it were his own； bringing into it vile women of the Court； and men
that are viler still； however high their names and gaudy their
attire；〃 and he choked with his wrath and stopped。
〃Why do you suffer these things； sir？〃 I asked。
〃Forsooth because I must；〃 he answered sullenly； 〃for he has me and
mine by the throat。 This Deleroy is very powerful； Master Hastings。 At
a word from him whispered in the King's ear； I； or you； or any man
might find ourselves in the Tower accused of treason； whence we should
appear no more。〃
Then； as though he wished to get away from the subject of Deleroy and
his hold upon him； he went on：
〃I fear me that your money； or much of it； is in danger for Deleroy's
bond is worthless； and since the land is already pledged without my
knowledge； I have nowhere to turn for gold。 I tell you that I am an
honest man if one who has fallen into ill company； and this wickedness
cuts me deep； for I know not how you will be repaid。〃
Now a thought came to me； and as was my bold fashion in all business；
I acted on it instantly。
〃Sir Robert Aleys；〃 I said； 〃should it be pleasing to you and another；
I can see a way in which this debt may be cancelled without shame to
you and yet to my profit。〃
〃Then in God's name speak it！ For I see none。〃
〃Sir； in bygone time； as it chanced I was able yonder at Hastings to
do some service to your daughter and in that hour she took my heart。〃
He started but motioned to me to continue。
〃Sir； I love her truly and desire more than anything to make her my
wife。 I know she is far above me in station； still although but a
merchant； I am of good descent as I can prove to you。 Moreover； I am
rich； for this money that I have advanced to you； or to the lord
Deleroy； is but a small part of my wealth which grows day by day
through honest trade。 Sir； if my suit were accepted I should be ready；
not only to help you further on certain terms； but by deed and will to
settle most of it upon the lady Blanche and upon our children。 Sir；
what say you？〃
Sir Robert tugged at his red beard and stared down at the floor。
Presently he lifted his head and I saw that his face was troubled； the
face of a man； indeed； who is struggling with himself； or； as I
thought； with his pride。
〃A fair offer fairly put；〃 he said； 〃but the question is； not what I
say； but what says Blanche。〃
〃Sir； I do not know who have never asked her。 Yet at times I have
thought that her mind towards me is not unkind。〃
〃Is it so？ Well； perhaps now that hewell； let that lie。 Master
Hastings； you have my leave to try your fortune and I tell you
straight that I hope it will be good。 With your wealth your rank may
be soon mended and you are an honest man whom I should be glad to
welcome as a son； for I have had enough of these Court knaves and
painted Jezebels。 But if such is your fancy towards Blanche； my
counsel to you is that you put it quickly to the proofaye； man； at
once。 Mark my words； for such a swan as she is many snares are set
beneath the dirty waters of this Court。〃
〃The sooner the better； sir。〃
〃Good。 I'll send her to you and； one word morebe not over shy； or
ready to take the first 'no' for an answer； or to listen to the tale
of bygone fancies； such as all women have。〃
Then suddenly he went； leaving me there wondering at his words and
manner； which I did not understand。 This I understood； however； that
he desired that I should marry Blanche； which considering all things I
held somewhat strange； although I had the wealth she lacked。
Doubtless； I thought； it must be because his honour had been touched
on the matter of the trick that had been played upon him without his
knowledge。 Then I ceased from these wonderings and gave my thought to
what I should say to Blanche。
I waited a long while and still she did not come； till at last I
believed that she was away from the house； or guessing my business；
had refused to see me。 At length； however； she entered the room； so
silently that I who was staring at the great abbey through a window…
place never heard the door open or close。 I think that some sense of
her presence must have drawn me； since suddenly I turned to see her
standing before me。 She was clad all in white； having a round cap or
coronet upon her head beneath which her shining fair hair was looped
in braids。 Her little coat； trimmed with ermine； was fastened with a
single jewel； that ruby heart embraced by serpents which I had given
her。 She wore no other ornament。 Thus seen she looked most lovely and
most sweet and all my heart went out in yearning for her。
〃My father tells me that you wish to speak with me； so I have come；〃
she said in her low clear voice； searching my face curiously with her
large eyes。
I bowed my head and paused； not knowing how to begin。
〃How can I serve you； who； I fear； have been ill served？〃 she went on
with a little smile as though she found amusement in my confusion。
〃In one way only；〃 I exclaimed； 〃by giving yourself in marriage to me。
For that I seek； no less。〃
Now her fair face that had been pale became stained with red and she
let her eyes fall as though she were searching for something among the
rushes that strewed the floor。
〃Hearken before you answer；〃 I continued。 〃When first I spoke with you
on that bloody day at Hastings and you had but just come to womanhood；
I loved you and swore to myself that I would die to save you。 I saved
you and we kissed and were parted。 Afterwards I tried to put you out
of my heart； knowing that you were set far above me and no meat for
such as I； though still for your sake I wooed no other woman in
marriage。 The years went by and fortune brought us together again； and
lo！ the old love was stronger than before。 I know that I am not worthy
of you who are so high and good and pure。 Still〃 and I stopped；
lacking words。
She moved uneasily and the red colour left her cheeks as though she
had been suddenly pained。
〃Bethink you；〃 she said with a touch of hardness in her voice； 〃can
one who lives the life I live and keeps my company； remain as holy and
unstained as you believe？ If you would gather such a lily； surely you
should seek it in a country garden； not in the reek of London。〃
〃I neither know nor care；〃 I answered； whose blood was all afire。 〃I
know only that wherever you grow and from whatever soil； you are the
flower I would pluck。〃
〃Bethink you again； an ugly slug might have smeared my whiteness。〃
〃If so the honest sun and rain will recover and wash it and I am a
gardener who scatters lime to shrivel slugs。〃
〃If to this one you will not listen； then hear another argument。
Perchance I do not love you。 Would you win a loveless bride？〃
〃Perchance you can learn of love； or if not； I have enough to serve
for two。〃
〃By my faith！ it should not be difficult with a man so honest and so
well favoured。 And yeta further plea。 My cousin Deleroy has cheated
you〃 （here her face hardened）； 〃and I think I am offered to you by my
father in satisfaction of his honour； as men who have no gold offer a
house or a horse to close a debt。〃
〃It is not so。 I prayed you of your father。 The loss； if loss there
be； is but a chance of trade； such as I face every day。 Still； I will
be plain and tell you that I risked it with open eyes； expecting
nothing less； that I might come near to you。〃
Now she sat herself down in a chair； covering her face with her hands；
and I saw from the trembling of her body that she was sobbing。 While I
wondered what to do； for the sight wrung me； she let fall her hands
and there were tears upon her face。
〃Shall I tell you all my story； you good； simple gentleman？〃 she
asked。
〃Nay； only two things。 Are you the wife of some other man？〃
〃Not so； though perhapsonce I went near to it。 What is the other
question？〃
〃Do you love some other man so that your heart tells you it is not
possible that you should ever love me？〃
〃No； I do not；〃 she answered almost fiercely； 〃but by the Rood！ I hate
one。〃
〃Which is no affair of mine；〃 I said； laughing。 〃For the rest； let it
sleep。 Few are they that know life's wars who have no scar to hide；
and I am not one of them； though in truth your lips made the deepest
yonder by the cave at Hastings。〃
When she heard this she coloured to her brow and forgetting her tears；
laughed outright； while I went on：
〃Therefore let the past be and if it is your will； let us set our eyes
upon the future。 Only one promise would I ask of you； that never again
will you be alone with the lord Deleroy； since one so light…fingered
with a pen would； I think； steal other things。〃
〃By my soul！ the last thing I desire is to be alone with my cousin
Deleroy。〃
Now she rose from the chair and for a little while we stood facing
each other。 Then she very slightly opened her arms and lifted her face
towards me。
Thus did Blanche Aleys and I become affianced； though afterwards； when
I thought the business over； I remembered that never once did she say
that she would marry me。 This； however； troubled me little； since in
such matters it is what women do that weighs； not what they say。 For
the rest I was mad with love of her； also both then and as the days
we