The King's Esquires; Or, The Jewel of France

by George Manville Fenn

  CHAPTER EIGHT.

  MADAME THE HOSTESS.

  A little crowd of idlers soon began to gather about the adventurers, whohad dismounted to shake the water from their clinging garments and makemuch of their brave steeds.

  "My faith!" said the King. "We are beginning our adventures indeed; butwe are in a sorry plight, and ought to change."

  "Here's the boat coming, sir," cried Denis, who turned away from a manwho began questioning him eagerly as to who they were and why they hadcome ashore like this.

  The fellow's manner had annoyed him, for though he pretty wellunderstood his English he replied shortly in his native tongue. But theman was in no wise rebuffed, and turned now to Saint Simon, with whom hefared no better, in fact, rather worse, the result being that headdressed the King, who shortly told him to go and mind his own affairs.

  The boat, which soon reached the shore, contained the skipper, who hadthoughtfully brought on the travellers' light valises, their saddles,and the remains of the horse-gear, ready to offer them any furtherassistance, and praising their gallant swim; but warmed up by hisexcitement, the King made light of it all, seeming ready to forget thestate of his garments; and eager to get away from the crowd, he joinedwith his young companions in saddling up and mounting, to ride away fromthe curious crowd and the hangers-on, several of whom seemed on friendlyterms with the man who had first addressed Denis, and whose curiosityseemed in no degree abated.

  "I did think of going to some inn to change and rest, and start forwardlater on for Winchester," said the King; "but we will start at once andget away from here. Do the people think we have come to make anexhibition for them?"

  "But you will want rest and refreshment, sir, and to dry your clothes,"said Saint Simon.

  "No," said the King. "Do you?"

  "I am ready--we are ready," said Saint Simon, "to follow you ineverything."

  "Are our valises fast in their places, and the saddles well girthed?"said the King. "Yes? Then we ride on at once till we are clear of thistown. We shall soon dry in the hot sunshine, and be better ready tomake a breakfast, for I feel as if I could touch no food. Follow,gentlemen," he continued, and putting spurs to his charger he canteredaway along what seemed to be the main street, at the end of which a fewinquiries put them on their right road and direct for the open country,where, once amongst green fields and hedgerows, they dismounted, to resttheir horses by a river-bank and let them drink and graze.

  But for this the brave animals, which had suffered more than theirriders from the crossing, displayed no eagerness, and the travellersadvanced again, walking each with his bridle in his hand, enjoying theglowing sunshine and the simple beauty of the country, and graduallygrowing more light-hearted and ready for any fresh adventure that theymight encounter.

  The road became more and more deserted, a village or two was passed, andlater on in the day they were attracted by the appearance of asubstantial farmhouse whose very aspect suggested that here was the spotto put an end to certain qualms connected with the fact that they hadnot partaken of food for a considerable length of time.

  Here there was corn for their horses in a shady barn-like stable whoseloft shed a delicious odour of sweet hay, and in the house a clean whitescrubbed table with bowls of new milk, newly made bread, and freshlyfried ham, the whole forming a repast to which the party paid amplejustice, while it made the King declare that it was the most deliciousbanquet he had ever enjoyed.

  Then with the horses quite recovered, the journey was recommenced andthe travellers rode off, Denis turning in his saddle to wave his hand tothe farmer and his wife, just in time to catch sight of another partyriding up to the farm as if to take their places and enjoy a similarmeal.

  Winchester at last, with the square tower of the fine old cathedralstanding up from amongst the trees, the river sparkling in the sunshine,the wooded hills and verdant plains rising on all sides making Francisdraw rein to breathe his horse and half close his eyes as he gazedaround.

  "Well," he said, "France is France, but my brother of England, if allhis country is like this, possesses a land that any king might envy; andI shall tell him so if we meet, as of course we shall. But after all, Idon't like this task. I am a king, and it begins to look to me, boys,as if I am going crawling up to the back door of this palace of his likesome lacquey. But there, I have said that I would do it. It is forFrance, and I will. What do you say, Saint Simon?"

  "Oh, sir, you mustn't turn back now."

  "No: I must not turn back now, though we have been rather damped at thestart, eh?" he added, with a laugh. "But are you lads dry?"

  They declared they were, and the conversation turned upon theirproceedings.

  "This is evidently a fine city," said the King. "I have read enough toknow that it has been a home of kings, so we will sleep there to-nightand start afresh in good time to-morrow, though we shall not go to thePalace for a bed. But there is sure to be some good travellers' inn."

  And this proved to be the case as they rode through the city gate downthe High Street, to check their steeds by the Market Cross, the observedof all observers, and they were many lurking about the place, for it hadbeen market day.

  It was not the costume of the three horsemen, for they were purposelyvery plainly clad, everything about them, however, looking good andsoldierly. It was their beautiful horses that took the attention ofmost of the sturdy country-looking folks, and more than one keen-eyedman approached them with no little freedom, scanning their mounts fromhead to heel, one man giving the King a nod and stretching out his handto run it down his charger's leg.

  The King looked furious, darted a fierce glance at the intruder, andreined up his horse so suddenly that the fine beast reared and made theman start back, his discomfiture being greeted by a roar of laughter onthe part of the uncouth people around.

  "The insolence!" muttered the King to Denis. "These English islandersare brutal in their ways. If they knew who I was! Here, let's rideon."

  His horse answered to the pressure of his knees and moved off upwardthrough the crowd, Saint Simon following his track, and Denis cominglast, having no little difficulty in closing up, for the increasingcrowd obstructed his way, the people's curiosity being aroused by thestrangers.

  "These horses for sale?" said the man who had been rebuffed, pressing upto the young esquire's knee.

  "No," said the lad, in fairly good English. "Why?"

  "Hallo!" said the man. "You are a Frenchman. Then you have broughtthese over to sell. Look here, young man, I can help your master tofind a buyer in some great English lord. I deal in horses, and I'llmake it worth his while. Where are you going to stay?"

  "I don't know," replied Denis. "Keep back, please. My horse doesn'tlike crowding, and he may strike out."

  "I'll take care," said the man. "I understand horses. Yes, this is anice animal you are riding too."

  Denis made no answer, but pressed forward. There was some shouting, butthe crowd gave way and he rode up close just as the King drew rein by agateway and then passed into a great inn-yard, where a couple ofhostlers hurried to meet them, and a buxom-looking landlady in widow'scoif came smiling to the door of the comfortable-looking inn.

  "Hah!" said the King, dismounting. "This looks like France. Here wecan rest and dine. Denis, my boy, talk to the dame there, and tell herto get us quickly a dinner of the best."

  Denis turned, meeting the pleasant-faced landlady's eye as he dismountedand threw his rein to one of the stablemen, noting, as he walked towhere the landlady stood waiting, that the man who had accosted them wasfollowing into the inn-yard with three or four others of the same stamp;and the sight of the fellow made the lad hesitate as he thought of thepossibility of the fellow's insolence raising the King's ire. But hehad his task to fulfil, and the next moment the landlady was receivinghim with bows and smiles, ready to show him into a comfortableold-fashioned room, and make his task easy by suggesting instead oftaking orders, the only one he found it necessary to
give being thesimple one:

  "Everything, and of the best; but quickly, for we have ridden far."

  This was in French, but to the lad's great delight the hostess spoke histongue, with a good accent, easily and well.

  "Anyone would think you were French," he said, with a courtly bow.

  "Oh no," she said, "I am English. I was in Rouen many years at school,and we have French travellers here sometimes. But let me show you thechambers for your lord and your young friend. He is a lord?" she said,with a pleasant smile.

  "He is what you English would call a lord," replied Denis. "The Comtede la Seine."

  "Ah," said the hostess, with a smile of satisfaction at the quality ofher guests, as she led the way to the best chambers of the fine old inn,Denis selecting two, one within the other, which were exactly such as hefelt the King would like--that is to say, a fine old bedroom with adouble-bedded ante-chamber, which he immediately determined should befor himself and Saint Simon.

  Within an hour, partly refreshed, the King and his two followers enteredthe room where their dinner was spread, unbuckled and laid by theirswords, and took their places at the well-furnished table, as a coupleof fresh-looking serving-maids, under the guidance of the hostess,brought in the soup and plates, the mistress seeing to the helping andthen retiring, leaving the guests to their repast.

  "Hah!" exclaimed the King. "My appetite is grand. What soup! Why, wemight be in France. No, it is better, thicker and stronger. But what'sthis? The insolence of these Englanders! Here, Denis, boy, read italoud." And he tossed a folded paper, one end of which was sticking outfrom beneath his soup bowl, across to the young esquire.

  The lad's eyes flashed, as he read in a crabbed, clear hand the words:"_Imminent undique pericula_."

  "What's that, Leoni? Bah! He isn't here," cried the King, letting hisspoon fall back into the bowl. "I thought it was the account. Latin.Read it again."

  Denis obeyed, while the King's left hand began to play with his dagger,as he darted a suspicious look at the closed door, and then at the sidedresser upon which he had thrown his sword.

  "What do you make of that, Saint Simon?" he said, in a low, deep voice.

  "Sir, I do not know Latin as I should," was the reply.

  "Shame on you!" growled the King. "You, Denis, you were last at school.What do you make it to be?"

  "In plain homely language, sir: Beware of danger."

  "Yes, imminent danger," cried the King. "Poison! And I have eatennearly half my soup!"

  "No, no, sir," cried Denis. "I'll vouch for this. A woman with amotherly face like that could be trusted, I will vow."

  "I don't know," said the King. "You are only a boy. Now I have grownold enough to think that it requires a very clever man to know exactlywhat there is behind a woman's pleasant smiling face. This one looksplump and comfortable and honest; but there's no knowing. Now, if wehad Leoni here he'd fix her with that quiet eye of his, and search herthrough and through with the other. He'd know. And I am beginning tofind out that I have done a very stupid thing in not bringing hisUgliness with us. By my sword, I wish we had brought him! I wished itlast night too, over and over again, when I felt so--ah, hum--when Icouldn't sleep for the creaking and groaning of that wretched vessel."

  As he pulled himself up short he looked searchingly from one to theother of the two young men, giving each a suspicious glance, suspectingas he did that he would find a mocking smile upon their lips; but he waspleasantly disappointed, for Saint Simon looked stolidly stupid, andDenis eager and expectant of the next words he should let fall.

  "Well," said the King, "we haven't got him here, and we must think forourselves; but that must be right. The soup is too good for that," andhe began to partake again. "Here, Denis, lad, on second thoughts itmust mean that we are being recognised. The islanders know who I am,and that pleasant-faced woman wishes to give us warning. Saint Simon,my lad, fetch our sword and hang it by the belt upon the corner of thechair. Do the same by your own. I am not going to leave this soup, andif we are to fight for what is evidently intended for an excellentdinner, why, fight we will."

  Saint Simon obeyed, and then at a sign from the King re-took his placeand went on eating with such appetite as he could command.

  "Shall I stand on guard by the door, sir, till you have dined?" saidDenis.

  "No, boy. Eat your soup and what else comes. We shall all three fightthe better for a meal."