CHAPTER XI
If Arthur Lynwood felt desolate when he left his uncle's side, it wasnot otherwise with Sir Eustace as he lost sight of the child, who hadso long been his charge, and who repaid his anxiety with such confidingaffection. The coveted fame, favour, and distinction seemed likewiseto have deserted him. The Prince's coldness hung heavily on him, andas he cast his eyes along the ranks of familiar faces, not one friendlylook cheered him. His greetings were returned with coldness, and agrave haughty courtesy was the sole welcome. Chafed and mortified, hemade a sign to Gaston, and they were soon in the street once more.
"Coward clown!" burst forth Gaston at once. "Would that I could sendall his grinning teeth down the false throat of him!"
"Whose? What mean you?"
"Whose but that sulky recreant, Ashton? He has done well to obtainknighthood, or I would beat him within an inch of his life with myhalbert, and if he dared challenge me, slay him as I would a carrioncrown! He a Knight! Thanks to his acres and to Lord Pembroke!"
"Patience, patience, Gaston--I have not yet heard of what he accusesme."
"No! he has learnt policy--he saith it not openly! He would deny it,as did his Esquire when I taxed him with it! Would that you could nottell a letter! Sir Eustace, of your favour let me burn every one ofyour vile books."
"My innocent friends! Nay, nay, Gaston--they are too knightly to meritsuch measure. Then it is the old accusation of witchcraft, I suppose.So I was in league with the Castilian witch and her cats, was I?"
"Ay; and her broom-stick or her cats wafted you to Lynwood, where yousuddenly stood in the midst of the mourners, borne into the hall on ahowling blast! How I got there, I am sorry to say, the craven declarednot, lest I should give him the lie at once!"
"But surely, such a tale is too absurd and vulgar to deceive our noblePrince."
"Oh, there is another version for his ears. This is only for the lowersort, who might not have thought the worse of you for kidnapping yournephew, vowing his mother should remain unburied till he was in yourhands, and carrying off all his rents."
"That is Clarenham's slander."
"Yes."
"And credited by the Prince? Oh! little did I think the hand whichlaid knighthood on my shoulder should repent the boon that it gave!"exclaimed Eustace, with a burst of sorrow rather than anger.
"Do you not challenge the traitor at once?"
"I trow not, unless he speaks the charge to my face. Father Cyrildeclared that any outbreak on my part would damage our cause in theeyes of the Chancellor; we must bide our time. Since Arthur is safe, Iwill bear my own burden. I am guiltless in this matter, and I trustthat the blessing of Heaven on my deeds shall restore a name, obscured,but not tarnished."
The resolution to forbear was tested, for time passed on withoutvindicating him. With such art had the toils of his enemies beenspread, that no opening was left him for demanding an explanation. Thecalumnies could only be brought home to the lowest retainers ofClarenham and Ashton, and the only result of the zealous refutation bythe followers of Sir Eustace was a brawl between John Ingram and ayeoman of Clarenham's, ending in their spending a week in the custodyof the Provost Marshal.
Had there been any tournament or like sport at Bordeaux, Eustace couldhave asserted his place, and challenged the attention of the court; butthe state of the Prince's health prevented such spectacles; nor had heany opportunity of acquiring honour by his deeds in arms. No army tookthe field on either side, and the war was chiefly carried on byexpeditions for the siege or relief of frontier castles; and here hisunusual rank as Knight Banneret stood in his way, since it was contraryto etiquette for him to put himself under the command of a KnightBachelor. He was condemned therefore to a weary life of inaction, themore galling, because his poverty made it necessary to seek maintenanceas formerly at the Prince's table, where he was daily reminded, by thealtered demeanour of his acquaintance, of the unjust suspicions beneathwhich he laboured. He had hoped that a dismissal from his post in thePrince's band would give him the much-desired opportunity of claiming ahearing, but he was permitted to receive his pay and allowance asusual, and seemed completely overlooked. It was well that Gaston's gaytemper could not easily be saddened by their circumstances, and hishigh spirits and constant attachment often cheered his Knight in theirlonely evenings. Eustace had more than once striven to persuade him toforsake his failing fortunes; but to this the faithful Squire wouldnever consent, vowing that he was as deeply implicated in all theiraccusations as Sir Eustace himself; and who would wish to engage afellow-servant of the black cats! There were two others whom Eustacewould fain believe still confided in his truth and honour, his nephewArthur, and Lady Agnes de Clarenham; but he never saw them, and oftenhis heart sank at the thought of the impression that the universalbelief might make on the minds of both. And to add to his depression,a rumour prevailed throughout Bordeaux that the Baron of Clarenham hadpromised his sister's hand to Sir Leonard Ashton.
Nearly a year had passed since Eustace had left England, and hissituation continued unchanged. Perhaps the Prince regarded him withadditional displeasure, since news had arrived that Sir Richard Ferrarshad made application to the Duke of Lancaster to interest the King inthe cause of the guardianship; for there was, at this time, a strongjealousy, in the mind of the Prince, of the mighty power and influenceof John of Gaunt, which he already feared might be used to thedisadvantage of his young sons.
The cause was, at length, decided, and a letter from good Father Cyrilconveyed to Eustace the intelligence that the Chancellor, William ofWykeham, Bishop of Winchester, having given due weight to SirReginald's dying words and Lady Lynwood's testament, had pronounced SirEustace Lynwood the sole guardian of the person and estate of hisnephew, and authorized all the arrangements he had made on hisdeparture.
Affairs altogether began to wear a brighter aspect. The firstindignation against Sir Eustace had subsided, and he was treated, ingeneral, with indifference rather than marked scorn. The gallant oldChandos was again on better terms with the Prince, and, coming toBordeaux, made two or three expeditions, in which Eustace volunteeredto join, and gained some favourable, though slight, notice from the oldKnight. Fulk Clarenham, too, having received from the Prince thegovernment of Perigord, was seldom at court, and no active enemyappeared to be at work against him.
Agnes de Clarenham, always retiring and pensive, and seldom sought outby those who admired gayer damsels, was sitting apart in the embrasureof a window, whence, through an opening in the trees of the garden, shecould catch a distant glimpse of the blue waters of the river where itjoined the sea, which separated her from her native land, and from herwho had ever been as a mother to her. She was so lost in thought, thatshe scarce heard a step approaching, till the unwelcome sound of "Fairgreeting to you, Lady Agnes" caused her to look up and behold the stillmore unwelcome form of Sir Leonard Ashton. To escape from him was thefirst idea, for his clownish manners, always unpleasant to her, hadbecome doubly so, since he had presumed upon her brother's favour tooffer to her addresses from which she saw no escape; and with a briefreply of "Thanks for your courtesy, Sir Knight," she was about to riseand mingle with the rest of the party, when he proceeded, bluntly,"Lady Agnes, will you do me a favour?"
"I know of no favour in my power," said she.
"Nay," he said, "it is easily done, and it is as much to your brotheras to myself. It is a letter which, methinks, Fulk would not have readout of the family, of which I may call myself one," and he gave a sortof smirk at Agnes;--"but he writes so crabbedly, that I, for one,cannot read two lines,--and I would not willingly give it to a clerk,who might be less secret. So methought, as 'twas the Baron's affair, Iwould even bring it here, and profit by your Convent-breeding, LadyAgnes."
Agnes took the letter, and began to read:--
"For the hand of the Right Noble and Worshipful Knight, Sir Leonard Ashton, at the court of my Lord the Prince of Wales, these:--
"Fair Sir, and brother-in-arms--I
hereby do you to wit, that the affair whereof we spoke goes well. Both my Lord of Pembroke, and Sir John Chandos, readily undertook to move the Prince to grant the Banneret you wot of the government of the Castle, and as he hath never forgotten the love he once bore to his brother, he will the more easily be persuaded. Of the garrison we are sure, and all that is now needful is, that the one-eyed Squire, whereof you spoke to me, should receive warning before he arrives at the Castle.
"Tell him to choose his time, and manage matters so that there may be no putting to ransom. He will understand my meaning.
"Greeting you well, therefore, "Fulk, Baron of Clarenham."
"What means this?" exclaimed Agnes, as a tissue of treachery openedbefore her eyes.
"Ay, that you may say," said Leonard, his slow brain only fixed uponFulk's involved sentences, and utterly unconscious of the horrorexpressed in her tone. "How is a man to understand what he would haveme to do? Send to Le Borgne Basque at Chateau Norbelle? Is that it?Read it to me once again, Lady, for the love of the Saints. What am Ito tell Le Borgne Basque? No putting to ransom, doth he say? He mightbe secure enough for that matter--Eustace Lynwood is little like toransom himself."
"But what mean you?" said Agnes, eagerly hoping that she had done herbrother injustice in her first horrible thought. "Sir Eustace Lynwood,if you spake of him, is no prisoner, but is here at Bordeaux."
"He shall not long be so," said Leonard. "Heard you not this very noonthat the Prince bestows on him the government of Chateau Norbelle onthe marches of Gascony? Well, that is the matter treated of in thisletter. Let me see, let me see, how was it to be? Yes, that is it!It is Le Borgne Basque who is Seneschal. Ay, true, that I know,--and'twas he who was to admit Clisson's men."
"Admit Clisson's men!"
"Ay--'tis one of those Castles built by the old Paladin, Renaud deMontauban, that Eustace used to talk about. I ween he did not know ofthis trick that will be played on himself--and all of them have, theysay, certain secret passages leading through the vaults into theCastle. Le Borgne Basque knows them all, for he has served much inthose parts, and Fulk placed him as Seneschal for the very purpose."
"For the purpose of admitting Clisson's men? Do I understand youright, Sir Knight, or do my ears play me false?"
"Yes, I speak right. Do you not see, Lady Agnes, it is the only way tofree your house of this stumbling-block--this beggarly upstartEustace--who, as long as he lives, will never acknowledge Fulk'srights, and would bring up his nephew to the same pride."
"And is it possible, Sir Leonard, that brother of mine, and beltedKnight, should devise so foul a scheme of treachery! Oh, unsay itagain! Let me believe it was my own folly that conjured up somonstrous a thought!"
"Ay, that is the way with women," said Leonard; "they never look at thesense of the matter. Why, this Eustace, what terms should be kept withhim, who has dealings with the Evil One? and--"
"I will neither hear a noble Knight maligned, nor suffer him to bebetrayed," interrupted Agnes. "I have listened to you too long, SirLeonard Ashton, and will stain my ears no longer. I thank you,however, for having given me such warning as to enable me to traversethem."
"What will you do?" asked Leonard, with a look of impotent anger.
"Appeal instantly to the Prince. Tell him the use that is made of hisCastles, and the falsehoods told him of his most true-hearted Knight!"and Agnes, with glancing eyes, was already rising for the purpose,forgetting, in her eager indignation, all that must follow, whenLeonard, muttering "What madness possessed me to tell her!" stood fullbefore her, saying, gloomily, "Do so, Lady, if you choose to ruin yourbrother!" The timid girl stood appalled, as the horrible consequencesof such an accusation arose before her.
That same day Eustace was summoned to the Prince's presence.
"Sir Eustace Lynwood," said Edward, gravely, "I hear you have servedthe King well beneath the banner of Sir John Chandos. Your friendshave wrought with me to give you occasion to prove yourself worthy ofyour spurs, and I have determined to confer on you the government of myChateau of Norbelle, on the frontier of Gascony, trusting to find you atrue and faithful governor and Castellane."
"I trust, my Lord, that you have never had occasion to deem lesshonourably of me," said Eustace; and his clear open eye and browcourted rather than shunned the keen look of scrutiny that the Princefixed upon him. His heart leapt at the hope that the time for inquirywas come, but the Prince in another moment sank his eyes again, withmore, however, of the weary impatience of illness than of actualdispleasure, and merely replied, "Kneel down, then, Sir Knight, andtake the oaths of fidelity."
Eustace obeyed, hardly able to suppress a sigh at the disappointment ofhis hopes.
"You will receive the necessary orders and supplies from Sir JohnChandos, and from the Treasurer," said Edward, in a tone that intimatedthe conclusion of the conference; and Eustace quitted his presence,scarce knowing whether to be rejoiced or dissatisfied.
The former, Gaston certainly was. "I have often been heartily weary ofgarrison duty," said he, "but never can I be more weary of aught, thanof being looked upon askance by half the men I meet. And we maysometimes hear the lark sing too, as well as the mouse squeak, SirEustace. I know every pass of my native county, and the herds ofLanguedoc shall pay toll to us."
Sir John Chandos, as Constable of Aquitaine, gave him the requisiteorders and information. The fortifications, he said, were in goodcondition, and the garrison already numerous; but a sum of money wasallotted to him in order to increase their numbers as much as he shoulddeem advisable, since it was not improbable that he might have tosustain a siege, as Oliver de Clisson was threatening that part of thefrontier. Four days were allowed for his preparations, after which hewas to depart for his government.
Eustace was well pleased with all that he heard, and returned to hislodging, where, in the evening twilight, he was deeply engaged inconsultation with Gaston, on the number of followers to be raised, whena light step was heard hastily approaching, and Arthur, darting intothe room, flung himself on his neck, exclaiming, "Uncle! uncle! go notto this Castle!"
"Arthur, what brings you here? What means this? No foolish frolic, noescape from punishment, I trust?" said Eustace, holding him at somelittle distance, and fixing his eyes on him intently.
"No, uncle, no! On the word of a true Knight's son," said the boy,stammering, in his eagerness, "believe me, trust me, dear uncle--and gonot to this fearful Castle. It is a trap--a snare laid to be yourdeath, by the foulest treachery!"
"Silence, Arthur!" said the Knight, sternly. "Know you not whattreason you speak? Some trick has been played on your simplicity, andyet you--child as you are--should as soon think shame of your ownfather as of the Prince, the very soul of honour."
"Oh, it is not the Prince: he knows nought of it; it is those doubletraitors, the Baron of Clarenham and Sir Leonard Ashton, who haveworked upon him and deceived him."
"Oh, ho!" said Gaston. "The story now begins to wear some semblance ofprobability."
Arthur turned, looking perplexed. "Master d'Aubricour," said he, "Iforgot that you were here. This is a secret which should have been formy uncle's ears alone."
"Is it so?" said Gaston; "then I will leave the room, if it please youand the Knight--though methought I was scarce small enough to be soeasily overlooked; and having heard the half--"
"You had best hear the whole," said Arthur. "Uncle Eustace, what thinkyou?"
"I know not what to think, Arthur. You must be your own judge."
Arthur's young brow wore a look of deep thought; at last he said, "Donot go then, Gaston. If I have done wrong, I must bear the blame, and,be it as it may, my uncle needs must tell you all that I may tell him."
"Let us hear, then," said Eustace.
"Well, then," said Arthur, who had by this time collected himself, "youmust know that this Chateau Norbelle is one of those built by thatfamous Paladin, the chief of freebooters, Sir Rena
ud de Montauban, ofwhom you have told me so many tales. Now all of these have secretpassages in the vaults communicating with the outer country."
"The boy is right," said Gaston; "I have seen one of them in the Castleof Montauban itself."
"Then it seems," proceeded Arthur, "that this Castle hath hitherto beenin the keeping of a certain one-eyed Seneschal, a great friend andcomrade of Sir Leonard Ashton--"
"Le Borgne Basque!" exclaimed both Knight and Squire, looking at eachother in amaze.
"True, true," said Arthur. "Now you believe me. Well, the enemy beingin the neighbourhood, it was thought right to increase the garrison,and place it under the command of a Knight, and these cowardly traitorshave wrought with my Lord of Pembroke and Sir John Chandos to inducethe Prince to give you this post--it being their intention that thiswicked Seneschal and his equally wicked garrison should admit SirOliver de Clisson, the butcher of Bretagne himself, through the secretpassage. And, uncle," said the boy, pressing Eustace's hand, whiletears of indignation sprang to his eyes, "the letter expressly saidthere was to be no putting to ransom. Oh, Uncle Eustace, go not tothis Castle!"
"And how came you by this knowledge?" asked the Knight.
"That I may never tell," said Arthur.
"By no means which might not beseem the son of a brave man?" saidEustace.
"Mistrust me not so foully," said the boy. "I know it from a surehand, and there is not dishonour, save on the part of those villaintraitors. Oh, promise me, fair uncle, not to put yourself in theirhands!"
"Arthur, I have taken the oaths to the Prince as Castellane. I cannotgo back from my duty, nor give up its defence for any cause whatsoever."
"Alas! alas!"
"There would be only one way of avoiding it," said Eustace, "and youmust yourself say, Arthur, whether that is open to me. To go to thePrince, and tell him openly what use is made of his Castles, andimpeach the villains of their treachery."
"That cannot be," said Arthur, shaking his head sadly--"it is contraryto the pledge I gave for you and for myself. But go not, go not,uncle. Remember, uncle, if you will not take thought for yourself,that you are all that is left me--all that stands between me and thatwicked Clarenham.--Gaston, persuade him."
"Gaston would never persuade me to disgrace my spurs for the sake ofdanger," replied Eustace. "Have you no better learnt the laws ofchivalry in the Prince's household, Arthur? Besides, remember oldRalph's proverb, 'Fore-warned is fore-armed.' Think you not thatGaston, and honest Ingram, and I may not be a match for a dozencowardly traitors? Besides which, see here the gold allotted me toraise more men, with which I will obtain some honest hearts for mydefence--and it will go hard with me if I cannot find Sir Renaud'ssecret door."
"Then, if you will go, uncle, take, take me with you--I could, atleast, watch the door; and I know how to hit a mark with a cross-bow aswell as Lord Harry of Lancaster himself."
"Take you, Master Arthur? What! steal away the Prince's page that Ihave been at such pains to bring hither, and carry him to a nest oftraitors! Why, it would be the very way to justify Clarenham's ownfalsehoods."
"And of the blackest are they!" said Arthur. "Think, uncle, of mystanding by to hear him breathing his poison to the Prince, and thepreventing him from searching to find out the truth, by pretending aregard for my father's name, and your character. Oh that our noblePrince should be deluded by such a recreant, and think scorn of such aKnight as you!"
"I trust yet to prove to him that it is a delusion," said Eustace."Many a Knight at twenty-two has yet to make his name and fame. Mine,thanks to Du Guesclin and the Prince himself, is already made, andthough clouded for a time, with the grace of our Lady and of St.Eustace, I will yet clear it; so, Arthur, be not downcast for me, butthink what Father Cyril hath taught concerning evil report and goodreport. But tell me, how came you hither?"
"She--that is, the person that warned me--let me down from the windowupon the head of the great gurgoyle, and from thence I scrambled downby the vines on the wall, ran through the court without being seen bythe Squires and grooms, and found my way to the bridge, where happily Imet John Ingram, who brought me hither."
"She?" repeated Gaston, with a sly look in his black eyes.
"I have said too much," said Arthur, colouring deeply; "I pray you toforget."
"Forget!" proceeded the Squire, "that is sooner said than done. Weshall rack our brains to guess what lady can--"
"Hush, Gaston," said Eustace, as his nephew looked at him imploringly,"tempt not the boy. And you, Arthur, must return to the palaceimmediately."
"Oh, uncle!" said the boy, "may I not stay with you this one night? Itis eight weary months since I have ever seen you, save by peering downthrough the tall balusters of the Princess's balcony, when the Knightswere going to dinner in the hall, and I hoped you would keep me withyou at least one night. See how late and dark it is--the Castle gateswill be closed by this time."
"It does indeed rejoice my heart to have you beside me, fair nephew,"said Eustace, "and yet I know not how to favour such an escape as this,even for such a cause."
"I never broke out of bounds before," said Arthur, "and never will,though Lord Harry and Lord Thomas Holland have more than once asked meto join them."
"Then," said the Knight, "since it is, as you say, too late to rousethe palace, I will take you back in my hand to-morrow morn, see themaster of the Damoiseaux, and pray him to excuse you for coming to seeme ere my departure."
"Yes, that will be all well," said Arthur; "I could, to be sure, findthe corner where Lord Harry has loosened the stones, and get in by thepages' window, ere old Master Michael is awake in the morn; but I thinksuch doings are more like those of a fox than of a brave boy, andthough I should be well punished, I will walk in at the door, and holdup my head boldly."
"Shall you be punished then?" said Gaston. "Is your old master of theDamoiseaux very severe?"
"He has not been so hitherto with me," said Arthur: "he scolds me forlittle, save what you too are displeased with, Master d'Aubricour,because I cannot bring my mouth to speak your language in your ownfashion. It is Lord Harry that chiefly falls under his displeasure.But punished now I shall assuredly be, unless Uncle Eustace can workwonders."
"I will see what may be done, Arthur," said Eustace. "And now, haveyou supped?"
The evening passed off very happily to the little page, who, quitereassured by his uncle's consolations, only thought of the delight ofbeing with one who seemed to supply to him the place at once of anelder brother and of a father.
Early the next morning, Eustace walked with him to the palace. Justbefore he reached it, he made this inquiry, "Arthur, do you often seethe Lady Agnes de Clarenham?"
"Oh, yes, I am with her almost every afternoon. She hears me read, shehelps me with my French words, and teaches me courtly manners. I am herown page and servant--but, here we are. This is the door that leads tothe room of Master Michael de Sancy, the master of the Damoiseaux."