*II*
On the night of that day, I rode with Raoul and a dozen more to thelodging of the Marquis de Contades in Dieppe, he having bidden us tosupper and a game of tric-trac. The company was very merry, but I wasaweary with having been up all the night before, and what with ourhost's good cheer and the heaviness of the air I could scarce keep myeyes open. Ever and anon I wandered to the window to cool myself,wishing with all my heart that the company would break up, whereof I hadlittle hope, such jovial entertainments being commonly prolonged fartowards morning. Looking forth one time into the silent and emptystreet, I saw a shadow move in a doorway on the further side, and felt apassing wonder as to who might be lurking there so late, concluding that'twas some poor townsman on the lookout to earn a few doits by holding astirrup or some such petty service. When I returned into the room themarquis rallied me on my air of weariness, and on my telling him that Ihad been long without sleep, he was pleased to admit my excuses, andbade me get away to my bed. I went down the stairs very gladly, to walkto the inn where I had left my horse and my servant, and had taken apace or two before I remembered the shadow in the doorway. I looked upthen to see whether the man was still there, and in that very moment afigure sprang at me out of the dark entry, and I saw in the starlight along dagger uplifted against the sky. I had no time to draw my ownweapon, but my lucky remembrance of the man having saved me from beingtaken wholly by surprise, I dropped suddenly to the ground, and myassailant stumbled over me in the vehemence of his onset. Before hecould recover his footing I was upon him, but could do no more than griphis right arm, and we fell together. There we were, rolling over andover, and in the heat and fury of the struggle I heard the footsteps ofother men on the cobbles, and a voice asking in a hoarse and breathlesswhisper which was the Englishman, and another answer: "'Tis no matter;the fool has botched it; strike anywhere!" and then the man I wasgripping cried out with pain, for one of the newcomers had stooped andstabbed him, and as he loosened his hold upon me he screamed again, andI knew that in a moment one of these hacking swords must find me out.
A FIGURE SPRANG AT ME OUT OF THE DARK ENTRY]
But as I grappled the assassin to me to shield myself, there came to myears a shouting and the clink and clatter of spurred boots upon thestones, and three of the four men above me took instantly to theirheels. The fourth remained, still bending over us, and I heard hispants, and though I could not see his sword-arm, being partly underneaththe body of my first assailant, I saw his other arm, lifted in the actto lunge. The fingers of his hand being distended, in that brief momentI observed that his little finger was amissing.
My companions, called forth by the cries and the sound of the scuffle,now came running up, and the man, with a growl of rage, straightenedhimself and sped away into the night. I rose, bruised and very scant ofbreath, and when I told them in a word what had happened, they were forpursuing the villains. But the time, though brief, was sufficient forthem to make good their escape, and it was vain to think of overtakingthem in the darkness of those streets, with many crooks and corners andnarrow alleys; so they came back after going a few paces, and while someasked me whether I was hurt, others bent down to look at the fallen man,who was stark dead. A torch being brought from the marquis's lodging,they saw the device upon the man's coat, and some one cried that it wasone of De Lameray's men. At this Raoul looked at me, and I at him, butwe said nothing to our companions, having much food for thought. Theparty being thus broken up, those of the guests that belonged to thecamp at Arques got their horses and rode back with me, and when wearrived at the camp Raoul accompanied me, late as it was, to thelodgings of Rosny, to whom we recounted, when we had roused him up, bothwhat had befallen and what our suspicions were. He heard us gravely, andthen bade us get to our beds, saying that the matter must be looked toin the morning.
I was glad enough to seek my couch, and fell asleep instantly; but allon a sudden I awaked and sat up with a start, a strange discovery havingcome upon me in the midst of my sleep. I was again peeping through thecurtain at the chateau of St Aubyn-le-cauf; again I saw the man leaningback in his chair, and then unclasping his hands as he rose; and now myrecollection acquainted me with something which had scarce made anyimpression at the moment of my actual beholding: the man's left hand hadlacked a finger! I could not doubt that the man in the chateau and heof the late adventure in Dieppe were one and the same; and I had nowsome inkling of the reason why my life was attempted. _Dead men tell notales_. My tale was already told, and the King had not hearkened; but Ihad somewhat new to add to it, and maybe he would not again turn me adeaf ear.
I had but just broken my fast when a lackey came to command myattendance on the King. I found His Majesty with Rosny in his tent, andthe Baron de Lameray was there too, and as I entered and made myobeisance he said something under his breath that set the Kinga-laughing.
"Well, my friend," said Henry, "what is this I hear of tavern brawlingin the streets of my good town of Dieppe?"
"I know not what you may have heard, Sire," I said, "nor can I answerfor the doings of others; but an attempt was made upon my life lastnight," and then I told him the whole story as I have told it you.
"And who were these would-be assassins?" asked the King when I had done.
"The fellow that was killed, Sire, was said to wear the livery of mylord here," I replied, glancing towards Lameray; "and as for the others,I know no more than that I saw the hand of one of them, and it lacked afinger."
At this Lameray took a step forward, and glaring very darkly upon medemanded whether I hinted at him. Whereupon I smiled very pleasantly,and glancing at his hands, which were cased in gauntlets, as the mannerof the camp was, I said--
"I have not the honour of knowing with what afflictions Providence hasbeen pleased to visit Monsieur de Lameray."
The King laughed, and even Rosny's grave face relaxed a little; butLameray frowned, and said with some heat: "I have already explained toHis Majesty that at the time of this fracas I had not returned from theerrand which he was pleased to entrust to me, and of that the gentlemenof my company can bear witness."
"And your chateau was empty, my good Rudd," said the King.
"I scarce expected otherwise, Sire," I said, "the men having hadwarning. And as to that matter, it is a slight thing, no doubt, but oneof those I saw there had suffered the same misfortune as Monsieur deLameray, if I take his words aright: he had but three fingers on hisleft hand."
The King cast a searching glance upon Lameray, who did not changecountenance, but said with a sneer--
"It seems that Monsieur Rudd is beset with visions of conspiratorslacking a finger. Maybe he is little practised in the use of thesword."
"I wield my sword with the right hand, Monsieur de Lameray," I said; andthen the King, whose countenance had regained its wonted serenity, askedme why I had said nought of the three-fingered man when I told him ofwhat I had seen in the chateau. This question put me in a confusion,for it was an ill matter to explain to the King that his manner ofreceiving my news had ruffled me, or that the remembrance had not cometo me until the middle of the night, for that might very well seem to bea dream, or even an invention. I stammered in this quandary, and, Idoubt not, looked as much embarrassed as I felt; and the King laughedsomewhat impatiently, and turning to Rosny asked why he troubled himwith these brawls and midnight robberies. Without waiting for an answerhe bade us depart, vouchsafing to me no word save the bare command, buttelling Monsieur de Lameray that he would do well in future to keep hislackeys more firmly in hand.
I returned to my quarters in high indignation, marvelling also at theKing's strange simplicity, for I believed now with the utmost assurancethat the man I had seen in the chateau and he I had seen in the streetwere Monsieur de Lameray and no other. And an hour or two after I foundthat I was not alone in this suspicion, for Rosny himself came to me andasked me to be wary, and to acquaint him immediately of anything I mightsee or hear further. "We m
ust put things to the proof," he said in hisbrief way. When I told him that Hilary Rawdon had expected me to returnto St Jacques after accomplishing my errand, Rosny replied that I mustnot do so, but remain at Arques. "And see that you do not stray fromthe camp alone, my friend," he said, "if you value your skin as I valuemine." And so he left me.