The Forest Lovers

  CHAPTER XXV

  THE ROAD TO GOLTRES

  On July 14 Prosper left Wanmeeting at a gallop, in the driving rain.There had been thunder and a change in the weather; the roads wereheavy and the brooks brimming; but by noon he was in the plain, and bynight at One Ash, a lonely dead tree as often gallows as not. There heslept in his cloak. Next morning he was early in the saddle, and hadreached the fringe of Goltres Heath by breakfast time--if the hourwithout the thing can be called by such a comfortable name.

  He knew there was a cross-road somewhere near by from Goltres toHauterive Town. He should go warily, for if the first were investedthere must needs be communications with the base, which was Hauterive.Sure enough, he had not seen the finger-post before he saw the pikes.There were three mounted men there, one of whom had his face to thenorth and was shading his eyes to spy over the heath. In a dozen morestrides (for he was at no pains to skulk from three troopers) a man sawhim, gave a shout and spurred over the heather. Prosper pulled hishorse into a gallop, resolved to bring things to a quick conclusion.Spear in rest he came down on his fellow like a gale of wind.

  The man swerved at the onset; Prosper rocketed into him; horse and manwent over in a heap. "Bungler," cried Prosper, and went on. The othertwo faced him together standing. Prosper drove in between them, and hadone of them off at the cost of a snapt spear. He turned on the otherwith his sword whirling round his head.

  "Quarter, Messire!" cried the trooper, "here comes one of my bettersfor you."

  In effect, a knight on a chestnut horse was coming from Goltres, a mostresplendent knight in golden armour, with yellow trappings slashed andfluttering about him.

  "The Gold Knight!" said Prosper, drawing a sharpish breath; "this isbetter than I looked for. My man," he went on, turning, "I havemeasured you with my eye. I think the sign-post will bear you."

  "I have no doubt of it, Messire," said the man ruefully. "You shall putit to the proof so sure as I live," continued Prosper, "if you stirfrom where you stand. I have to speak with your master."

  "Oh, make yourself quite easy, Messire, and trust me," said the man; "Isee with whom I have to deal."

  "Then deal not with him, my friend," said Prosper, and went to meet theGolden Knight.

  The Golden Knight set spear in rest and came cantering down the track.Prosper let him come. When he was within hail, "Put up your spear,dame," said he, "and listen."

  The Golden Knight pulled up short, but held his spear couched againstthe worst. Prosper spoke again quite cheerfully.

  "You and I have met, Dame Maulfry."

  "You are speaking foolishness and wasting my time, Messire. I neitherknow you nor your dame."

  "You may have known my shield in more gaudy trim. Did I not turngrave-digger for you some years ago?"

  "Oh, oh! you are Prosper le Gai?"

  "That is my name, Madam Maulfry. You know me at last."

  "Yes, I know you. Take care. You are in no friendly country."

  "I am a very friendly soul, but I will take care. You, I think, havemany friends in these parts--one in special, a holy person, a man ofreligion. Is it so?"

  "He is a man of many parts, Prosper. He hath an arm."

  "He hath a gullet, I know," said Prosper cheerfully. "It is of him Iwould speak, dame, at this moment. I shall meet him before long, Ihope, and should like to be advised by an old acquaintance. Will youtell me why he chose out the arms of the man you and I put into theground?"

  "Why would you know that, Prosper?"

  "It seems to me an odd choice. There is a story about them. I amcurious."

  "What is your story, Prosper? I will tell you this, that I tried todissuade him."

  "Ah!"

  "Well, sir, your story?"

  "You told me they were the arms of De Genlis. Surely you were mistakenin that?"

  "I will be frank with you, Prosper. I was mistaken. They are the armsof Salomon de Montguichet."

  "Pardon me, dame," said Prosper, "they are the arms of Salomon de Born."

  He never dealt cleaner blow with a spear. The Golden Knight stood uprocking in his stirrups. Then he dropped his weapon and began to waillike a woman.

  "Oh no, no, no! Oh, Prosper, be merciful! Oh, God, kill me, kill me,kill me! Tell me you have lied, Prosper, or I must die."

  "I have not lied, madam. You have lied," said Prosper, watching with ableak smile.

  On a sudden the Golden Knight spurred his horse violently. The beastlunged forward and shot off at a mad gallop with his flanks streamingblood. Prosper watched him go.

  "Follow! follow!" cried the Golden Knight to the man by the sign-post.

  "I cannot, my lord," the man shouted as his master flew, "I am a man ofmy word."

  "Be off with you, you rascal," cheered Prosper; "I have said my say."

  The man did not hesitate. Prosper watched the flying pair, a quietsmile hovering about his mouth. "My shot told it seems," he said tohimself. "If Salomon de Born were not what I believe him to have been,what is the grief of Madam Maulfry? Well, we will see next what Galorsde Born has to say to it."

  He turned his face towards the north and rode on. If he had followedthe two-out of sight by now--he would have got nearer his heart'sdesire; but he could not do that. He had formed a judgment calmly. Ifhe wanted Isoult he must find Galors. Galors had Hauterive but had notGoltres. Therefore Galors was at Goltres. Prosper always accredited hisenemies with his own quality. So he rode away from Isoult as proud as apope.

  We will follow the Golden Knight while our breath endures. We can trackhim to Hauterive. He never stayed rein till he reached it, and there atthe gates dropped his chestnut dead of a broken heart. In the hall ofthe citadel it was no Golden Knight but a grey-faced old woman whoknelt before Galors in his chair. Her voice was dry as bare branches.

  "If ever you owe me thanks for what I have done and will yet do foryou, Galors, my lover, you shall pay them now. Prosper is at Goltres.He and Spiridion will be there alone. I give you back Spiridion. Giveme the life of Prosper, give me his head and his tongue, give me hisheart, and I will be your slave who was once your world. Will you doit, Galors? Will you do it this night?"

  "By God I will," said Galors.

  "There is one other thing"--the woman was gasping for breath--"onelittle thing. Give me back the arms you bear. You must never wear themagain. I always hated them; no good can ensue them. Give them to me,Galors, and wear them no more."

  "By God again," said Galors, "that is impossible! I will never do it.What! when the whole forest rings with _Entra per me_, and wicket-gatesdazzle every eye on this side Wan? My friend, where are your wits? Thatdroll of a Montguichet did me a turn there before you had him,mistress."

  "Ah, Galors," was all she could say, "he has found me again. I am sickof the work, Galors; let me go home."

  "Speed me first, my delight," cried Galors, jumping up. He shoutedthrough the door, "Ho, there! My horse and arms! Turn the guard out! Inthree minutes we are off."

  The woman crept away. She had worked her hardest for him, but he wantednothing of her.

  "Dirty weather, by the Rood," said Galors, looking out at the rain."Dirty weather and a smell of worse. Hearken to the wind in theturrets. Gentlemen, we are for Goltres. Spare no horseflesh. Forward!"and he was gone through the dripping streets at the falling in of awild day. It was the day Falve had brought in his bride-expectant toLitany Row.

  Half-an-hour later Maulfry rode out of the east gate alone, and neverheld or looked back till she was safe in Tortsentier.