CHAPTER XXX.
One by one, the guests assembled in the hall of Chidlow castle, forthe first meal of the day which, as the reader well knows, was inthose days a very substantial affair. People in high station usuallydined, as it was called, at a very early hour; for, in all themutations of fashion, nothing has changed more than the dinner hour inEurope. The labouring classes indeed, of all countries, consultinghealth and convenience alone, have varied very little. It was thenabout the hour of ten, when two or three of the guests appeared in thehall. Then came the lord of the castle himself, with his sister, theabbess, on his arm. Sir William Arden and two or three other guestsfollowed; then Lord Fulmer and some others, then Chartley, then SirEdward Hungerford.
A great change had come over Lord Fulmer's aspect. He was calm, thoughvery grave, courteous and attentive to all, though somewhat absent inhis manner, and falling into frequent fits of thought. Even toChartley, whose demeanour was perfectly unchanged, he showed himselfpolite, though cold, conversed with him once or twice across thetable, and by no allusion whatsoever approaching the subject of theirrencounter in the morning. The meal passed off cheerfully, with mostof those present; and, after it was over, the party in generalseparated to prepare for the sports and occupations of the day.
"Now, gentlemen," said Lord Calverly; "all who are disciples of St.Hubert, prepare your horses; for, though the month of May is not come,I am determined we will force a buck before the day is over. My goodsister, here, notwithstanding holy vows and pious meditations, loveswell to see a falcon fly or a dog run; and she will accompany us onher mule. Take care that she does not outride us all; for the bestbarb in my stables, except at the full gallop, will hardly outrun thatmule of hers."
These words were followed by much hurrying away from the room; and, inthe moment of confusion, Lord Fulmer lightly touched Chartley's arm,saying in a low tone--
"My lord, before we set out, I have a word or two for your privateear, if I may crave audience."
"Assuredly!" replied Chartley. "You can take it, my lord, when youthink fit."
"Then I will join you in your apartments, as soon as I am booted,"answered Fulmer.
In somewhat less than five minutes, after Chartley had reached his ownchamber, he was joined by Fulmer prepared for the chase. As usual,where men have a resolute inclination to cut each others' throats, allsorts of ceremonious courtesy took place between them; and, afterFulmer was seated, he leaned across the table, saying:
"I have come, my Lord Chartley, to speak to you both of the past andthe future. As for the past, I have had time to think, not only ofwhat occurred between us this morning, but of my own conduct towardsyou; and I do not scruple to avow that I feel I have been wrong."
"Then, think of it no more, my good lord," replied Chartley, holdingout his hand to him frankly; but Lord Fulmer did not take it.
"I have not yet done," he said. "I have owned that I was wrong, that Ibehaved uncourteously and rashly, both last night and to-day, underthe influence of strongly moved passion, which has now passed away. Iapologize for it, and pray you to accept my excuse. So much for thepast; and now for the future, my lord. I trust I shall not forgetmyself again; but thus are we circumstanced. You have becomeacquainted with a lady contracted to me; you have had an opportunityof rendering her service; and I have no doubt did so in the kindestand most courteous manner. I mean not to say that you have done aughtthat is wrong, or that, knowing she was pledged to be my wife, youhave striven to win her from me; but unwittingly, perhaps, you havelearned to love her yourself, and deprived me of a share of heraffections. Deny it not; for it is evident."
He paused for an instant, as if the words he spoke were very bitter tohimself; and Chartley remained perfectly silent, with his eyes fixedupon a spot on the table, as if waiting to hear what this commencementwould lead to.
"Now, my lord," continued Fulmer, with a sigh, "to my mind, two mencannot love one woman and both live. Such is the case with you and me.I grant that you have as much right to love her as I have. I amwilling to look upon it as if we were merely two rivals for the samehand; but still I say, there is but one way of terminating thatrivalry; for her faith is already plighted to me, and therefore thequestion cannot and must not be submitted to her decision."
"I understand your meaning, my good lord," said Chartley, seeing thathe paused, "and think that your view is wrong--"
"Hear me out," said Fulmer, interrupting him. "I have yet a few wordsmore to say. My views can never be changed. They are based upon my ownnature. I cannot live, Lord Chartley, in doubt or jealousy. I cannotlive unloved by her I love. I cast myself upon your generosity then,to yield me compensation for an injury, even unintentional, in such amanner as will in no degree compromise the fair name of her who is tobe my wife or yours."
"Upon my life, my noble lord," replied Chartley, in his usual franktone, "I do not think the right way for me to win her would be to cutyour throat, nor for you to cut mine."
"Perhaps not," replied Lord Fulmer; "but so it must be; for it is theonly way open to us."
"I think not," answered Chartley. "If I understand right, the LadyIola is formally and fully contracted to you. I will not deny,Lord Fulmer, that this was painful news to me; but, I knew it was anill without remedy; and I never even dreamed, from that moment, ofseeking to win one thought of the lady, from her promised--heraffianced husband. So help me, Heaven, I would never have seen heragain willingly. I am not here of my own will, my lord. I am aprisoner, and would willingly remove myself to any other abode, tocause no pain or disquiet here. I do not believe, I never havebelieved, that there is any occasion for such disquiet. The Lady Iolamay have won my regard; but I have no reason to suppose that I, in theslightest degree, have won hers. No words of affection have everpassed between us; no suit has been made on my part, no acknowledgmenton hers. As you have taken a more frank and courteous tone than youassumed this morning, I will not now scruple to say how we first met,and explain to you all that can be explained, without dangerouslyaffecting another. You doubtless know that I am here under the king'sdispleasure, for aiding my good and reverend friend, the bishop ofEly, to escape from the perils which menaced him. He travelleddisguised in my train, till we arrived at the abbey of St. Clare ofAtherston, where he had appointed a servant to meet him withintelligence of importance. I sat next the Lady Iola at supper, butparted with her there, and left the good bishop in the strangers'lodging. Having cause to suspect that some one had left my train--aservant of Sir Charles Weinants--for the purpose of giving intimationof the bishop's place of refuge to those who might apprehend him, Iturned my horse in the forest, bidding my comrades ride on. Variousevents detained me in the forest during the whole night."
"But how came she in the forest too?" demanded Fulmer, gravely; forthe frankness of Chartley's manner had produced some effect.
"I must pause one moment to consider," replied Chartley, "whether Ican answer that question without a breach of faith to others.--Yes, Ican. The Lady Iola it was who guided the bishop from the abbey, whenit was surrounded and attacked by the king's soldiery; and, in sodoing, her return was cut off."
"But how came that task to fall upon her?" again demanded Fulmer.
"That, my good lord, I can hardly tell you," answered Chartley; "for,to say the truth, and the mere truth, I do not rightly know. There issome secret communication between the abbey and the wood. Stay, Iremember; I have heard the bishop say, that many years ago, he savedthe life of the last Lord Calverly, petitioning for his pardon, andobtaining it, when he was taken in one of the battles of those times.This is most probably why the task was assigned to the lady, and whyshe undertook it."
Fulmer mused gloomily.
"Perhaps so," he said at length; "but yet, my lord, methinks somewarmer words than mere courtesy must have been used, to induce thestay of so young and inexperienced a lady, alone in the forest, for awhole night, with a gay nobleman such as yourself."
"Warmer _things_, if your lordship likes," cried Chartley,indi
gnantly; "for, by the Lord that lives, the thing that kept herthere was seeing the houses burning on the abbey green. That was warmenough. For shame, Lord Fulmer! Have you consorted with people whoteach men to think there is no virtue in woman, no honour in man? Butlet me do the lady justice. She was not alone with me. My Arab servantwas with us all the time--followed us close--sat with us in the oldcastle hall; and I do not think ten sentences were spoken which he didnot hear. But, my good lord, since such is your humour, I will notbaulk you. I have borne this long enough. Be it as you say. Wait but afew days, to let your conduct of last night pass from men's minds, andI will afford you cause of quarrel to your heart's content, in whichthis lady's name shall bear no share. Then we will void ourdifferences in the eye of all the world, as soon as I am no longer aprisoner in ward. There is my hand on it."
Fulmer took it and grasped it tight, with a feeling of rancoroussatisfaction, which he could hardly conceal.
"Then for the present we are friends, my good lord," he said; "and Iwill take care that nothing in my manner shall betray our secret,while waiting your good pleasure."
"As you will," answered Chartley. "Put on what seeming you may like. Iwear no vizard. But hark, there are the horses in the court-yard; andhere comes Sir William Arden, just in time to go with us."
"In order to do what?" asked Sir William Arden, looking from the oneto the other, with an inquiring glance.
"To hunt," replied Chartley. "Are you not going?"
"Oh yes," answered the knight. "Though 'tis somewhat early in theyear. Yet I suppose my good Lord Calverly's bucks are always fat, solet us to horse."
Descending the stairs of the tower, they speedily reached thecourt-yard, and found all prepared for their expedition. The abbesswas already on her mule, Sir Edward Hungerford in the saddle, lookingdown the length of his leg and thigh, in evident admiration of his ownfair proportions, Lord Calverly by the side of his horse, and huntsmenand grooms, a goodly train.
Iola and Constance stood together to witness the departure of theparty, having declined to join the hunt; and Sir William Arden pausedfor a moment or two, by the side of the latter, while the rest mountedtheir horses.
The morning was fine, the scent lay well upon the dewy ground; a fatsolitary buck had been marked down in a covert, about two miles off;and he was soon found, and the dogs put upon his steps. He tookstraight across the chase, towards some other woods, at the distanceof four or five miles; and it was a beautiful sight to see the noblebeast darting along across the open country, with the dogs in full crybehind him, and the troop of gay lords and ladies following. Chartleygave way to all the spirit of the hunter, and galloped on, sometimestalking to Lord Calverly, or Sir William Arden, and sometimes to LordFulmer. To the latter his manner was courteous and easy; nor did theslightest embarrassment appear in it, although he caught the eyes ofhis elder friend fixed upon him, with a suspicious expression,whenever any conversation took place between him and his rival. Whenthe buck was slain, however, and the morning's sport over, Sir WilliamArden took the first opportunity of riding up to his young friend'sside, and saying, in a low tone, "I hope, my lord, you are not goingto play the fool."
"Not more than usual, Arden," replied Chartley. "Have I shown by anysigns that the disease is aggravated?"
"Not that I perceive," answered Sir William Arden; "but, just as I wascoming away, that dear little girl said something to me, I could notvery well understand, about quarrels between you and that young lordthere."
"Oh no," replied Chartley. "I will not quarrel with him; quarrels wehave had none since an early hour this morning. A few civil words onlyhave passed since; and of them more anon. But who comes here, spurringso sharp to meet us? He seems to have a tabard on."
"Nay, how should I know?" demanded Sir William Arden, almost sharply;"if it be a herald, I trust he does not come to defy Lord Calverly inthe king's name."
Almost as he spoke, a splendidly dressed pursuivant rode up, anddemanded aloud which was the Lord Fulmer.
"I am he!" replied the young nobleman, spurring forward his horse."What want you with me, Master Pursuivant?"
"Merely to bear you his majesty's commands," said the pursuivant, "tojoin him at York, where he now lies, without any delay. Not findingyour lordship at the castle, I rode on to seek you, as the king'scommands were urgent; and I must return with you."
Lord Fulmer's countenance fell. "Am I to understand then that I go asa prisoner?" he demanded.
"Not in the least, my lord," answered the officer. "I believe it is inorder to consult you upon some affairs, that the king sent for yourlordship; but he ordered me strictly to find you out, wherever youmight be, and to return in your lordship's train to York."
"Well then, for York, if it needs must be so," said Lord Fulmer, withan expression of much discontent upon his face. "I could have wishedthe command had come at some other time. Perhaps, I had better ride onbefore," he continued, turning to Lord Calverly, "in order to preparemy people for this unexpected journey."
"Perhaps so, my dear lord," replied the old peer. "We should always inthis world take time and fortune by the forelock, otherwise we shallnever catch them, if they get on in front. I know the king intends tohonour you to the utmost," he added, in a low tone; "so away at once,and show your zeal and promptness. There is nothing pleases a king somuch as to see diligence in obeying his commands."
"I would fain speak with you for some moments before I go, my noblelord," said Fulmer in the same low voice; but the old nobleman made asign of impatience, saying aloud, "No time for that, no time for that.You will be back in a day or two at the farthest."
"Then I must write," answered the young man, in a whisper; but,raising his tone, he added, "Farewell, all gentlemen and ladies whoare likely to be gone before my return. My Lord Chartley, I will notbid you adieu, as doubtless I shall find you here for some days tocome."
"By my faith, I fear so," answered Chartley, laughing. "His grace theking, when he has got his grasp upon a man's neck, is not famous forslackening it, as long as there is any head above; but I wait his goodpleasure in all humility, trusting that you will bring me goodtidings, and use your best eloquence to work my liberation."
"I will, upon my honour," answered Fulmer, earnestly; and then,turning his horse, he rode away.