away to
France, unless you desire to stop without companions in the church
yonder."

"Ay, priest, I'll away, but by God's blood, I'll take that Red Eve with
me! For one thing she knows too much to leave her behind. For a second
I mean to pay her back, and for a third, although you may think it
strange, I'm mad for her. I tell you she looked wondrous standing with
her back against that wall, her marble face never wincing when I told
her all the lie about young de Cressi's death--which will be holy truth
when I get a chance at him--watching me out of those great, dark eyes of
hers."

"Doubtless, lord, but how did she look when she called you knave and
traitor? I think you said those were her wicked words. Oh!" he added
with a ring of earnestness in his smooth voice, "let this Red Eve be. At
bed or board she's no mate for you. Something fights at her side, be it
angel or devil, or just raw chance. At the least she'll prove your ruin
unless you let her be."

"Then I'll be ruined, Nicholas, for I'll not leave her, for a while, at
any rate. What! de Noyon, whom they call Danger of Dames, beaten by a
country girl who has never seen London or Paris! I'd sooner die."

"As well may chance if the country lad and the country archer come back
with Edward's warrant in their pouch," answered the priest, shrugging
his lean shoulders. "Well, lord, what is your plan?"

"To carry her off. Can't we manage nine stone of womanhood between us?"

"If she were dead it might be done, though hardly--over these Suffolk
roads. But being very much alive with a voice to scream with, hands to
fight with, a brain to think with and friends who know her from here to
Yarmouth, or to Hull, and Monsieur Grey Dick's arrows pricking us behind
perchance--well, I don't know."

"Friend," said Acour, tapping him on the shoulder meaningly, "there must
be some way; there are always ways, and I pray you to hunt them out.
Come, find me one, or stay here alone to explain affairs, first to this
Dick whom you have so much upon the brain, and afterward to Edward of
England or his officers."

Father Nicholas looked at the great Count's face. Then he looked at the
ground, and, having studied it a while without result, turned his beady
eyes to the heavens, where it would seem that he found inspiration.

"I am a stranger to love, thank the Saints," he said, "but, as you know,
lord, I am a master leech, and amongst other things have studied certain
medicines which