywithout drawing a sword on behalf of a young gentleman defending himselfagainst a dozen cut-throats. I am sure that in such a case your ladyshipwould be the first to bid me draw and strike in. The matter did not lastthree minutes. Tom disposed of six of them with his quarter-staff, thegentleman had killed two before we arrived, and I managed to dispose oftwo others, the rest took to their heels. The young gentleman was CountCharles d'Estournel; he is, as it seems, in the Duke of Burgundy's train;and as we undoubtedly saved his life, he may turn out a good and usefulfriend."

  "You are right, Guy; I spoke perhaps too hastily. And now about the othermatter."

  Guy told her all that had taken place.

  "And what is this man like?" she asked when he had concluded.

  "Now that I saw him without the astrologer's robe and in his ordinarycostume he seemed to me a very proper gentleman," Guy replied. "He is myheight or thereabouts, grave in face and of good presence. I have no doubtthat he is to be trusted, and he has evidently resolved to do all in hispower to aid you, should it be necessary to do so. He would scarce haveintroduced his daughter to me had it not been so."

  "He must be a strange man," Dame Margaret said thoughtfully.

  "He is certainly no common man, lady. As I have told you, he believesthoroughly in his science, and but adopts the costume in which I first sawhim and the role of a quack vendor of nostrums in order that his realprofession may not be known to the public, and so bring him in collisionwith the church."

  "It seems to me, Guy," Dame Margaret said the next morning, "that as youhave already made the acquaintance of a young French noble, and mayprobably meet with others, 'twill be best that, when we have finished ourbreakfast, you should lose no time in sallying out and providing yourselfwith suitable attire. Spare not money, for my purse is very full. Getyourself a suit in which you can accompany me fitly if I again see theduke, or, as is possible, have an interview with the queen. Get twoothers, the one a quiet one, and not likely to attract notice, for yourordinary wear; the other a more handsome one, to wear when you go into thecompany of the young men of station like this Burgundian noble whom yousuccoured last night. Your father being a knight, you may well, as theesquire of my lord, hold your head as high as other young esquires of goodfamily in the train of French nobles."

  On Agnes and Charlie coming into the room, the latter exclaimed, "Why haveyou got your arm in a scarf, Guy?"

  "He was in a fray last night, Charlie. He and Tom came upon a number ofruffians fighting a young gentleman, so they joined in and helped him, andGuy was wounded in the shoulder."

  "Did they beat the bad men, mother?"

  "Yes, dear; Guy had taken a sword with him, as it was after dark, and Tomhad his quarter-staff."

  "Then the others can have had no chance," Charlie said decidedly. "I haveoften seen Long Tom playing with the quarter-staff, and he could beatanyone in the castle. I warrant he laid about him well. I should haveliked to have been there to have seen it, mother."

  "It will be a good many years yet, Charlie, before you will be old enoughto go out after dark in such a place as Paris."

  "But I saw real fighting at the castle, mother, and I am sure I was notafraid even when the cannon made a great noise."

  "No, you behaved very well, Charlie; but it is one thing to be standing onthe top of a keep and another to be in the streets when a fray is going onall round."

  "Did you kill anyone, Guy?" the boy asked eagerly.

  "Some
of them were wounded," Guy replied, "but I cannot say for certainthat anyone was killed."

  "They ought to be killed, these bad men who attack people in the street.If I were King of France I would have all their heads chopped off."

  "It is not so easy to catch them, Charlie. When the watch come upon themwhen they are doing such things there is not much mercy shown to them."

  As soon as breakfast was over Guy went out, after learning from MaitreLeroux the address of a tradesman who generally kept a stock of garmentsin store, in readiness for those passing through Paris, who might not havetime to stop while clothes were specially made for them. He returned inthe course of an hour, followed by a boy carrying a wooden case with theclothes that he had bought. He had been fortunate in getting two suitswhich fitted him perfectly. They had been made for a young knight who hadbeen despatched by the duke to Flanders just after he had been measuredfor them, and the tailor said that he was glad to sell them, as for aughthe knew it might be weeks or even months before the knight returned, andhe could make other suits for him at his leisure. Thus he was provided atonce with his two best suits; for the other he had been measured, and itwas to be sent in a couple of days. On his return he went straight to hisroom, and attired himself in readiness to receive the visit of CountCharles d'Estournel.

  The suit consisted of an orange-coloured doublet coming down to the hips,with puce sleeves; the trousers were blue, and fitting closely to thelegs; the shoes were of the great length then in fashion, being someeighteen inches from the heel to the pointed toe. The court suit wassimilar in make, but more handsome--the doublet, which was of crimson,being embroidered with gold; the closely-fitting trousers were stripedwith light blue and black; the cap with the suit in which he was nowdressed was yellow, that with the court suit crimson, and both were highand conical, resembling a sugar-loaf in shape. From his sword-belt hecarried a light straight sword, instead of the heavier one that would becarried in actual warfare, and on the right side was a long dagger.

  Charlie clapped his hands as he entered the sitting-room.

  "That will do very well, Master Esquire," Dame Margaret said with a smile;"truly you look as well fitted as if they had been made for you, and thecolours are well chosen."

  Guy told her how he had obtained them.

  "You are very fortunate," she said, "and this afternoon, when I mean totake a walk to see the city, I shall feel that I am well escorted with youby my side."

  "Shall you take us, mother?" Charlie asked anxiously.

  "I intend to do so. You are so accustomed to be in the open air that youwould soon pine if confined here, though indeed the air outside is butclose and heavy compared with that at home. I have been speaking to MasterLeroux while you have been away, and he tells me that a post goes once aweek to Lille, and that he will send a letter for me to Sir Eustace undercover to a worthy trader of that town, who will forward it thence toVilleroy by a messenger. Therefore I shall write this morning; my lordwill be pleased indeed to learn that we are so comfortably bestowed here,and that there is no cause for any uneasiness on his part."