Chapter LXIII.
Chateau Galliard.
When Baliol arrived within a few miles of Chateau Galliard, he pointedto a wooded part of the forest, and told the friends, that under itsgroves they had best shelter themselves till the sun set; soon afterwhich he should expect them at the castle.
Long indeed seemed the interval. It usually happens that incontemplating a project, while the period of its execution appearsdistant, we think on it with composure; but when the time of action isnear, when we only wait the approach of an auxiliary, or the lapse ofan hour, every passing moment seems an age, and the impatient soul isready to break every bound, to grasp the completion of its enterprise.So Wallace now felt--felt as he had never done before; for in all hiswarlike exploits each achievement had immediately followed the momentof resolve; but here he was delayed, to grow in ardor as hecontemplated an essay in which every generous principle of man wassummoned into action. He was going to rescue a helpless woman from thehands of a man of violence; she was also the daughter of his first allyin the great struggle for Scotland, and who had fallen in the cause.Glad was he then to see the sun sink behind the distant hills. At thatmoment he and his friend closed their visors, mounted their horses, andset off at full speed toward the chateau.
When they came in view of the antique towers of Galliard, theyslackened their pace, and leisurely advanced to the gates. The bugleof Wallace demanded admittance; a courteous assent was brought by thewarder; the gates unfolded, the friends entered; and in the nextinstant they were conducted into a room where Baliol sat. De Valencewas walking to and fro in a great chafe; he started at sight of theprincely armor of Wallace (for he, as Baliol had done, now conceived,from the lilied diadem, that the stranger must be of the royal house ofFrance); and composing his turbulent spirit, he bowed respectfully tothe supposed prince. Wallace returned the salutation, and Baliolrising, accosted him with a dignified welcome. He saw the mistake ofDe Valence, and perceived how greatly it might facilitate the executionof their project.
On his host's return to the chateau, De Valence had received him withmore than his former insolence, for the Governor of Rouen had sent himinformation of the despised monarch's discontent; and when the despoticlord hear a bugle at the gate, and learned that it was answered by theadmission of two traveling knights, he flew to Baliol in displeasure,commanding him to recall his granted leave. At the moment of hiswrath, Wallace entered, and covered him with confusion. Struck atseeing a French prince in one of the persons he was going to treat withsuch indignity, he shrunk into himself, and bowed before him with allthe cowering meanness of a base and haughty soul. Wallace, feeling hisreal pre-eminence, bent his head in acknowledgment, with a majestywhich convinced the earl that he was not mistaken. Baliol welcomed hisguest in a manner not to dispel the illusion.
"Happy am I," cried he, "that the hospitality which John Baliolintended to show to a mere traveler, confers on him the distinction ofserving one of a race whose favor confers protection, and itsfriendship honor."
Wallace returned a gracious reply to this speech; and turning to Bruce,said:
"This knight is my friend; and though from peculiar circumstancesneither of us chooses to disclose his name during our journey, yet,whatever they may be, I trust you will confide in the word of one whomyou have honored by the address you have now made, and believe that hisfriend is not unworthy the hospitalities of him who was once King ofScots."
De Valence now approached, and announcing who he was, assured theknights in the name of the King of England, whom he was going torepresent in Guienne, of every respect from himself, assistance fromhis retinue, to bring them properly on their way.
"I return you the thanks due to your courtesy," replied Wallace; "andshall certainly remain to-night a burden on King Baliol; but in themorning we must depart as we came, having a vow to perform, whichexcludes the service of attendants."
A splendid supper was served, at the board of which De Valence sat, aswell as Baliol. From the moment that the strangers entered, theEnglish earl never withdrew; so cautious was he to prevent Baliolinforming his illustrious guests of the captivity of Lady Helen Mar.Wallace ate nothing; he sat with his visor still closed, and almost inprofound silence, never speaking but when spoken to, and then onlyanswering in as few words as possible. De Valence supposed that thistaciturnity was connected with his vow, and did not further remark it;but Bruce (who at Caen had furnished himself with a complete suit ofblack armor) appeared, though equally invisible under his visor,infinitely more accessible. The humbler fashion of his martialaccouterment did not announce the prince; but his carriage was sonoble, his conversation bespoke so accomplished a mind, and brave aspirit, that De Valence did not doubt that both men before him were ofthe royal family. He had never seen Charles de Valois; and believingthat he now saw him in Wallace, he directed all that discourse toBruce, which he meant should reach the ear of De Valois, and from himpass to that of the King of France. Bruce guessed what was passing inhis mind; and, with as much amusement as design, led forward the earl'smistake--but rather by allowing him to deceive himself, than by anyactual means on his side to increase the deception. De Valence threwout hints respecting a frontier town in Guienne, which, he said, hethought his royal master could be persuaded to yield to the Frenchmonarch, as naturally belonging to Gascony. But then the affair mustbe properly represented, he added; and had he motive enough toinvestigate some parchments in his possession, he believed he couldplace the affair in a true light, and convince Edward of the superiorclaims of the French king. Then casting out hints of the claim he had,by right of his ancestors, to the seigniory of Valence in Dauphiny, hegave them to understand, that if Philip would invest him with therevenues of Valence on the Rhone, he would engage that the other townin question should be delivered to France.
Notwithstanding Baliol's resolution to keep awake and assist hisfriends in their enterprise, he was so overcome by fatigue that he fellasleep soon after supper, and so gave De Valence full opportunity tounveil his widely-grasping mind to the Scottish chiefs. Wallace nowsaw that the execution of his project must depend wholly upon himself;and how to inform Helen that he was in the castle, and of his plan toget her out of it, hardly occupied him more than what to devise todetain De Valence in the banqueting-room, while he went forth toprosecute his design. As these thoughts absorbed him, by anunconscious movement he turned toward the English earl. De Valencepaused, and looked at him, supposing he was going to speak; but findinghim still silent, the earl addressed him, though with some hesitation,feeling an inexplicable awe of directly saying to him what he had soeasily uttered to his more approachable companion.
"I seek not, illustrious stranger," said he, "to inquire the name youhave already intimated must be concealed; but I have sufficient faithin that brilliant circlet around your brows, to be convinced (as noneother than the royal hand of Philip could bestow it) that itdistinguishes a man of the first honor. You now know my sentiments,prince; and for the advantage of both kings, I confide them to yourservices."
Wallace rose.
"Whether I am prince or vassal," replied he, "my services shall ever begiven in the cause of justice; and of that, Earl de Valence, you willbe convinced when next you hear of me. My friend," cried he, turningto Bruce, "you will remain with our host; I go to perform the vigils ofmy vow."
Bruce understood him. It was not merely with their host he was toremain, but to detain De Valence, and, opening at once the versatilepowers of his abundant mind, his vivacity charmed the earl, while themagnificence of his views in policy corroborated to De Valence the ideathat he was conversing with one whose birth had placed him beyond eventhe temptations of those ambitions which were at that moment subjectinghis auditor's soul to every species of flattery, meanness, and, infact, disloyalty. Bruce, in his turn, listened with much apparentinterest to all De Valence's dreams of aggrandizement, and recollectinghis reputation for a love of wine, he replenished the earl's goblet sooften, that the fumes made him forg
et all reserve; and after pouringforth the whole history of his attachments to Helen, and his resolutionto subdue her abhorrence by love and grandeur, he gradually lowered hiskey, and at last fell fast asleep.
Meanwhile Wallace wrapped himself in Baliol's blue cloak, which lay inthe anteroom, and enveloping even his helmet in the friendly mantle, hemoved swiftly along the gallery toward the chamber of Helen. To beprepared for obstacles, he had obtained from Baliol a particulardescription of the situation of every apartment leading to it. It wasnow within an hour of midnight. He passed through several large vacantrooms, and at last arrived at the important door. It opened into asmall chamber, in which two female attendants lay asleep. He gentlyraised the latch, and, with caution taking the lamp which burned on thetable, glided softly through the curtains which filled the cedar archthat led into the apartment of Helen. He approached the bed, coveringthe light with his hand, while he observed her. She was in a profoundsleep, but pale as the sheet which enveloped her--her countenanceseemed troubled, her brows frequently knit themselves, and she startedas she dreamed, as if in apprehension. Once he heard her lips faintlymurmur, "Save me, my father! on you alone--" There she stopped. Hisheart bled at this appeal. "Thy father's friend comes to save thee,"he would have cried, but he checked the exclamation--his hand droppedat the same instant from before the lamp, and the blaze striking fullon her eyes, waked her. She looked up, and she believed her dreamrealized--De Valence leaning over the bed, and herself wholly in hispower! A shriek of horror as bursting from her lips, when Wallacehastily raised his visor. At the moment when despair was in her orphanheart, and her whole soul turned with abhorrence from the supposed DeValence, she met the eyes of the dearest to her on earth--those ofindeed her father's friend! Stretching forth her arms, for an instantshe seemed flying to the protection of him to whose honor she had beenbequeathed; but falling back again on her bed, the glad surprise ofseeing him, who in her estimation was her only earthly security nowthat her father was no more, shook her with such emotion, that Wallacefeared to see her delicate frame sink into some deadly swoon.
Alarmed for her life, or the accomplishment of her deliverance, hethrew himself on his knees beside her, and softly whispered, "Becomposed, for the love of Heaven and your own safety. Be collected andfirm, and you shall fly this place with me to-night."
Hardly conscious of the action, Helen grasped the hand that held hers,and would have replied; but her voice failing, she fainted on his arm.Wallace now saw no alternative but to remove her hence, even in thisinsensible state; and, raising her gently in his arms, enveloped in thesilk coverlet, with cautious steps he bore her through the curtainedentrance, and passed the sleeping damsels into the anterooms. To meetany of De Valence's men while in this situation would betray ll. Toavoid this, he hastened through the illuminated passages, and turninginto the apartment appointed for himself, laid the now reviving Helenupon a couch. "Water," said she, "and I shall soon be myself again."
He gave her some, and at the same time laying a page's suit of clothes(which Baliol had provided) beside her, "Dress yourself in these, LadyHelen," said he; "I shall withdraw meanwhile into the passage, but yoursafety depends on expedition."
Before she could answer he had disappeared. Helen instantly threwherself on her knees to thank a higher power for this commencement ofher deliverance, and to beseech His blessing on its consummation. Sherose strengthened, and, obeying Wallace, the moment she was equipped,she laid her hand upon the latch, but the watchful ear of her friendheard her, and he immediately opened the door. The lamps of thegallery shone full upon the light grace of her figure, as shrinkingwith blushing modesty, and yet eager to be with her preserver, shestood hesitating before him. He threw his cloak over her, and puttingher arm through his, in the unobscured blaze of his princely armor, hedescended to the lower hall of the castle. One man only was there.Wallace ordered him to open the great door. "It is a fine night," saidhe, "and I shall ride some miles before I sleep." The man asked if hewere to saddle the horses; he was answered in the affirmative, and thegate being immediately unbarred, Wallace led his precious charge intothe freedom of the open air. As soon as she saw the outside of thosetowers, which she had entered as the worst of all prisoners, her heartso overflowed with gratitude to her deliverer, that sinking by his sideupon her knees, she could only grasp his hand, and bathe it with thepure tears of rescued innocence. Her manner penetrated his soul, andhe raised her in his arms; but she, dreading that she had perhaps donetoo much, convulsively articulated, "My father--his blessing--"
"Was a rich endowment, Lady Helen," returned Wallace, "and you shallever find me deserving of it." Her head leaned on his breast. But howdifferent was the lambent flame which seemed to emanate from eitherheart, as they now beat against each other, from the destructive firewhich shot from the burning veins of Lady mar, when she would havepolluted with her unchaste lips this shrine of a beloved wife, thisbosom consecrated to her sacred image! Wallace had shrunk from her, asfrom the touch of some hideous contagion, but with Lady Helen it wassoul meeting soul, it was innocence resting on the bosom of virtue. Nothought that saints would not have approved was there, no emotion whichangels might not have shared, glowed in their grateful bosoms--she,grateful to him; both grateful to God.
The man brought the horses from the stable. He knew that two strangershad arrived at the castle, and not noticing Helen's stature, supposedthey were both before him. He had been informed by the servants, thatthe taller of the two was the Count de Valois, and he now held thestirrup for him to mount; But Wallace placed Helen on Bruce's horse,and then vaulting on his own, put a piece of gold into the attendant'shand.
"You will return, noble prince?" inquired the man.
"Why should you doubt it?" answered Wallace.
"Because," replied the servant, "I wish the brother of the King ofFrance to know the foul deeds which are doing in his dominions."
"By whom?" asked Wallace, surprised at this address.
"By the Earl de Valence, prince," answered he; "he has now in thiscastle a beautiful lady, whom he brought from a foreign land, andtreats in a manner unbecoming a knight or a man."
"And what would you have me do?" said Wallace, willing to judge whetherthis applicant were honest in his appeal.
"Come in the power of your royal brother," answered he, "and demand theLady Helen Mar of Lord de Valence."
Helen, who had listened with trepidation to this dialogue, drew nearerWallace, and whispered in an agitated voice, "Ah! let us hasten away."
The man was close enough to hear her.
"Hah!" cried he, in a burst of doubtful joy; "is it so? Is she here?say so, noble knight, and Joppa Grimsby will serve ye both forever!"
"Grimsby!" cried Helen, recollecting his voice the moment he haddeclared his name; "what! the honest English soldier? I and mypreserver will indeed value so trusty a follower."
The name of Grimsby was too familiar to the memory of Wallace, tooclosely associated with his most cherished meditations, for him not torecognize it with melancholy pleasure. He had never seen Grimsby, buthe knew him well worthy of his confidence; and ordered him (if hereally desired to follow Lady Helen) to bring two more horses from thestables. When they were brought, Wallace made the joyful signalconcerted with Bruce and Baliol, to sound the Scottish pryse as soon ashe and his fair charge were out of the castle.
The happy tidings met the ear of the prince while anxiously watchingthe sleeping of De Valence, for fear he should awake and, leaving theroom, interrupt Wallace in his enterprise. What, then, was histransport when the first note of the horn burst upon the silence aroundhim! He sprung on his feet. The impetuosity of the action rousedBaliol, who had been lying all the while sound asleep in his chair.Bruce made a sign to him to be silent, and pressing his hand withenergy, forgot the former Baliol in the present, and, for a momentbending his knee, kissed the hand he held; then, rising, disappeared inan instant.
He flew through the open gates. Wallace
perceiving him, rode out fromunder the shadow of the trees. The bright light of the moon shone onhis sparkling crest; that was sufficient for Bruce, and Wallace,falling back again into the shade, was joined the next moment by hisfriend. Who this friend was for whom her deliverer had told Helen hewaited, she did not ask; for she dreaded, while so near danger, tobreathe a word; but she guessed that it must either be Murray or Edwin.De Valence had barbarously told her that not only her father was nomore, but that her uncles, the Lords Bothwell and Ruthven, had bothbeen killed in the last battle. Hence, with a saddened joy, one of hertwo bereaved cousins she now prepared to see; and every filialrecollection pressing on her heart her tears flowed silently and inabundance. As Bruce approached, his black mantle so wrapped him shecould not distinguish his figure. Wallace stretched forth his hand tohim in silence; he grasped it with the warm but mute congratulation offriendship, and throwing himself on his horse, triumphantly exclaimed,"Now for Paris!" Helen recognized none she knew in that voice; anddrawing close to the white courser of Wallace, with something likedisappointment mingling with her happier thoughts, she made her horsekeep pace with the fleetness of her companions.