oath you will,
and by the bones of St. Andrew, which these sinful hands have handled,
that Flavy's face was set the other way when that cry came, 'Down
portcullis, up drawbridge, close gates!' And now that I have told you
the very truth, what should I do?"

"Brother Thomas should burn for this," quoth Barthelemy; "but not while
the siege endures. He carries too many English lives in his munition-
box. Nor can you slay him in single combat, or at unawares, for the man
is a priest. Nor would Flavy, who knows you not, listen to such a
story."

So there he sat, frowning, and plucking at his beard. "I have it," he
said; "D'Aulon is no further off than Beaulieu, where Jean de Luxembourg
holds him till he pays his ransom. When the siege is raised, if ever we
are to have succour, then purchase safe-conduct to D'Aulon, take his
testimony, and bring it to Flavy."

As he spoke, some stir in the still air made me look up, and suddenly
throw my body aside; and it was well, for a sword swept down from the low
parapet above our heads, and smote into the back of that settle whereon
we were sitting.

Ere I well knew what had chanced, Barthelemy was on his feet, his whinger
flew from his hand, and he, leaping up on to the parapet, was following
after him who smote at me.

In the same moment a loud grating voice cried--

"The Maid shall burn, and not the man," and a flash of light went past
me, the whinger flying over my head and clipping into the water of the
moat below.

Rising as I best might, but heedfully, I spied over the parapet, and
there was Barthelemy coming back, his naked sword in his hand.

"The devil turned a sharp corner and vanished," he said. "And now where
are we? We have a worse foe within than all the men of Burgundy without.
There goes the devil's tally!" he cried, and threw the little carven rod
far from him into the moat, where it fell and floated.

"No man saw this that could bear witness; most are in church, where you
and I should have been," I said.

Then we looked on each other with blank faces.

"My post is far from his, and my harness is good," said Barthelemy; "but
for you, beware!" Thenceforth, if I saw any cowl of a cordelier as I
walked, I even turned and went the other way.

I was of no avail against this wolf, whom all men praised, so serviceable
was he to the town.

Once an arbalest bolt struck my staff from my hand as I walked, and I was
fain to take shelter of a corner, yet s