CHAPTER TWENTY-EIGHT
A Rescue
"I seek speech with him who is Duke of Gascony. I bring him a messagefrom Arthur, King of England." So spoke Merlin as he stood at theentrance of the great and splendid castle of the ruler of Gascony.
By his side were the two knights, Galahad and Launcelot. The pageCharles stood close by and somewhat behind them were the two squires,Walker and Gouvernail.
"From England's king?" the Gascon knight questioned. And made as ifhe would further satisfy his curiosity. But changed his mind.
"I pray you wait, good sir, until I tell my lord, your message." Sothen he went within the great hall.
"A rash adventure, say I," and Merlin shook his head dolefully.
"You were ever a croaker, good Merlin," replied Sir Launcelot. "Seenot the thing so dolefully, I pray you."
"And think of the worth of what we accomplish," added Sir Galahad."Here now comes the Gascon with his answer, I see. Let us listen towhat he says."
"We bid you welcome to Gascony and pray you to come within. My mastersends his greetings and awaits you."
They followed then their guide and so came within the great hall ofstate where Sir Dolphus awaited them.
"Come you from England?" he asked.
"That we do," replied Merlin, "and carry a message for the Duke."
"There is no Duke of Gascony. He is dead. But I, by the will of allthe nobles of the land, rule in place. If you have message fromEngland's king honor is mine to receive it."
"That message will I deliver right gladly. My king has long desired tocome to Gascony and to other countries in France. So has he sent meforth to find first, how welcome will his visit be, second, as you maywell understand, that such country as may come within his plans mayworthy be his presence. For England's king must hold his honor andhis presence at their royal worth.
"So come I to this brave land the which my king has heard well spokenand which he holds in high esteem. I find it sad news that he whoreigned is dead, yet Gascony cannot suffer if you, most worshipfulsir, rule instead."
Now did the crafty Dolphus find himself quick to see the worth to himof such a visit from the great king of England who was held in highesteem everywhere. If Arthur were to visit him then could nonequestion his pretense to the throne. Too, were such visit soon, therewould be need for him to be declared Duke of Gascony at once, so thatArthur could be met in royal state.
"Gascony, good sir, would welcome your king. And count it honor toreceive him with all the honors due so great a name. When does yourmaster plan to come?"
"Shortly, sir, after I make my return to England and make report. Forhe hopes also to visit Rome and pay homage to His Holiness, the Pope."
When he heard this, Sir Dolphus urged the emissaries of England's kingto tarry awhile in Gascony.
"So that, kind sirs, you find our friendship for your master, such asmay befit his visit to us. Greatly do we desire him to come and wewould wish your report to be a kindly one. So find you welcome here.We shall eat, drink and be merry."
So the party made itself at home. Sir Dolphus soon took great fancy toSir Launcelot who proved a merry soul and the two spent many hourstogether.
"I would count it fortunate, Sir Launcelot, were you knight of thiscourt. For I need friends such as you."
"Rather, I fancy, is the need otherwise. For the Duke of Gascony'sfriendship is no small thing and many there are who would hold it highhonor. Of friends, you should have many." So the knight madeflattering answer.
"Aye, but you know not. There are those who would believe that thedead duke lives and who though silent, yet are sullen over my rightfulclaim to take his place. And I find the Church of little help to me.Though I have offered it many gifts, and promised it great riches, yetwill it oppose my will."
"Does the Church object to you as Duke?" Sir Launcelot questioned. "Isee not why."
"Nay, 'tis not as Duke but in other matters."
Caution seemed to overcome Sir Dolphus for many minutes. But he hadgreat desire to confide in this friendly knight whose good will hewished.
"Art thou married, Sir Launcelot?" he asked.
"A strange question, my friend. Yet do I find my happiness in thesingle blessedness which is at present mine."
"Yet is marriage a most convenient thing sometime. 'Twould be for meat present."
"Say you, _'twould be?_ Yet, if I mistake not, have I heard thatthat blessed state is already yours. Though no sign have I seen asyet, of the Lady Dolphus.
"Aye, friend, married am I, worse the pity. And when I ask the Churchto annul this unhappy state, and give it many gifts, still does itturn stubborn over such a little thing."
"What harm therein, my friend? Since that the lady is not with you?"Friendly was Sir Launcelot's tone and right sympathetic.
"Aye, there I come back to what I have said--about marriage being mostconvenient at times. For would they annul the marriage I could thenmarry again, one who owns vast estate. And that would make me allpowerful in Gascony."
Such laughter as shook the frame of Sir Launcelot. Nor was itunkindly.
"A great rogue you," he spoke pleasantly. "Off with the old and onwith the new. Is it not so? And I fancy the new is also right young orI am greatly mistaken? Eh?"
Great was Sir Launcelot's hilarity. Nor did the other take offensethereat.
"I care little as to her youth or not. But I do care for the estatethat goes with her," replied Sir Dolphus.
"She must like you greatly, to be willing?"
"Hardly could I say, she's that. But that would be small matter if Icould but get the Church to sanction the deed. Yet have I hope thatif I could get your king's goodwill, he could persuade the Pope on hisvisit to Rome. And there, good friend, you could help me greatly andwell would I repay such kindness."
Not once did Sir Launcelot permit the hot temper within him to beunloosed. Played he so well with the wicked knight that it was but afew days thereafter Sir Dolphus invited him to visit with him theyoung damsel who was kept within prison walls. Never once did theknight demur or permit the other to think that he did not sympathizeand agree with his plans.
As they walked away from the prison door, he turned to the other."Strange that she should be all alone. Has she no one who would makeyou trouble?"
"Her father went forth with the Duke and others among us to the landof the infidels. On our way back, in Lombardy, our small force wasovercome by disaster. But three of us escaped, I know not whathappened to the others. Then it was, I decided to possess the land ofthe Sanscourt and told the Lady Jeanne that her husband wished andcommanded that her daughter Helene marry me. But she would have noneof this. So that I had to steal the damsel. And when her brother camehere to rescue her, we overcame the helpless youth. He would not havelived had I my way, but the others would not permit that and so wehave him safely lodged in the dungeon below and I fancy he will notabuse our hospitality for long."
That night Sir Launcelot spoke to the others and told what he hadheard. Great was his rage, which he had curbed so well when in thepresence of the other.
"I would," Merlin spoke in great gloom, "that we were well out ofthis."
"We can be well out of it when the youth and girl are also safelyout," Sir Galahad replied and there was a stern look in his eye."Tomorrow we shall find the dungeon place. Then will we act quickly.But also we must see to it that this false knight receives his justdeserts. Is it not so, Launcelot?"
"Tomorrow, it shall be," the other replied. "And I myself, shall dealwith this Sir Dolphus, for I have had to listen to his foulnesswithout demur."
So they planned. And the next day, Sir Galahad professed a greatdesire to see the whole of the castle. And so was shown in due coursethe great dungeon and saw there, the weak and spent lad, Ambrose.
That night, Sir Dolphus and Sir Launcelot went by themselves to thechamber of the former to make merry. And there, Sir Dolphus whocounted the other's sympathy as beyond doubt, told more of his knavishplots. Until the li
stener sick with listening turned to him in thequiet and secrecy of the great chamber and said in stern tones.
"Sir Dolphus, I would advise you to pray now. For you die in threeminutes!"
Nor did the other mistake the voice, the tone. Nor even make pretenseto misunderstand. Instead he made as if to raise a great shout. Butfound the other's mighty hand closed over his foul mouth so that hiscall for aid was unuttered. And the hand remained there--even as theowner forced him to his knees with no great effort.
"Pray, if you will. Your time is almost gone."
But the wretch groaned and squirmed and tried to escape the hold thatheld viselike over him.
It was five minutes later that Sir Launcelot left the room. There wasa grim, fixed look on his face that few had ever seen before.
He joined the others. And then while [he] and Gouvernail went to theprison chamber of the damsel, Helene, and rescued her with littleeffort, Sir Galahad went down to the dungeon door and there overcamethe guard with ease and opened the door wide with the keys obtained.And Walker carried the weak lad to the entrance door and so theyjoined the others.
So then Sir Galahad and Sir Launcelot with the two squires went forand obtained their horses, without suspicion. With the two they hadrescued, the whole party rode forth from the castle. And but for theoutcry of the guards at the gate which they forced them to open wide,they had no one to cope with.
Forth they road swiftly, Merlin carrying the young girl and Charlessupporting the boy, leaving the others free to ride behind and meetsuch pursuers as might come.
But none pursued.
"I think they will find a task on hand to care for the other prisonersthe open dungeon door unloosed," Sir Galahad said.
"And with the wonder over Sir Dolphus," Sir Launcelot added and hislook was far away.
A day later found them at the castle of Sanscourt. Happy was my LadyJeanne over the return of her dear children and grateful, too. It didnot take long for them to prepare to go forth to England with SirLauncelot and Merlin.
So they bade each the other goodbye. And as they went forth, SirGalahad watching them go, said to the Lady Jeanne,
"Still hope, my lady. For I shall bring or send you word of SirVilard, good or bad."
"I shall never cease to hope, Sir Galahad. And I shall pray for you,each day until you return."