hen stood still, bowing low;
came forward a few more paces, then bowed again.

She spoke.

"You wished to see my husband, Friend, and speak with him? He is away
and hardly can return before five days, at soonest. Is your business
with Sir Hugh such as I can pass on to him for you, by word of mouth?"

She hoped those bold, dark eyes did not perceive how she glowed to
speak for the first time, to another, of Hugh as her husband.

He answered, and his words were blunt; his manner, frank and soldierly.

"Most noble Lady, failing the Knight, whom I have ridden far to find,
my business may most readily be told to you.

"Years ago, on a Syrian battle-field it was my good fortune, in the
thick of the fray, to find myself side by side with Sir Hugh d'Argent.
The Infidels struck me down; and, sorely wounded, I should have been at
their mercy, had not the noble Knight, seeing me fall, wheeled his
horse and, riding back, hewn his way through to me, scattering mine
assailants right and left. Then, helping me to mount behind him,
galloped with me back to camp. Whereupon I swore, by the holy Cross at
Lucca, that if ever the chance came my way to do a service to Sir Hugh
of the Silver Shield, I would travel to the world's end to do it.

"Ten nights ago, I chanced to be riding through a wood somewhere
betwixt Worcester and Warwick. A band of lawless fellows coming by, I
and my steed drew off the path, taking cover in a thicket. But a
solitary horseman, riding from Worcester, failed to avoid them. Within
sight of my hiding-place he was set upon, made to dismount, stripped
and bidden to return on foot to the place from whence he came. I could
do naught to help him. We were two, to a round dozen. The robbers
took the money from his wallet. Within it they found also a letter,
which they flung away as worthless. I marked where it fell, close to
my hiding-place.

"When the affray was over, their victim having fled and the lawless
band ridden off, I came forth, picked up the letter and slipped it into
mine own wallet. So soon as the sun rose I drew forth the letter,
when, to my amaze, I found it addressed to my brave rescuer, the Knight
of the Silver Shield and Azure Pennant. It appeared to be of
importance as, failing Warwick Castle, six halting places, all on the
northward road, were named on the outside; also it was marked to be
delivered with most urgent haste.

"It seemed to me that now had come my chance, to do th