And now leave me, I
pray you, for my head is weary and I would fain have sleep."
Thus it came about that a month later on the eve of the Feast of
Saint Matthew, the Lady Mary, as she walked front Cosford gates,
met with a strange horseman, richly clad, a serving-man behind
him, looking shrewdly about him with quick blue eyes, which
twinkled from a red and freckled face. At sight of her he doffed
his hat and reined his horse.
"This house should be Cosford," said he. "Are you by chance the
Lady Mary who dwells there?"
The lady bowed her proud dark head.
"Then," said he, "Squire Nigel Loring sends you greeting and tells
you that Saint Catharine has been his friend." Then turning to
his servant he cried: "Heh, Raoul, our task is done! Your master
is a free man once more. Come, lad, come, the nearest port to
France! Hola! Hola! Hola!" And so without a word more the two,
master and man, set spurs to their horses and galloped like madmen
down the long slope of Hindhead, until as she looked after them
they were but two dark dots in the distance, waist-high in the
ling and the bracken.
She turned back to the house, a smile upon her face. Nigel had
sent her greeting. A Frenchman had brought it. His bringing it
had made him a freeman. And Saint Catherine had been Nigel's
friend. It was at her shrine that he had sworn that three deeds
should be done ere he should set eyes upon her again.
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