第103章 HOW NORMAN LESLIE SAW THE MAID IN HER PRISON(2)

"But as touching this Puzel,how may I have my view of her,that you graciously offered me?""My men change guard at curfew,"he said;"five come out and five go in,and I shall bid them seek you here at your lodgings.So now,farewell,and your revenge with the dice you shall have when so you will.""Nay,pardon me one moment:when relieve you the guard that enters at curfew?""An hour after point of day.But,now I bethink me,you scarce will care to pass all the night in the Puzel's company.Hast thou paper or parchment?"I set paper and ink before him,who said -"Nay,write yourself;I am no great clerk,yet I can sign and seal."Therewith,at his wording,I set down an order to the Castle porter to let me forth as early in the night as I would.This pass he signed with his name,and sealed with his ring,bearing his arms.

"So I wish you joy of this tryst and bonne fortune,"he said,and departed.

I had two hours before me ere curfew rang,and the time was more than I needed.Therefore I went first to the Church of St.Ouen,which is very great and fair,and there clean confessed me,and made my orisons that,if it were God's will,this enterprise might turn to His honour,and to the salvation of the Maid.And pitifully Ibesought Madame St.Catherine of Fierbois,that as she had delivered me,a sinner,she would deliver the Sister of the Saints.

Next I went back to my lodgings,and there bade the hostler to have my two best steeds saddled and bridled in stall,by point of day,for a council was being held that night in the Castle,and I and another of Sir Thomas's company might be sent early with a message to the Bishop of Avranches.This holy man,as then,was a cause of trouble and delay to the Regent and Pierre Cauchon,Bishop of Beauvais,because he was just,and fell not in with their treasons.

Next I clad myself in double raiment,doublet above doublet,and hose over hose,my doublets bearing the red cross of St.George.

Over all I threw a great mantle,falling to the feet,as if I feared the night chills.Thereafter I made a fair copy of my own writing in the pass given to me by John Grey,and copied his signature also,and feigned his seal with a seal of clay,for it might chance that two passes proved better than one.Then I put in a little wallet hanging to my girdle the signet of Sir Thomas Grey,and the pass given to me by John Grey,also an ink-horn with pen and paper,and in my hand,secretly,I held that phial which I had bought of the apothecary in Tours.All my gold and jewels I hid about my body;Isharpened my sword and dagger,and then had no more to do but wait till curfew rang.

This was the weariest part of all;for what,I thought,if John Grey had forgotten his promise,the wine being about his wits.Therefore I walked hither and thither in my chamber,in much misdoubt;but at the chime of curfew I heard rude voices below,and a heavy step on the stairs.It was a man-at-arms of the basest sort,who,lurching with his shoulder against my door,came in,and said that he and his fellows waited my pleasure.Thereon I showed him the best countenance,and bade my host fill a pannier with meat and cakes and wine,to pass the hours in the prison merrily.I myself ran down into the host's cellar,and was very busy in tasting wine,for Iwould have the best.And in making my choice,while the host stooped over a cask to draw a fresh tankard,I poured all the drugs of my phial into a large pewter vessel with a lid,filled it with wine,and,tasting it,swore it would serve my turn.This flagon,such as we call a 'tappit hen'in my country,but far greater,Ibore with me up the cellar stairs,and gave it to one of the guard,bidding him spill not a drop,or he should go thirsty.

The lourdaud,that was their captain,carried the pannier,and,laughing,we crossed the street and the moat,giving the word "Bedford."To the porter I showed my pass,telling him that,though I was loath to disturb him,I counted not to watch all night in the cell,wherefore I gave him a gold piece for the trouble he might have in letting me go forth at an hour untimely.Herewith he was well content,and so,passing the word to the sentinel at each post,we entered.

And now,indeed,my heart beat so that my body seemed to shake with hope and fear as I walked.At the door of the chamber wherein the Maid lay we met her guards coming forth,who cried roughly,bidding her good even,and to think well of what waited her,meaning the torments.They tumbled down the stairs laughing,while we went in,and I last.It was a dark vaulted chamber with one window near the roof,narrow and heavily barred.In the recess by the window was a brazier burning,and casting as much shadow as light by reason of the smoke.Here also was a rude table,stained with foul circles of pot-rims,and there were five or six stools.On a weighty oaken bed lay one in man's raiment,black in hue,her face downwards,and her arms spread over her neck.It could scarce be that she slept,but she lay like one dead,only shuddering when the lourdaud,the captain of the guard,smote her on the shoulder,asking,in English,how she did?

"Here she is,sir,surly as ever,and poor company for Christian men.See you how cunningly all her limbs are gyved,and chained to the iron bolts of the bed?What would my lady Jeanne give me for this little master-key?"Here he showed a slender key,hung on a steel chain about his neck.

"Never a saint of the three,Michael,Margaret,and Catherine,can take this from me;nay,nor the devils who wear their forms.""Have you seen this fair company of hers?"I whispered in English,crossing myself.