CHAPTER XI
IS SUFFICIENT IN THAT IT TELLS OF IDONIA
There was a press of people about the door as I went forth, which sohindered my passage as Mr. Nelson, who had started up in alarm of mysudden departure, caught me ere I had run a dozen paces, and would havereasoned me into returning. But I would not be led thus nor listeneither, and so telling him 'twas a man I greatly desired to have speechof that I followed, shook myself free, and jostled hardly through thethrong. To my joy I could yet see the tall figure of my unknownadversary about a stone's cast ahead of me and walking swiftly. Butthe main part of the shops being now closed, there was but scant lightto serve me in my chase, and more than once I feared I had lost him orever he got half-way to the new tower by the Bridge end. Nevertheless,by that time I had arrived pretty near, and, indeed, soon trod so closein his steps, that I could hear the jar of his hanger against thebuckle of his belt; but it being no part of my design to accost him inso public a place, I fell back a little, and when he passed under thebow of the gate-house, where a pair of great lanterns hung suspended, Imade as if to tighten a lace of my shoe, bending low, lest upon asudden return he should observe me; which, however, he did not, butwent straight forward. I had supposed it probable he would go off tothe left hand, that is, westward, towards Baynards Castle, wherein, asI already knew, he had his lodging; and was greatly surprised,therefore, when, a little way up the street, he turned sharply to theright hand, behind St. Magnus' Church, where the street goes down verysteep, and is moreover ill paved and (at such an hour) exceedingdarksome. The gallant descended this hill at a great pace, while I formy better concealment followed him somewhat more tardily as beingsecure of his escape thence, where there was but a scantling of folkabout the lane from whom he was very easily to be distinguished, theybeing ill-habited and of the common sort. In such manner we proceededa great way, passing in our course by two or three alleys that led downto the Thames, of which I could perceive the gleam of the water, yet sonarrowly visible that the sight of it was as a blade of steel hung upbetween the houses. All this quarter of the City I was perfectlyignorant of, my knowledge being limited to such parts of it only as Ihad traversed betwixt the Bridge and Fetter Lane, if I exceptSerjeant's Inn in Fleet Street, which to my cost I had come to knowpretty well.
Whereto my exact intention reached, I should have found it difficult todetermine, but a settled hatred of the man possessed me, beside somemotions of fear (I confess now) that his continued espial had stirredwithin me; and under the influence of fear, much more than of hatred,we be ever apt to run into an excess of cruelty. Thus I remember wellenough the coolness with which I rehearsed my attack upon him, and theconsiderations I maintained in my mind for and against the waylayinghim before he could stand upon his defence. Overrunning him with acritical eye, I could not but admire his great stature and apparentstrength, to which I had to add a probable skill in fence, that Ilacked, having never been lessoned therein, though I had sometimesplayed a heat or two with Simon, using a pair of old foils we found oneday in the stable loft at home. Notwithstanding, this defect weighednothing against my will, but rather exalted the desire I had to provemy courage upon him, whose advantage was so every way manifest.
A great moon hung above the Thames, but obscured now and then bywreaths of river mist that a light wind lifted the edge of, yet couldnot sustain the bulk to drive it. There was no sound but that my enemymade with his accoutrements; for I, lurking along in the black shadows,made none, and the street was now everywhere void. All went pat to mypurpose, and I loosened my sword in its sheath. Then I crossed theroad.
But even as I did so, my man came to a sudden stand before an old andvery ruinous house, having a porch of stone, and within that a doorwith a grid, whereon I presently heard him give a great sounding rapwith the pummel of his sword. And so unexpected was that act of his(though why it surprised me I know not) that I stood quite still in thefull light, nor could for my life put into execution my policy that hehad thus distracted. The place wherein we had come I saw was nearunder the Tower, of which I could, by the dim light, perceive theundistinguished mass thwarting the bottom of the lane; and the house towhich the man demanded admittance was the last upon the left hand thisside the open space before the Tower. He remained some while, half hidin the deepness of the gateway above which a lantern swung with a smallcreaking noise; the light of it very dim and uncertain. After my firstarrestment of surprise, I had gone aside a little, yet not so far but Icould observe him, and the low oaken door at which he knocked. Therewas something about this silent and decayed building which I liked not,though I could not tell precisely wherefore; for indeed it showed signsof some magnificence in the design of it, but now was all worn out byneglect and foul usage; being turned over to the occasions of shipmenand victuallers for storage of such things as their craft requires.Thus, from a fair great window above, that I judged to have beenformerly the window of the hall or chapel, was now projected a sort ofspars and rough tackle, by which the slender mullion-shafts were allthrust aside and broken. A high penthouse of timber with a craneunder, stood by the wall a little beyond, for the getting of goods inand out, with other such disfigurements and mean devices of trade as amansion is wont to suffer that great folk have left, and small folkhave cheaply come by.
At length I saw the grid within the door to be slid back very warily,and by a faint access of light perceived that the porter bore a taper,as being unwilling to open to one he knew not, or could not see.
A conversation followed, but too low for me to hear it, though Isuspected from the manner of the man that he first besought, and afterdemanded, admittance, which was still denied. Then he betook himself(as I could tell) to threats, and was soon come to wresting at the barsof the grid, like a madman. But that which sent me from my ambush wasa cry of terror from the other side of the gate at his so insolentviolence; for it was the cry of a girl.
I strode forward.
"Hold!" I said, mastering myself to speak within compass, and takingthe man by the sleeve with my right hand, while I kept my left upon myponiard. "A guest that is not welcome should have the modesty to knowit."
He swung round with a great oath, and would have flung me off, had Inot gripped him pretty hard.
"Ay, is it thou?" said he, when he saw who held him, and I could swearthere was some respect in his way of saying it.
"I come to tell you that your barber hath left his shop in FetterLane," said I.
He laughed aloud at that, high, and with a sort of scornful jollity,though his narrow eyes never left my face.
"You are right, lad," he said heartily, "and I have sought himeverywhere since."
"Even upon London Bridge," said I, nodding.
"Even there," replied the dark man.
"I have myself some skill in that sort," I said, "so if the hour be nottoo late for shaving we will get to business straightway."
"As you will," said he, indifferently. "But now, to leave thisschoolboy humour a little, and seeing I have no quarrel with you noryet know (as I told you before) your name even, were it not better youshould state your grievance against me if you have one, as I supposeyou deem yourself to stand upon some right in thus constraining me?"
The while he was speaking thus and in such easy parlance as I hadbefore noted was proper to him, my thoughts had returned to that girl'scry I had heard behind the grid, and looking about swiftly, I saw thegate itself now opened a small way, and the girl's form within theopening in a posture of infinite eagerness. So taken with this sightwas I, that insensibly I slacked my hold of the man, who suddenlywithdrew his arm and stood away jeering.
"The door is open," I said, in a low voice, and putting my hand on mysword; "wherefore do you not enter?"
"I will do so," said he, and before I could hinder him, he had swept measide with a great buffet, and run forward to the gate. Cursing mylack of readiness to repel him, I drew at once and followed him, whilethe maid, who at his approach had fled backward, pushed to t
he door;yet not so quick--the hinges turning heavily--but he prevented her,thrusting in his arm betwixt the post and the door, and had gained hispurpose easily, had not I sprung upon him from behind and so hinderedhim that his hand was caught and crushed, ere he could release himself.
"I owe you small thanks for that, Mr. Denis," said he, gravely, when hehad flung the door open and got his hand free; and by his disdain ofcontinuing the pretence not to know my name, I saw we were come intothe lists as open foes.
"You owe somewhat elsewhere," said I, "and that is amends to this ladyfor your discourtesy," and as I spoke I looked across to where shestood in the hall, a distance off from us twain, by the foot of thegreat stair. A light from some lamp, hung aloft out of sight, diffuseditself about her, so that she stood clear from the obscurity whichwrapped all else; and by that light I knew her for the maid I sought,and would thank, and did already supremely love. The light fallingdirectly from above lay upon her hair and seemed to burn there, sosplendid a shining did it make. Of her face and body, the most ofwhich was dim in shadow, I could yet discern the exceeding grace andlithe bearing. Her hands were outspread in terror for our clamorousintrusion, and I thought by her swaying she was about to swoon. Butsmall leisure had I to proffer service, or indeed to do aught butreturn to my guard, which I resumed none too soon, for the tall man haddrawn his great sword already and now caught up a piece of sailclothfrom the rummage about the hall, wrapping it about his injured arm.
"So it would seem you know her, too, Mr. Denis," he let slip in a voiceof some wonder, and I thought paused upon the question how we werebecome acquainted.
"Have a care!" I cried, and so thrust at him without further parley.
He caught the blow easily enough on his blade, turning it aside."Country play!" he muttered, and was content to let me recover myselfere he took me in hand. However, I had the good luck to drive him apace or two backward, amidst the stuff that lay there about, bales andcordage and the like, which hampered him not a little, though for therest I could not touch him; whereas he did me whenever he listed, butso far without great harm. Yet notwithstanding his disdainfulclemency, or rather because of it, I lost all sense of the odds wematched at, and laid about me with increasing fury, so that, for all hewas so expert and cool a swordsman, I kept him continually busy at thefence and sometimes put him to more art than he would have wished touse, in order to defend himself from my assaults.
Now the hall where we fought thus, was, as I have said, full of allsorts of impediments and ship's furniture, and was, besides, very lowand lighted by nothing but the gleam of the stair-lamp at the far end,so that though we both lost advantage by these hindrances, yet his losswas the greater; for with due light and space he could have ended whenhe chose; but now was forced to expect until I should abate somewhat ofmy persistence ere he did so; which, seeing I bled more than at first,he no doubt looked for presently. And so indeed did I; but theexpectation seconded my little art in such sort that I broke down hisguard and, before I was aware, had caught him high up in the breast, bythe shoulder, and I could have laughed for pleasure as I felt the steelsink in. Howbeit 'twas a flesh wound only, and thus no great matter,as I knew; but it served to put him quite from his coolness, and aswell by his manner of fetching his breath, I could tell he wasdistressed, as by his level brow that he meant to be rid of me. Butthen--
"Oh, stay it here, gentlemen," cried the girl, who saw that we breatheda space, though we still kept our points up and ready to be at it anew."If the watch pass now, you will be certainly apprehended as you goforth. Have pity of each other," she said, and came forward almostbetween us. "And you, sir" (to me), "if you do thus because he wouldhave entered here, I thank you. But now let him go, I pray you, as heshall promise no further to offend."
You may imagine how this talk of my letting him go, who was a thousandtimes the better swordsman, angered my antagonist.
"Ay, Mistress Avenon," he said, in that wicked, scorning voice he had,"we shall stay it here surely to please you. But yet there be someslight formalities accustomed to be used which must first be done; andafter I will go."
"What be those formalities you speak of?" she asked, with an apparentgladness that the worst was past.
"Just that I must kill him," said the dark man, very quietly betweenhis teeth.
"Good mistress," I cried out, for I was persuaded he spake truth anddreaded lest she should see what in pity of her womanhood I wouldshould be hid, "go aside now. Go to your chamber." But to the man Iwhispered, "Come without into the street."
"There spoke a coward," was his word, and drawing back upon his groundhe swung up his sword arm to the height, and husbanding the weight ofhis whole body, stood poised to cut me down. I saw the blow coming,even in the dark, and despairing to avoid it, let drive right forward,at the same moment muffling up my eyes in the sleeve of my idle arm,for the terror of death was upon me then. Our swords sang.... Buteven as I struck I knew that a miracle had been wrought, for his swordnever fell. Sick with amazement I opened my eyes, to see him go overamongst the bales, where he sank down with a great sobbing cry. Hissword hung quivering from a rafter of the ceiling, which it had bitteninto by the blade's breadth. His tallness of stature, and hardly I,had overthrown him and left me victor.
"God be praised!" I said very low, when I perceived and could believehow matters had gone; but "God have mercy!" whispered the maid.
I turned about.
"You had best go, Mistress Avenon," I said. "The rest must be my work."
"You will not surrender yourself?" she asked, very white.
"If he be dead..." I began, but could not finish for trembling.
"He is not dead, I think," she interrupted hastily, and went back tothe stair, whence she soon returned with the lamp, which she set downupon a hogshead, and then bent over the wounded man.
"A kerchief," she said, briefly, "a scarf; something linen if you haveit."
I tore off a strip from my sleeve and with that she staunched theworst. We made a compress of my band, drenching it in cold water, andfor tightness buckled my belt upon it, which I gave her.
"There is burnt wine in yonder firkin," she said, and I fetched adraught in the cup of my two hands.
When he sighed we looked at each other, and I said--
"Who is he?"
"It is Master Guido Malpas," she whispered, and added, "I am glad youhave not killed him."
But that speech went near spoiling all, seeing that I had gone intothat tourney her champion.
"Ay, there would have been another tale to tell," I returned verybitterly, "had your rafters been set but a span higher."
"Oh, you mistake me, Mr. Denis (I think they call you so)," said she,and bent low over the wounded man again. "I mean I am glad yourkindness to me hath not run so far as you must needs have wished torecall it."
It is a maid's voice more than her words that comforts a man, and so,scarce had she spoken but I saw I had misjudged her.
"Denis is my name," I said eagerly, "but tell me yours now."
"You have heard it, and used it too," she answered smiling. "'TisAvenon."
"Ay, but the other?" I cried.
She paused before she told me "Idonia."
"He loves you?" I said very quick, and nodded toward Malpas.
"He saith so."
"Doth he often trouble you thus?"
"I fear him," she said so low I could scarce hear her.
"But your father?" said I, "or your brothers? Have you none to protectyou?"
"My father was slain in a sea-battle long since," she told me, "when hewent in the _Three Half Moons_ with others that traded with the Sevillemerchants, but falling in with a fleet of Turkey, they were nearly alltaken prisoners, but my father was killed."
"You were a child then?" I asked her, and she said she was but aninfant; and that her mother was long since dead also, and that she hadno brothers.
She seemed as though she were about to add more, but just then the sickman revived
, opening his eyes and gazing upon us as one that seemed toconsider how we twain should be together in such a place. I got upfrom where I had been kneeling beside him and stood to stretch myself;but was surprised to find how painful my own hurts were, which I hadalmost forgotten to have received. I suppose Idonia saw me flinch, forshe suddenly cried out, "Mr. Denis, Mr. Denis, I will come to you," andleaving Malpas where he lay, rose and came over to me, when she took mevery gently by the arm and made me sit, as indeed I needed littlepersuasion to do. Howbeit I was (as I have said) scarcely scratched,and should have felt foolish at the elaborate business she made of it,had not her hair been so near to my lips.
But presently, and while we were thus employed, she with dressing myhurts, and I with such and such affairs, Idonia whispered--
"Doth he know where you lodge?"
"Yes," said I, "he discovered the place to-night," and told her whereit was, and of the kindness Master Gregory had shown me.
"I knew not his name," she interrupted me hurriedly, while makingpretence to busy herself with the tightening a bandage, "nor of whatauthority he were that took you from me when you were hurt before; buthe looked at me as at one that would not use you well, and in the endspoke something roughly to me, so that I dared not follow you. Ah!these upright staid men!" she added with a world of bitterness; butthen, "Now your lodging is known, you must leave it straightway, sir."
"I am not used to run away," said I, more coldly than I had meant todo, and she said no more. When we looked up Malpas had gone.
We looked at each other without speaking for admiration of the strengthand secrecy he had shown in thus stealing off.
"I must go too," I said presently, and saw her eyes widen in dismay.
"Beware of him!" she whispered. "He doth not forget. And see! he hathnot neglected to take his sword;" as indeed, most marvellously, he haddone.
"Well, he serves an honest gentleman," quoth I carelessly, "so that ifI have cause to think he plots against my life, I shall lay mycomplaint before my lord Pembroke."
But she shook her head as doubting the wisdom, or at least theefficacy, of that, though she said nought either way, but led me soonafter to the great oaken door (which Malpas had left ajar when he went)and set it wide. The night was very dark, with the moon now gone downinto the bank of cloud, and so still that we heard a sentinel challengeone at the Bulwark Gate of the Tower. I thought too I heard the rattleof an oar against the thole, as though a boat put off from the GalleyQuay a little below, but of that I was not sure.
"God keep you," I said to the maid; but when she did not answer me Ilooked down and saw she was weeping.
When I went away, I heard the bolt shoot into its rusted socket, andasked myself: how would my case stand now, had Idonia shot it, as sheessayed to do, at the first?
Idonia: A Romance of Old London Page 11