The House of Walderne Part 40

But he was not alone, his G.o.d was with him, as with Daniel in the lion's den, and he never for one moment gave way to despair. He accepted the trial as best he might, and bore the chilling atmosphere and scanty fare like a hero. Yet he was a prisoner in the castle of his fathers.

And the unjust accusation of Drogo gave him deep pain. The very thought that his hand actually had administered the fatal draught was in itself sufficiently painful.

"Vengeance is mine, I will repay," and Martin left it.

The poor burgher in the next cell, groaning in spirit, needs far more compa.s.sion. He was Mayor of Hamelsham, and great in the wool trade. He had at home a bustling, active wife, mighty at the spindle and loom. He had two sons, one of twelve, one of five; three daughters, one almost marriageable; he had six apprentices and twelve workmen carding wool; he had the town business to discharge; he sat upon the bench in the town hall and administered justice to petty offenders. And here was he, torn from all this, and consigned to a dungeon in the hold of a fierce marauding young "n.o.ble."

To the knight above Drogo paid his first visit on the following day, and bowed low before Ralph of Herstmonceux.

"The fortune of war has made thee my captive, but knightly fare and honourable treatment are awaiting thee, until the day when it pleases thee to redeem thyself, and deprive us of the light of thy presence."

"Thanks! For one whose lessons in chivalry were so abruptly broken off, thou hast learnt thy language well. But just now it would be more to the point if thou wilt tell me what it will cost me to get out of thy den."

Drogo winced at the allusion to his expulsion from Kenilworth, and charged fifty marks the more.

"We fix thy ransom at a hundred marks {29}."

"Why, it is a king's ransom!"

"And thou art fit to be a king."

"And what if I cannot pay it?"

"We shall feel it our unpleasant duty to hand thee over to the royal justice, as one notoriously in league with the rebel barons."

"May I send a messenger to my castle?"

"At once. I will place my household at thy disposal."

"And the friar and the mayor; does my ransom include their freedom?"

"By no means: every tub must stand on its own bottom."

"But they were my companions, travelling as it were, not being fighting men, under my protection."

"Perhaps it would expedite matters if thou wouldst inform me on what errand ye were all bent?"

Ralph was silent, and Drogo departed with the same ceremonious politeness, laughing at it in his sleeve.

"Now for the burgher," said he.

A light shone in the dark prison beneath, and the mayor looked into the face of his fierce young captor.

"What brought thee into my woods, fat beast?"

"I knew not they were thine, or I had perchance not intruded. Now tell me, lord, at what price I may redeem my error, for I have a wife and children, to say nothing of apprentices and workmen, who long sore for me!"

"'When the cat's away the mice will play.'

"They will get on merrily without thee. One question thou must answer before we let thee go: On what business came ye hither?"

The mayor hesitated.

"S'death, dost keep me waiting? We have a torture chamber close at hand. Shall I summon the torturers? They will fit thy fat thumbs with a handsome screw in a moment."

Poor mayor! Martyrdom was not his vocation, and he owned it.

"Nay, it can do no harm. We came to witness the last confession of a dying woman, who had some crime on her soul, which she wished to depose before fitting witnesses."

"Of what nature?"

"I was not told. I waited to learn."

"Why didst thou hesitate to say this just now?"

Poor mayor! He stammered out that he hoped he hadn't offended therein.

"The fact is that you knew the men, your companions, came as my enemies, and suspected that the lies that witch, whom Satan is just now basting, meant to tell, affected me! Don't lie, or I will thrust the lie down thy throat, together with a few spare teeth; my gauntlet is heavy."

"It was so," said the terrified citizen of Hamelsham.

"Ha! ha! Well, it matters little to me what thou mayest say, or what thy silly townsfolk think of me: the gudgeons probably talk much evil of the perch, but I never heard that it hurts him much, or spoils his digestion of those savoury little fish. But thou must pay for it: I fix thy ransom at one hundred marks."

"Good heavens! I have not as many pence!"

"Swear not, most fat and comely burgher. The money must be raised, or I will send the good citizens of Hamelsham their mayor bit by bit, an ear to begin with. A man waits without, give him thy instructions to thy people. Farewell!"

And the young bully strolled into the next cell, which was Martin's, a keeper opening the door and shutting it upon him until the signal was given to reopen it; for Drogo did not wish the coming conversation to be overheard.

"So I have got thee at last?"

"Thou hast my body."

"It is a comfort that it is a body which can be made to pine, to feel, to suffer."

"I am in G.o.d's hands, not thine."

"I advise thee not to look for help to so distant a quarter.

Martin! I have always hated thee, both at Kenilworth and Walderne.

Revenge is a morsel fit for the G.o.ds."

"What hast thou to revenge?"

"Didst thou not plot to oust me of mine inheritance, the night before the doting old woman died up above? It cost her her life."

"For which thou must answer to G.o.d."

"Nay, thine hand, not mine, administered it. Ha! ha! ha!"