The report fell in excellently with the Abbot’s
calculation. No one believed in the Isoult fable
save Mald, whom the girl had seen once or twice, and
himself; every one talked rather of the Chained Virgin
of Saint Thorn. She became an object of pilgrimage.
The Abbot grew to call her chamber the feretory; the
faithful gave alms, particularly the seamen from Wanmouth.
Then others came to behold, more to his liking, proposing
barter. She was observed of the Lord of Hartlepe,
the young Lord of Brokenbridge, the Lord of Courthope
Saint James; of the Baron of Starning and Parrox,
also, from the East Demesne. This Baron Malise,
thin and stooping, having Prosper’s quick eyes
without his easy lordship over all who met them, and
Prosper’s high voice twisted querulous, came
to view his young brother’s wife. She pleased,
but the price did not please. He and the Abbot
haggled over the dowry; Malise, as obstinate as Prosper,
would not budge. So they haggled. Finally
came Galors de Born, Lord of Hauterive and many other
places in the north, not to be denied.
CHAPTER XXXI
‘ENTRA PER ME’
When Galors overshot his mark in Thornyhold he flew
very wide. It is well known there are no roads.
Thornyhold is but the beginning of the densest patch
of timber in all the forest. Malbank is your nearest
habitation; Spenshaw, Heckaby, Dunsholt Thicket, Hartshold,
Deerleap are forest names, not names of the necessities
of men. You may wander a month if you choose,
telling one green hollow from another; or you may
go to Holy Thorn at Malbank, or endure unto Wanmouth
and the sea. If you were Galors and needed counsel
you would not choose the wood; naturally you would
avoid Malbank. There would remain to you Wanmouth.
Galors went to Wanmouth. It was the Countess’s
country of course; but his disguise was good enough.
People read the arms and hailed a le Gai or one of
that house. It was at Wanmouth that he learned
what he wanted. Malise, after one of his interminable
chafferings with the Abbot Richard, took it on his
way to the east.
“My Lord Baron of Starning,” said the
Vice-Admiral of the port, “we have had a friend
of your house here a week or more.”
“Eh, eh!” said Malise, feeling his pocket,
“what does the rogue want with his friendship?
I’m as poor as a rat. Who is he?”
“Oh, for that,” replied the other, “he
seems a great lord in his way, wears your blazon,
is free with his money, and he swears like a Fleming.”
“Bring him to me, Admiral, bring him to me.
I shall like this man.”
So Galors was brought in, to be graciously received
by the head of the house of Gai. His blunt manner
deceived Malise at once. In his experience people
who wanted to borrow dealt differently. Here was
a lofty soul, who might, on the other hand, be guided
to lend! In the course of a long conversation
Melise unbosomed. He was newly a lover and liked
the part. The Baron ended his confession thus—
Copyrights
The Forest Lovers from Project Gutenberg. Public domain.
