第24章 The Wine Merchant(3)

"As best I may, and as quickly.Is your answer ready, Sir Andrew?""Yes; it is here," and he handed him the roll, which Nicholas hid away in the folds of his great cloak.ThenSir Andrew added,"You say you know nothing of all the business in which you play this part?""Nothing; or, rather, only this--the officer who escorted me to Jaffa told me that there was a stir among the learned doctors and diviners at the court because of a certain dream which the Sultan had dreamed three times.It had to do with a lady who was half of the blood of Ayoub and half English, and they said that my mission was mixed up with this matter.Now I see that the noble lady before me has eyes strangely like those of the Sultan Saladin." And he spread out his hands and ceased.

"You seem to see a good deal, friend Nicholas.""Sir Andrew, a poor palmer who wishes to preserve his throat unslit must keep his eyes open.Now I have eaten well, and I am weary.Is there any place where I may sleep? I must be gone at daybreak, for those who do Saladin's business dare not tarry, and I have your letter.""There is a place," answered Sir Andrew."Wulf, take him to it, and to-morrow, before he leaves, we will speak again.Till then, farewell, holy Nicholas."With one more searching glance the palmer bowed and went.When the door closed behind him Sir Andrew beckoned Godwin to him, and whispered:

"To-morrow, Godwin, you must take some men and follow this Nicholas to see where he goes and what he does, for I tell you Ido not trust him--ay, I fear him much! These embassies to and from Saracens are strange traffic for a Christian man.Also, though he says his life hangs on it, I think that were he honest, once safe in England here he would stop, since the first priest would absolve him of an oath forced from him by the infidel.""Were he dishonest would he not have stolen those jewels?" asked Godwin."They are worth some risk.What do you think, Rosamund?""I?" she answered."Oh, I think there is more in this than any of us dream."I think," she added in a voice of distress and with an involuntary wringing motion of the hands,"that for this house and those who dwell in it time is big with death, and that sharp-eyed palmer is its midwife.How strange is the destiny that wraps us all about! And now comes the sword of Saladin to shape it, and the hand of Saladin to drag me from my peaceful state to a dignity which I do not seek; and the dreams of Saladin, of whose kin I am, to interweave my life with the bloody policies of Syria and the unending war between Cross and Crescent, that are, both of them, my heritage." Then, with a woeful gesture, Rosamund turned and left them.

Her father watched her go, and said:

"The maid is right.Great business is afoot in which all of us must bear our parts.For no little thing would Saladin stir thus--he who braces himself as I know well, for the last struggle in which Christ or Mahomet must go down.Rosamund is right.On her brow shines the crescent diadem of the house of Ayoub, and at her heart hangs the black cross of the Christian and round her struggle creeds and nations.What, Wulf, does the man sleep already?""Like a dog, for he seems outworn with travel.""Like a dog with one eye open, perhaps.I do not wish that he should give us the slip during the night, as I want more talk with him and other things, of which I have spoken to Godwin.""No fear of that, uncle.I have locked the stable door, and a sainted palmer will scarcely leave us the present of such a mule.""Not he, if I know his tribe," answered Sir Andrew."Now let us sup and afterwards take counsel together, for we shall need it before all is done."An hour before the dawn next morning Godwin and Wulf were up, and with them certain trusted men who had been warned that their services would be needed.Presently Wulf, bearing a lantern in his hand, came to where his brother stood by the fire in the hall.

"Where have you been?" Godwin asked."To wake the palmer?""No.To place a man to watch the road to Steeple Hill, and another at the Creek path; also to feed his mule, which is a very fine beast-- too good for a palmer.Doubtless he will be stirring soon, as he said that he must be up early."Godwin nodded, and they sat together on the bench beside the fire, for the weather was bitter, and dozed till the dawn began to break.Then Wulf rose and shook himself, saying:

"He will not think it uncourteous if we rouse him now," and walking to the far end of the hall, he drew a curtain and called out, "Awake, holy Nicholas! awake! It is time for you to say your prayers, and breakfast will soon be cooking."But no Nicholas answered.

"Of a truth," grumbled Wulf, as he came back for his lantern, "that palmer sleeps as though Saladin had already cut his throat." Then having lit it, he returned to the guest place.

"Godwin," he called presently,"come here.The man has gone!""Gone?" said Godwin as he ran to the curtain."Gone where?""Back to his friend Saladin, I think," answered Wulf."Look, that is how he went." And he pointed to the shutter of the sleeping-place, that stood wide open, and to an oaken stool beneath, by means of which the sainted Nicholas had climbed up to and through the narrow window slit.

"He must be without, grooming the mule which he would never have left," said Godwin.

"Honest guests do not part from their hosts thus," answered Wulf;"but let us go and see."

So they ran to the stable and found it locked and the mule safe enough within.Nor--though they looked-- could they find any trace of the palmer--not even a footstep, since the ground was frostbound.Only on examining the door of the stable they discovered that an attempt had been made to lift the lock with some sharp instrument.

"It seems that he was determined to be gone, either with or without the beast," said Wulf."Well, perhaps we can catch him yet," and he called to the men to saddle up and ride with him to search the country.

For three hours they hunted far and wide, but nothing did they see of Nicholas.