CHAPTER VIII.

OF THE COMPANY THAT RALPH, SURNAMED BRAKESPEARE, MET UNDER 66 THE SIGN OF THE SPUR."

SUPPER was over in the common room of the hostel, and the guests— not numerous, as it chanced, on that especial night-had broken up into groups; some lingering at the board where they had eaten, others clustering at small tables, drawn nearer the hearth. The logs that burned bravely were useful, otherwise than for warmth; or the great chamber, with its dusky walls and blackened beams, would have looked gloomy enough, lighted only by three or four of the clumsy oil lamps called mortiers, and by the rude torch-candles fixed on spikes on either side the doorway, that swirled and guttered in the frequent draughts.

In the nook formed by the outer angle of the huge projecting chimney, and so somewhat in the shadow, sat Ralph and his guest, the armourer-a mighty stoup of Bourdeaux wine betwixt them; whilst on a settle hard by, Lanyon dozed in that half stupor that, when no care keeps men wakeful, comes pleasantly to the hardiest wayfarer after long travel and a hearty meal. The good liquor had thawed the craftsman's shyness and unloosed his tongue; so he was ready enough in answering to the best of his power the other's questions, and in tendering his advice.

"An' ye would be ruled by me, messire, ye would not be hasty in taking service with the first that shall make proffer. There be some who adventure themselves in these wars, overmuch for plunder's sake; and with such little honour is to be gotten, even if they 'scape the shame. I have aceointance with certain knights and barons-always in the course of trade-who might serve thy turn bravely. But right few of such, I wot, are now on the hither side of the narrow seas; for there is work enow in Guienne for all the lances that our king can spare from Calais leaguer. Truly, there is Sir Walter Rokeby-a leal knight and stalwart-who is now at his lodging beyond Thames, scarce healed of the sore hurt he gat at Neville's Cross. It may be he will be setting forth ere long; I warrant me he will tarry at home, not an hour after he hath leech's leave to sit in saddle. Peradventure, my good word may profit you somewhat; for Sir Walter hath shown me no small kindness, and calls me ever his trusty armourer."

Whilst Ralph thanked the friendly speaker, the heavy door at the further end of the guest-chamber swung open quickly, as though thrust inward by a strong, hasty hand; causing the decent merchants

and franklins, who formed the greater part of the company, to start from their grave converse or quiet games of tables to look at the new In truth he was one to whom few men, and fewer women, would have denied a second glance, if only for his marvellous beauty.

comer.

His face was a pure oval; with a complexion of clear pale olive, features straight and finely chiselled, a mouth nearly perfect in form, though not in expression, and long, lustrous dark eyes, naturally languid, but flashing out at times with animal ferocity. He was tall and powerful of frame, without the angular squareness which usually accompanies great strength; and one would hardly have guessed at the stark inuscle and sinew hidden under the delicate rounding of joint and limb. His dress of rich murrey cloth was of a foreign fashion, and not disfigured by sleeves of preposterous length, or any other of the fantastic fopperies in which the English gallants of that time were prone to indulge; while the careful trimming and studied arrangement of his silky beard and wavy hair-both of an intense blue-black-showed that the possessor of such rare personal advantages was disposed to make use of them to the uttermost.

He was evidently not quite a stranger to some present there; for, as he entered, there was a kind of flutter and murmur amongst certain of the staid burghers, betokening distrust and dislike, with perchance a shade of fear, just as you may see a whole rookery thrown into tumult by the sudden appearance of a sparrow-hawk.

It was manifest, too, that something had ruffled the new comer's humour, as he swung up, the centre of the guest-chamber; glancing half insolently, half defiantly, to the right and to the left; and cast himself down on the settle, in the corner corresponding to that where Ralph Brakespeare was sitting; never deigning to notice the courtesy of the meek artisan who yielded place to him hastily. Then he called for a stoup of Muscadine; and, long before it could have been brought, cursed the drawer for dallying-in fair English enough, though with a soft foreign accent: when the liquor came, he fell to drinking, not in quick, greedy gulps, but daintily and slowly, savouring each drop as it glided over his palate.

The stout armourer glanced at the stranger from under his brows with evident disfavour.

"Whom have we here?" he grumbled. "One of a marvellous goodly presence, pardie; but a ruffler, I warrant me, if no worse. Loath would I be to drink with him in the dark, and yet more loath to play with him at the dice. Yon may well be the Italian who, as I

heard but yester-even, won thirty silver marks of Josselyn, the Abbot's reeve, and picked a quarrel with him thereafter. Marry, had not help been near, the wittol-besides losing his year's savings-would have brooked the stab. By Saint Benedict, I like not such company; and if my gossip, our host, were of my mind, he would have none such at the 'Spur.""

"I am partly of thine opinion"-Ralph answered, carelessly; "but I see not how he can concern us. We are not birds for his net, I trow. Go back, I prithee, to where thou brakest off talk but now, and finish yonder stoup, which is well-nigh drained. I have beckoned already to the drawer to bring hither another."

The armourer complied, nothing loath. But, as he wiped his beard, and prepared to resume converse-he was somewhat slow and deliberate of speech-the outward door swung open once more, this time timidly and cautiously, and there entered a girl, leading by the hand a white-haired man, somewhat bent with age or infirmity, who walked with the faltering, uncertain gait peculiar to the blind. There was no mistaking the profession of the pair; the threadbare cotehardie, and the gittern, or rebecque, slung round his neck, betokened the minstrel; whilst from her raiment of gay, contrasted colours, no less than from the instrument carried in her right hand, all knew the tymbestere.

""Tis Gilbert the glee-man "-John Brakespeare said, with a kind of gruff apology, seeing his companion's brow overcast at the fresh interruption-" with his granddaughter. It were charity to let ther play out their play, an' you would have patience; for they will take no alms unless they seem to earn them. Marry, I mind him as deft an archer as ever drew clothyard shaft; in the Scots wars got he that axe-blow which hath dazed his brain ever since, and left his eyes darkling: he hath no mean skill on his instrument, and she dances right featly, howbeit in somewhat strange fashion. Moreover, 'tis a good wench and a chaste, as I have heard true folk aver; though it may seem likelier to find a pearl in Thames ooze, than virtue in a glee-maiden."

Ralph's face softened in contrition-as he made answer—

"I take shame to myself that I should have chafed but now. It fits me well-a poor aspirant in arms-to grudge charity to one who hath come by mischance, fighting manfully under shield. Let them play on with a good courage; I promise that, when 'tis done, they shall not lack guerdon."

To higher and holier places than hostels, in those days, minstrel, jester, and tregetour had easy access. It was clear that the entertainment about to take place was of no unusual occurrence here; and perchance, others of less reputable sort were not uncommon. After the two had made lowly obeisance, the girl led her grandsire to a vacant bench, and moved forward herself to a clear space left in the centre of the guest-chamber, where no rushes were strewn.

She looked singularly picturesque as she struck her first attitudeher lithe, elastic figure, set off by a trim blue bodice quaintly broidered, drawn back, and poised firmly on the right foot-whirling the timbrel on one finger of the hand raised above her head; the firelight gleaming on her light hair, braided with gay ribbons and glittering coins, and on her pretty, mutinous face, whose natural fairness of complexion had not altogether yielded to the tanning of sun and wind; while the short, striped skirt gave liberal glimpses of a neat ankle and shapely leg, cased in scarlet hosen. After a brief prelude, the gittern-player broke into a wild, fitful measure-slow for the most part, but sometimes quickened abruptly-with which chimed in the jingle of the bells sewn to the dancer's dress, and at irregular intervals the clash and rattle of the timbrel.

The performance differed materially from those of the same class then in vogue, and rather resembled those practised by the Moriscoes on the continent, but little known in England, the chief characteristics of which have probably been preserved by the modern Gitanas. There were none of the violent feats of activity, or displays of posturemaking, in which the tymbesteres were prone to indulge; and, though some of the gestures were provocative enough, none were coarse, immodest, or unseemly. Such as it was, the dance was a complete success: long before it was ended, the soberest spectators were ready to applaud, and to open their purse-strings. Before it had fairly

begun, the dark stranger, who sat drinking alone, had roused himself from his reverie, and was watching the performer with something more than idle curiosity. As the last rattle of the rebecque died away, the girl made another obeisance, lowly and gracefully, and went round for such alms as it pleased the audience to bestow, beginning at the lower end of the long chamber. She passed on, her timbrel growing heavier with silver esterlings and groats, till she reached the angle of the chimney where the Italian sat. As he thrust his hand into his gipsire, he glanced at the heap of small silver coins, and laughed contemptuously.

"Is that all the largess thou hast gathered hitherto from churl and

trader, poverina mia? Here is a new broad florence for thee; and, if thou wilt kiss me twice betwixt the lips, I will e'en double the guerdon."

As he spoke, his right arm was thrown suddenly round the tymbestere's waist, and he half drew her on his knee. She was no country-bred wench, to start at a rude jest or innocent freedom; and the shyness of maidenhood perchance was gone before her cheek lost its bloom; but there was a look in those evil, handsome eyes that made her shrink back with an instinctive dislike and fear.

"I pray you, set me free, fair sir"-she said, trying to veil her terror under a sceming of mirth. "I deal not in such wares as you would chaffer for, and it were flat robbery to take your florence, sith a groat overpays our pains."

He smiled, half in amusement, half in scorn, but his black, arched brows were bent till they nearly met; and, drawing her down by main force closer and nearer, he whispered some few words in her ear. The girl's sunburnt check flushed up like flame; she spoke never a word now, but dashed down her timbrel on the table near; and, bracing both her arms against the shoulders of her assailant, fought hard to get loose, panting far more than she had done in the heat of exercise, and casting over her shoulders piteous looks of appeal.

The quick ear of the old minstrel caught the sounds of struggle, and some suspicion of the truth shot through his mazed brain; he partly rose from his bench, but sank back again with a groan of helplessness, his lips quivering nervously, and his thin horny fingers plucking at the gittern-strings. Throughout the guest-chamber there was a stir and murmur of disapproval, and more than one cried "Shame!" aloud: not a few there knew the girl and her grandsire well, and liked not to see her misused. The host of the "Spur " himself a fussy, obsequious man with little or no authority under his own roof or elsewhere-so far overcame his awe of the terrible foreigner, as to come forward and stammer forth a timid remonstrance. But the Italian cut him rudely short.

"Meddle with thine own matters, friend "—said he; "and fetch me hither another flagon of Muscadine, with no such cursed twang in it as spoiled the last. Have I travelled all these leagues, to find Lucrece in shape of a glee-maiden, and Cato in a knave host? I will deal with this damoiselle after my pleasure; and I would fain see who shall gainsay me!"

His fierce eyes travelled round the guest-chamber with a challenge which for a while seemed like to meet with no answer. Among the staid citizens and franklins there assembled there were many who