CHAPTER VI -- IN PARIS
"A bold dame and a fair one," John of Burgundy said to the gentlemen roundhim when Margaret left the chamber. "Methinks that she would be able tohold Villeroy even should Sir Eustace be away."
"That would she," one of the knights said with a laugh. "I doubt not thatshe would buckle on armour if need were. But we must make some allowancefor her heat; it is no pleasant thing to be taken away from her castle andbrought hither as a hostage, to be held for how long a time she knowsnot."
"It was the safest way of securing the castle," the duke said. "Can onedoubt that, with her by his side, her husband would open his gates to theEnglish, should they appear before it? He himself is a vassal both ofEngland and France, and should the balance be placed before him, there canbe little doubt that her weight would incline him to England. How wellthese English women keep their youth! One might believe her to be but afew years past twenty, and yet she is the mother of that girl, who iswell-nigh as tall as herself."
"And who bids to be as fair, my lord duke."
"And as English, De Porcelet. She would be a difficult eaglet to tame, ifI mistake not; and had she been the spokeswoman, methinks she would haveanswered as haughtily as did her mother. But it might be no bad plan tomate her to a Frenchman. It is true that there is the boy, but the fiefmight well be bestowed upon her if so mated, on the ground that the boywould likely take after his father and mother and hold Villeroy forEngland rather than for France. However, she is young yet; in a couple ofyears, De Porcelet, it will be time for you to urge your suit, if soinclined."
There was a general smile from the circle standing round, but the youngknight said gravely, "When the time comes, my lord duke, I may remind youof what you have said. 'Tis a fair young face, honest and good, though atpresent she must naturally feel with her mother at being thus haled awayfrom her home."
Sir Victor escorted Margaret to the court-yard. As they appeared at theentrance a knight came up and saluted her.
"I am intrusted by the duke with the honour of escorting you to yourlodgings," he said; "I am Hugo de Chamfort, the duke's chamberlain."
After assisting her into the saddle he mounted a horse which an attendantbrought up and placed himself by her side. Two men-at-arms with theirsurtouts embroidered with the cognizance of Burgundy led the way, and therest of the party followed in the same order in which they had come. Thedistance was short, and beyond a few questions by the knight as to thejourney and how she had been cared for on the way, and Margaret's replies,little was said until they reached the house of the provost of thesilversmiths. As they rode up to the door Maitre Leroux himself came outfrom the house.
"Welcome, lady," he said, "to my abode. My wife will do all that she canto make you comfortable."
"I am sorry indeed, good sir," Margaret said, "to be thus forced upon yourhospitality, and regret the trouble that my stay will impose upon you."
"Say not so, lady," he said, "we deem it an honour that his grace the Dukeof Burgundy should have selected us for the honour of entertaining you.The house is large, and we have no family. Chambers are already preparedfor yourself, your daughter, and son, while there are others at yourdisposal for your following."
"I would not trespass too much upon you," she said. "My daughter can sleepwith me, and I am sure that my esquire here, Master Guy Aylmer, willgladly share a room with my boy. I can obtain lodgings for my fourfollowers without."
"You will grieve me much if you propose it, lady. There is a large roomupstairs unoccupied, and I will place pallets for them there; and as fortheir meals they can have them apart."
By this time they had mounted a fine flight of stairs, at the top of whichDame Leroux was standing to receive her guests. She was a kindly-lookingwoman between thirty and forty years of age.
"Welcome, Lady Margaret," she said with a cordiality that made Margaretfeel at once that her visit was not regarded as an infliction. "We arequiet people, but will do our best to render your stay here a pleasantone."
"Thanks indeed, mistress!" Margaret replied. "I feared much that mypresence would be felt as a burden, and had hardly hoped for so kind awelcome. This is my daughter Agnes, and my son Charles." Then she turnedto Sir Hugo: "I pray you to give my thanks to his grace the Duke ofBurgundy, and to thank him for having so well bestowed me. I thank youalso for your courtesy for having conducted me here."
"I will convey your message to the duke," he said, "who will, I am sure,be pleased to hear of your contentment."
Maitre Leroux accompanied the knight downstairs again, and when he hadmounted and ridden off he called two servitors, and bade one carry theluggage upstairs, and the other conduct the men to the stables he hadtaken for the horses.
"After you have seen to their comfort," he said to Robert Picard, "youwill return hither; you will find a meal prepared for you, and will bebestowed together in a chamber upstairs."
In the meantime his wife had ushered Dame Margaret into a very handsomelyfurnished apartment. "This is at your entire service, Lady Margaret," shesaid. "The bedroom behind it is for yourself, the one next to it for yourdaughter, unless you would prefer that she should sleep with you."
"I thank you. I was telling your husband that I should prefer that; and myson and esquire can therefore occupy the second room. But I fear greatlythat I am disturbing yourself and your husband."
"No, indeed; our sitting-room and bedroom are on the other side of thelanding. These are our regular guest-chambers, and your being here willmake no change whatever in our arrangements. I only regret that theapartments are not larger."
"Do not apologize, I beg of you, madam. I can assure you that the room isfar handsomer than that to which I have been accustomed. You citizens ofParis are far in advance of us in your ideas of comfort and luxury, andthe apartments both at Villeroy and in my English home cannot compare withthese, except in point of size. I never dreamt that my prison would be socomfortable."
"Say not prison, I pray you, lady. I heard, indeed, that your visit to thecourt was not altogether one of your own choice; but, believe me, here atleast you will be but a guest, and an honoured and welcome one. I willleave you now. If there is aught that you desire, I pray you to ring thatbell on the table; refreshments will be quickly served. Had I known theprecise hour at which you would come we should have been in readiness foryou, but I thought not that you would arrive till evening."
"I hope that you will give me much of your company, mistress," Margaretsaid warmly. "We know no one in this great city, and shall be glad indeedif, when you can spare time, you will sit with us."
"Well, children, what do you think of this?" she asked when their hostesshad left the room.
"It is lovely, mother," Agnes said. "Look at the inlaid cabinets, and thecouches and tables, and this great warm rug that covers all the floor, howsnug and comfortable it all is. Why, mother, I never saw anything likethis."
"You might have seen something like it had you ever been in the house ofone of our rich London traders, Agnes; at least so I have heard, though intruth I have never myself been in so luxuriously furnished a room. I onlyhope that we may stay here for some time. The best of it is that thesegood people evidently do not regard us as a burden. No doubt they arepleased to oblige the Duke of Burgundy, but, beyond that, their welcomeseemed really sincere. Now let us see our bedroom. I suppose that isyours, Charlie, through the door in the corner."
The valises had already been brought to the rooms by another entrance, andMargaret and her daughter were charmed with their bedroom. A large ewerand basin of silver stood on a table which was covered with a white cloth,snowy towels hung beside it; the hangings of the bed were of damask silk,and the floor was almost covered by an Eastern carpet. An exquisitelycarved wardrobe stood in one corner.
"It is all lovely!" Agnes said, clapping her hands. "You ought to haveyour room at home fitted up like this, mother."
"It would take a large slice out of a year's revenue, Agnes," her mothersaid with a smile, "to furnish a ro
om in this fashion. That wardrobe aloneis worth a knight's ransom, and the ewer and basin are fit for a king. Iwould that your father could see us here; it would ease his anxiety aboutus. I must ask how I can best despatch a messenger to him."
When they returned to the other apartment they found the table alreadylaid, and in a short time a dainty repast was served. To this Guy sat downwith them, for except when there were guests, when his place was behindhis lord's chair, he had always been treated as one of the family, and asthe son of Sir Aylmer rather than as a page.
"Well, Master Guy, what think you of affairs?"
"They seem well to the eye, mistress, but I would not trust that Duke ofBurgundy for an hour. With that long face of his and the hooked nose andhis crafty look he resembles little a noble of France. He has an evilface, and one which accords well with the foul murder of the king'sbrother. However, as I see not that he has aught to gain by holding youhere,--save that he thinks it will ensure our lord's keeping his castlefor him,--there is no reason why he should not continue to treat youhonourably and courteously. We have yet to learn whether Master Leroux isone of his party, or whether he is in favour of Armagnac."
"I should think that he cannot be for Armagnac," she said, "or Duke Johnwould hardly have quartered us upon him. No doubt it was done under thesemblance of goodwill, but most men would have considered it a heavy tax,even though, as I expect, we shall not remain here long. Doubtless,however, the trader considers that his complaisance in the matter would betaken by the duke as a sign of his desire to show that at least he is nothostile to him."
When they rose from the table Guy, at his mistress's suggestion, wentbelow and found the four men sitting in the great kitchen, where they hadjust finished an ample meal.
"You have seen to the horses, Robert?"
"Yes, Master Guy, they are comfortably bestowed, with an abundance ofprovender."
"I am going out to see how matters stand in the town. Our lady says thatat all times two of you must remain here, as it may be necessary to sendmessages, or should she wish to go out, to escort her, but the other twocan be out and about as they please, after first inquiring of me whetherthere is aught for them to do. You can arrange among yourselves whichshall stay in, taking turns off duty. Tom, you had better not go out tillafter dark. There is something in the cut of your garments which tellsthat you are not French. Robert will go out with me now, and find aclothier, and bid him send garments here for you to choose from, or if hehas none to fit, which may likely enough be, send him to measure you. Itmight lead to broils and troubles were any of the rabble to notice thatyou were a stranger."
"That is right enough, Master Guy; and in sooth I have no desire to go outat present, for after riding for the last six days I am well content tosit quiet and take my ease here."
Guy then started with Robert Picard. Except in the streets where theprincipal merchants dwelt, the town struck him as gloomy and sombre. Thepalaces of the nobles were veritable fortresses, the streets were ill-paved and evil-smelling, and the people in the poorer quarters had asinister aspect.
"I should not care to wander about in this district after nightfall,Robert," Guy said to the man-at-arms, who kept close to his elbow.
"Nor I," the man growled. "It is as much as I can do to keep my hands offmy dagger now, for methinks that nine out of ten of the fellows loiteringabout would cut our throats willingly, if they thought that we had but acrown in our pockets."
Presently they found themselves on the quays, and, hailing a boat, rowedup the river a little beyond the walls. Hearing the sound of music theylanded, and on seeing a number of people gather round some booths theydischarged the boat and went on. They found that it was a sort of fair.Here were sword-players and mountebanks, pedlars who vended their wares ata lower price than those at which they were sold within the limits of thecity, booths at which wine and refreshments could be obtained. Here manysoldiers were sitting drinking, watching the passers-by, and exchangingribald jests with each other, and sometimes addressing observations to thewives and daughters of the citizens, amid fits of laughter at the looks ofindignation on the part of their husbands or fathers.
"It is evidently a holiday of some sort," Guy remarked, as they found thatthe fair extended for a considerable distance, and that the crowd waseverywhere large. They stopped for a minute or two in front of a booth ofmore pretensions than the generality. In front of it a man was beating adrum, and a negro walking up and down attired in showy garments. The drumceased and the latter shouted:
"Those of you who wish to see my master, the famous Elminestres, the mostlearned doctor in Europe, who can read the stars, cast your horoscope,foretell your future, and cure your ailments, should not lose thisopportunity."
The curtains opened behind, and a man dressed in dark garments with a longblack cloak spotted with silver stars came forward.
"You have heard, good people, what my slave has said. He speaks withknowledge. I saved his life in the deserts of Africa when he was all butdead with fever, by administering to him one of my wonderful potions; heat once recovered and devoted himself to my service. I have infallibleremedies for every disease, therefore do you who are sick come to me andbe cured; while for you who do not suffer I can do as much or more, bytelling you of your future, what evils to avoid and what chances tograsp."
He stood for a minute silent, his eyes wandering keenly over thespectators. "I see," he said, "one among you who loves a fair maidenstanding beside him. At present her parents are unfavourable to his suit,but if he will take my advice he will be able to overcome their objectionsand to win the damsel. Another I see who has come to Paris with theintention of enlisting in the service of our good duke, and who, Iforesee, will attain rank and honour and become a distinguished soldier ifhe does but act prudently at the critical moment, while if he takes awrong turn misfortune and death will befall him. I see a youth of gentleblood who will become a brave knight, and will better his condition bymarriage. He has many dangers to go through before that, and has atpresent a serious charge for one so young; but as he has circumspection aswell as courage he may pass through them unharmed. To him too I could giveadvice that may be valuable, more especially as he is a stranger to theland, as are those of whom he is in charge."
"It is wonderful, Master Guy!" Robert Picard whispered in Guy's ear in atone of astonished awe.
"The knave doubtless saw us ride in this morning, and recognized me again.There is naught of magic in it, but the fellow must be shrewd, or he wouldnot have so quickly drawn his conclusions. I will go in and speak to himpresently, for though I believe not his prophecies one jot, a fellow ofthis sort may be useful. Let us be moving on at present."
They passed two monks, who were scowling angrily at the man, who was justexciting the laughter of the crowd by asserting that there was a holy manpresent who usually preferred a flask of good wine to saying his vespers.
"Rogues like this should be whipped and branded, Brother Anselmo."
"Ay, ay," the other agreed: "and yet," he added slyly, "it may be that hehas not altogether missed his mark this time. We are not the only twomonks here," he went on as the other turned upon him angrily, "and it maywell be that among them is one who answers to the fellow's lewddescription."
On the outskirts of the fair were many people of higher degree. Knightsand ladies strolled on the turf exchanging greetings, looking for a minuteor two at the gambols of a troupe of performing dogs, or at a bout ofcudgel play--where two stout fellows belaboured each other heartily, andshowed sufficient skill to earn from the crowd a shower of small pieces ofmoney, when at last they ceased from pure exhaustion. Half an hour laterGuy returned to the booth of the doctor, and went in by a side entrance,to which those who wished to consult the learned man had been directed bythe negro. The latter was at the entrance, and, observing that Guy'scondition was above that of the majority of his master's clients, at oncetook him into an inner apartment divided from the rest of the tent by ahanging. Over the top of this was stretched a bl
ack cloth spotted withsilver stars, and similar hangings surrounded it; thus all light was cutoff, and the room was dimly illuminated by two lamps. A table with a blackcloth stood at the back. On this stood a number of phials and small boxes,together with several retorts and alembics. The doctor was seated on atripod stool. He rose and was about to address Guy in his usual style,when the latter said:
"So you saw us ride in this morning, Master Doctor, and guessed shrewdlyas to our condition and nationality. As to the latter, indeed, it neededno sorcery, for it must have been plain to the dullest that my mistressand her daughter were not of French blood, and though I am much less fair,it was a pretty safe guess to suppose that I also was of their country. Ineed not tell you that I have not come here either for charms or nostrums,but it seemed to me that being, as you said, strangers here, we mightbenefit by the advice of one who like yourself notes things quickly, andcan form his own conclusions."
The doctor removed his tall conical cap, and placed it on the table.
"You guess rightly," he said with a smile. "I was in the crowd and markedyou enter, and a soldier standing next to me observed to a comrade that hehad heard that Burgundy had sent the herald to demand the surrender of acastle held by one Sir Eustace, a knight who was known to have friendlyleanings towards the English, being a vassal of their king for estatesthat had come to him with an English wife, and that doubtless this was thelady. When my eye fell on you in the crowd I said: Here is a youth ofshrewdness and parts, he is alone and is a foreigner, and maybe I can beof service to him; therefore I shot my shaft, and, as you see, withsuccess. I said to myself: This youth, being a stranger, will know of noone to whom he can turn for information, and I can furnish him with almostany that he may require. I come in contact with the highest and thelowest, for the Parisians are credulous, and after dark there are some ofrank and station who come to my doors for filtres and nostrums, or to havetheir horoscope cast and their futures predicted. You will ask why one whohas such clients should condescend to stand at a booth and talk to thisrabble; but it has its purpose. Were I known only as one whom men andwomen visit in secret, I should soon become suspected of black arts, thepriests would raise an outcry against me, and one of these days I might beburned. Here, however, I ostensibly earn my living as a mountebank vendorof drugs and nostrums, and therefore no one troubles his head about me."
"There is one thing that you have not told me," Guy said when he ceasedspeaking. "Having, as you say, good clients besides your gains here, whyshould you trouble to interest yourself in our affairs?"
"Shrewdly put, young sir. I will be frank with you. I too am a stranger,and sooner or later I may fall into discredit, and the power of the churchbe too much for me. When I saw your mistress to-day I said to myself: Hereis an English lady of rank, with a castle and estate in England; should Ihave to fly--and I have one very dear to me, for whose sake I value mylife--it might be well for me that I should have one friend in England whowould act as protectress to her should aught befall me. Your mistress is astranger here, and in the hands of enemies. I may be of use to her. I knowthis population of Paris, and can perhaps give her better information ofwhat is going on both at the court and in the gutter than any other man,and may be able to render her assistance when she most needs it; and wouldask but in payment that, should I come to England, she will extend herprotection to my daughter until I can find a home and place her there. Yousee I am playing an open game with you."
"I will reply as frankly," Guy said. "When I came in here it was, as Itold the man-at-arms my companion, with the thought that one who hadnoticed us so shrewdly, and had recognized me so quickly in the crowd, wasno ordinary mountebank, but a keen, shrewd man who had some motive forthus addressing me, and I see that my view was a right one. As to yourproposal I can say naught before I have laid it before my mistress, butfor myself I may say at once that it recommends itself to me as excellent.We are, as you say, strangers here, and know of no one from whom we mightobtain information as to what is going on. My mistress, if not an actualprisoner, is practically so, being held with her children as hostages formy lord's loyalty to France. She is the kindest of ladies, and should sheauthorize me to enter into further communication with you, you may be surethat she would execute to the full the undertaking you ask for on behalfof your daughter. Where can I see you again? This is scarce a place Icould often resort to without my visits being noticed, if, as is likelyenough, the Duke of Burgundy may occasionally set spies to inform him asto what we are doing, and whether my mistress is in communication with anywho are regarded as either doubtful or hostile to his faction."
"If you will be in front of Notre Dame this evening at nine o'clock, Iwill meet you there and conduct you to my abode, where you can visit mefree of any fear of observation."
"What name shall I call you?" Guy asked.
"My name is Montepone. I belong to a noble family of Mantua, but mixingmyself up with the factions there, I was on the losing side, andunfortunately it happened that in a fray I killed a noble connected withall the ruling families; sentence of death was passed upon me in myabsence, my property was confiscated. Nowhere in Italy should I have beensafe from the dagger of the assassin, therefore I fled to France, and forten years have maintained myself by the two arts which so often gotogether, astrology and buffoonery. I had always been fond of knowledge,and had learned all that could be taught in the grand science ofastrology, so that however much I may gull fools here, I have obtained theconfidence of many powerful personages by the accuracy of my forecasts.Had Orleans but believed my solemn assurance he would not have riddenthrough the streets of Paris to his death that night, and in other caseswhere I have been more trusted I have rendered valuable assistance."
The belief in astrology had never gained much hold upon the mass of theEnglish people, many as were the superstitions that prevailed among them.Guy had never even given the matter a thought. Montepone, however,evidently believed in his powers of foreseeing the future, and such powersdid not in themselves seem altogether impossible to the lad; he thereforemade no direct reply, but saying that he would not fail to be at theappointed place at nine that evening, took his leave.
"Truly, Master Guy, I began to be uneasy about you," Robert Picard saidwhen he rejoined him, "and was meditating whether I had best enter thetent, and demand what had become of you. It was only the thought thatthere might have been others before you, and that you had to wait yourturn before seeing him, that restrained me. You have not been taking hisnostrums, I trust; for they say that some of those men sell powders bywhich a man can be changed into a wolf."
Guy laughed. "I have taken nothing, Robert, and if I had I should have nofear of such a change happening to me. I have but talked to the man as tohow he came to know me, and it is as I thought,--he saw us as we entered.He is a shrewd fellow, and may well be of some use to us."
"I like not chaffering with men who have intercourse with the devil,"Picard said, shaking his head gravely; "nothing good comes of it. Mymother knew a man who bought a powder that was to cure his wife ofjealousy; and indeed it did, for it straightway killed her, and he washung. I think that I can stand up against mortal man as well as another,but my blood ran cold when I saw you enter yon tent, and I fell into asweat at your long absence."
"The man is not of that kind, Robert, so you can reassure yourself. Idoubt not that the nostrums he sells are perfectly harmless, and thatthough they may not cure they will certainly not kill."
They made their way back to the house of the provost of the silversmiths.
"Well, what do you think of Paris, Guy?" Dame Margaret asked when heentered.
"It is a fine city, no doubt, lady, but in truth I would rather be in thecountry than in this wilderness of narrow streets. But indeed I have hadsomewhat of an adventure, and one which I think may prove of advantage;"and he then related to his mistress his visit to the booth of the supposeddoctor.
"Do you think that he is honest, Guy?" she asked when he concluded.
"I think
so, madam. He spoke honestly enough, and there was a ring oftruth in what he said; nor do I see that he could have had any motive formaking my acquaintance save what he stated. His story seemed to me to be anatural one; but I shall be able to judge better when I see him in his ownhouse and with this daughter he speaks of; that is, if your ladyship iswilling that I should meet him."
"I am willing enough," she said, "for even if he is a spy of Burgundy'sthere is nothing that we wish to conceal. I have come here willingly, andhave no thought of making my escape, or of mixing myself up in any of theintrigues of the court. Therefore there is no harm that he can do us,while on the other hand you may learn much from him, and will gather in ashort time whether he can be trusted. Then by all means go and meet himthis evening. But it would be as well to take Tom with you. It does notseem to me at all likely that any plot can be intended, but at any rate itwill be well that you should have one with you whom you can thoroughlytrust, in case there is any snare set, and to guard you against anylurking cut-throats."
"I will tell him to be in readiness to go with me. It will be his turn togo out with one of the others this evening, and he might not be back intime if I did not warn him."
"What arms shall I take with me?" Long Tom said, when Guy told him oftheir expedition.
"Nothing but your sword and quarter-staff. I see that many of the beggarsand others that one meets in the streets carry long staffs, and yours isnot much longer than the generality. You brought it tied up with your bow,so you would do well to carry it, for in a street broil, where there isroom to swing it, you could desire no better weapon, in such strong handsas yours, Tom. Besides, you can knock down and disable with it and nogreat harm is done, whereas if you used your sword there would be deadmen; and although by all I hear these are not uncommon objects in thestreets of Paris, there might be trouble if the town watch came up, as weare strangers. I shall carry a stout cudgel myself, as well as my sword."
Accordingly at half-past eight they set out. Guy put on a long cloak and acap such as was worn by the citizens, but strengthened inside by a fewbands of steel forming sufficient protection to the head against anyordinary blow. This he had purchased at a stall on his way home. Tom hadput on the garments that had been bought for him that afternoon,consisting of a doublet of tanned leather that could be worn under armouror for ordinary use, and was thick enough to afford considerableprotection. The streets were already almost deserted; those who wereabroad hurried along looking with suspicion at all whom they met, andwalking in the middle of the road so as to avoid being taken by surpriseby anyone lurking in the doorways or at the corners of alleys. Once ortwice men came out and stared at Guy and his companion by the light of thelanterns suspended across the streets, but there was nothing about theirappearance to encourage an attack, and the stalwart figure of the archerpromised hard blows rather than plunder. Arriving at the square in frontof Notre Dame they waited awhile. Here there were still people about, forit was a rendezvous both for roistering young gallants, thieves, andothers starting on midnight adventures. After walking backwards andforwards two or three times Guy said, "You had best stand here in theshadow of this buttress while I go and place myself beneath that hanginglamp; seeing that we are together, and he, looking perhaps only for one,may not recognize me."
On reaching the lamp, Guy took off his hat, so that the light should fallon his face, waited for a minute, and then replaced it. As soon as he didso a slightly-built lad came up to him.
"Were you not at the fair by the river to-day, sir, and are you notexpecting some one to meet you here?"
"That is so, lad. If you will tell me whom I am expecting I shall knowthat he has sent you, though, indeed, I looked to meet himself and not amessenger."
"Montepone," the lad said.
"That is right. Why is he not here himself?"
"He received a message before starting that one whose orders he could notneglect would call upon him this evening, and he therefore sent me to therendezvous. I have been looking anxiously for you, but until now had notseen you."
"I have a companion with me; being a stranger here in Paris, I did notcare to be wandering through the streets alone. He is a countryman ofmine, and can be trusted."
"It is indeed dangerous to be out alone. It is seldom that I am in thestreets after dark, but the doctor came with me and placed me in a cornerof the porch, and then returned by himself, telling me to stir not until Isaw you; and that should you not come, or should I not be able to make youout, I was to remain until he came for me even if I waited until morning."
"I will fetch my follower," Guy said, "and am ready to accompany you."
The lad was evidently unwilling to be left there for a moment alone, andhe walked back with Guy to the buttress where the archer was standing.
"This is our guide, Tom," Guy said, as the archer stepped out to join him;"the person I expected was unable to come himself. Now, lad, I am ready;you see we are well guarded."
The boy nodded, evidently reassured by the bulk of the archer, and wasabout to step on ahead of them, when Guy said, "You had best walk with us.If you keep in front, it will seem as if you were guiding us, and thatwould point us out at once as strangers. Is it far to the place you aretaking us to?"
"A short quarter of an hour's walk, sir."