The Geste of Duke Jocelyn Part 16

Besides, you know, you wrote her there--

MYSELF: She came--before I was aware--

GILL: She couldn't, father, for just think, You've made her all of pen and ink.

So you, of course, can make her do Exactly as you want her to.

MYSELF: Dear innocent! You little know The trials poor authors undergo.

How heroines, when they break loose, Are apt to play the very deuce, Dragging their authors to and fro, And where he wills--they will not go.

GILL: Well, since she's here, please let her be, She wants to set Duke Joc'lyn free.

MYSELF: Enough--enough, my plans are made, I'll set him free without her aid, And in a manner, I apprise you, As will, I fancy, quite surprise you.

Besides, a dungeon no fit place is For a dainty lady's graces.

So, since she's in, 't is very plain I now must get her out again.

"To bide in Ca.n.a.lise,'t is folly!" cried Hugo. "O,'t were a madness fond!"

"Aye," sighed Jocelyn, "some do call love a madness--thus mad am I, forsooth!"

"Hush!" whispered Hugo, as from without came the tramp of heavy feet.

"Fare-thee-well and--ah, be not mad, Joconde!"

The door creaked open, and six soldiers entered bringing a prisoner, chained and fettered, and therewith fast bound and gagged, whom they set ungently upon the stone floor; then straightway seizing upon Robin, they haled him to his feet.

"Come, rogue," said one, "thou art to hang at c.o.c.kcrow!"

"Is't so, good fellows?" quoth Robin,

"Then c.o.c.k be curst That croweth first!

As for thee, good Motley, peradventure when, by hangman's noose, our souls enfranchised go, they shall company together, thine and mine! Till then --farewell, Folly!"

So Robin was led forth of the dungeon and the heavy door crashed shut; but when Jocelyn looked for Hugo--lo! he was gone also.

Evening was come and the light began to fail, therefore Jocelyn crouched beneath the narrow loophole and taking from his bosom the wallet, found therein good store of money together with the charm or philtre: and bowing his head above this little wallet, he fell to profound meditation.

But presently, roused by hoa.r.s.e laughter, he glanced up to find the three plaguing the helpless prisoner with sundry kicks and buffets; so Jocelyn crossed the dungeon, and putting the tormentors aside, stood amazed to behold in this latest captive none other than Sir Pertinax. Straightway he loosed off the gag, whereupon the good knight incontinent swore a gasping oath and prayed his limbs might be loosed also; the which done, he forthwith sprang up, and falling on the astonished three, he beat and clouted them with fist and manacles, and drave them to and fro about the dungeon.

"Ha, dogs! Wilt spurn me with they vile feet, buffet me with thy beastly hands, forsooth!" roared he and kicked and cuffed them so that they, thinking him mad, cried aloud in fear until Sir Pertinax, growing a-weary, seated himself against the wall, and folding his arms, scowled indignant upon Jocelyn who greeted him merrily:

"Hail and greeting to thee, my Pertinax; thy gloomy visage is a joy!"

Sir Pertinax snorted, but spake not; wherefore the Duke questioned him full blithe: "What fair, good wind hath blown thee dungeon-wards, sweet soul?"

"Ha!" quoth the knight. "Fetters, see'st thou, a dungeon, and these foul knaves for company--the which cometh of thy fool's folly, messire! So prithee ha' done with it!"

"Stay, gentle gossip, thou'rt foolish, methinks; thou frettest 'gainst fate, thou kickest unwisely 'gainst the p.r.i.c.ks, thou ragest pitifully 'gainst circ.u.mstance--in fine, thou'rt a very Pertinax, my Pertinax!"

"Aye troth, that am I and no dog to lie thus chained in noisome pit, par Dex! So let us out, messire, and that incontinent!"

"Why here is a bright thought, sweet lad, let us out forthwith--but how?"

"Summon the town-reeve, messire, the burgesses, the council, declare thy rank, so shall we go free--none shall dare hold thus a prince of thy exalted state and potent might! Declare thyself, lord."

"This were simple matter, Pertinax, but shall they believe us other than we seem, think ye?"

Quoth Pertinax: "We can try!"

"Verily," said Jocelyn, "this very moment!" So saying, he turned to the three who sat in a corner muttering together.

"Good brothers, gentle rogues," said he, "behold and regard well this st.u.r.dy cut-throat fellow that sitteth beside me, big of body, unseemly of habit, fierce and unlovely of look--one to yield the wall unto, see ye! And yet--now heed me well, this fellow, ragged and unkempt, this ill-looking haunter of bye-ways, this furtive s.n.a.t.c.her of purses (hold thy peace, Pertinax!). I say this unsavoury-seeming clapper-claw is yet neither one nor other, but a goodly knight, famous in battle, joust and tourney, a potent lord of n.o.ble heritage, known to the world as Sir Pertinax of Shene Castle and divers rich manors and demesnes. Furthermore, I that do seem a sorry jesting-fellow, I that in antic habit go, that cut ye capers with a.s.s's ears a-dangle and languish here your fellow in bonds, am yet no antic, no poor, motley Fool, but a duke and lord of many fair towns and rich cities beyond Morfeville and the Southward March. How say ye, brothers?"

"That thou'rt a fool!" quoth Rick.

"True!" nodded Jocelyn.

"Most true!" sighed Sir Pertinax.

"And a liar!" growled Gurth.

"And a murderous rogue!" cried Will, "and shall hang, along of us--as I'm a tanner!"

"Alack, Sir Knight," smiled Jocelyn, "of what avail rank or fame or both 'gainst a motley habit and a ragged mantle. Thus, Pertinax, thou art no more than what thou seemest, to wit--a poor, fierce rogue, and I, a beggarly stroller."

"And like to have our necks stretched, lord, by reason of a fond and foolish whim!"

"Unless, Pertinax, having naught to depend on but our native wit we, by our wit, win free. Other poor rogues in like case have broke prison ere now, and 'tis pity and shame in us if thou, a knight so potent and high-born, and I, a prince, may not do the like."

"Messire, unlearned am I in the breaking o' prisons so when my time cometh to die in a noose I can but die as knight should--though I had rather 't were in honest fight."

"Spoken like the very fool of a knight!" quoth Jocelyn. "So now will I show thee how by the wit of a brave and n.o.ble lady we may yet 'scape the hangman. Hearken in thine ear!"

But, when Jocelyn had told him all and shown money and sleeping-charm, Sir Pertinax grew thoughtful, sighing deep and oft, yet speaking not, wherefore the Duke questioned him.

"Good gossip, gasp not!" quoth he. "How think'st thou of prison-breaking now--expound!"

"Why, sir, I think when all do charmed and spellbound snore, Then will we shrewdly choke them that they wake no more!"

"Nay, Pertinax, here shall be no need of choking, forsooth!" Sir Pertinax bowed chin on fist and sighed again.

"Pertinax, prithee puff not! Yet, an puff ye will, p.r.o.nounce me then the why and wherefore of thy puffing."

"Lord, here is neither gasp nor puff, here is honest sighing. I can sigh as well as another."

"Since when hast learned this so tender art, my Pertinax?"

"And I do sigh by reason of memory."

"As what, Pertinax?"