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〃He will not come；〃 he repeated as he advanced into the room。
〃Daughter； my daughter； hearken to the words of one who is indeed
old enough to be your earthly father。 This lie has served before。
He has ruined others before you with it。 The man has no brother
at Saint Albans。 I know his brothers well； and there is no priest
among them。 Before Monday； when it is all too late； you will have
found the truth as others have done before you。 Trust him not；
but come with us！〃
Paul de la Fosse looked up at her with a quick smile and patted
the hand upon his shoulder。
〃Do you speak to them； Edith；〃 said he。
Her eyes flashed with scorn as she surveyed them each in turn； the
woman； the youth and the priest。
〃I have but one word to say to them；〃 said she。 〃It is that they
go hence and trouble us no more。 Am I not a free woman？ Have I
not said that this is the only man I ever loved？ I have loved him
long。 He did not know it； and in despair he turned to another。
Now he knows all and never again can doubt come between us。
Therefore I will stay here at Shalford and come to Cosford no more
save upon the arm of my husband。 Am I so weak that I would
believe the tales you tell against him？ Is it hard for a jealous
woman and a wandering priest to agree upon a lie？ No； no； Mary；
you can go hence and take your cavalier and your priest with you；
for here I stay； true to my love and safe in my trust upon his
honor！〃
〃Well spoken； on my faith； my golden bird！〃 said the little master
of Shalford。 〃Let me add my own word to that which has been said。
You would not grant me any virtue in your unkindly speech； good
Lady Mary； and yet you must needs confess that at least I have
good store of patience； since I have not set my dogs upon your
friends who have come between me and my ease。 But even to the
most virtuous there comes at last a time when poor human frailty
may prevail； and so I pray you to remove both yourself； your
priest and your valiant knight errant； lest perhaps there be more
haste and less dignity when at last you do take your leave。 Sit
down； my fair love； and let us turn once more to our supper。〃 He
motioned her to her chair； and he filled her wine…cup as well as
his own。
Nigel had said no word since he had entered the room； but his look
had never lost its set purpose； nor had his brooding eyes ever
wandered from the sneering face of the deformed master of
Shalford。 Now he turned with swift decision to Mary and to the
priest。
〃That is over；〃 said he in a low voice。 〃You have done all that
you could； and now it is for me to play my part as well as I am
able。 I pray you； Mary； and you； good father； that you will await
me outside。〃
〃Nay； Nigel； if there is danger … 〃
〃It is easier for me； Mary； if you are not there。 I pray you to
go。 I can speak to this man more at my ease。〃
She looked at him with questioning eyes and then obeyed。
Nigel plucked at the priest's gown。
〃I pray you； father； have you your book of offices with you？〃
〃Surely； Nigel； it is ever in my breast。〃
〃Have it ready； father！〃
〃For what； my son？〃
〃There are two places you may mark； there is the service of
marriage and there is the prayer for the dying。 Go with her；
father； and be ready at my call。〃
He closed the door behind them and was alone with this ill…matched
couple。 They both turned in their chairs to look at him； Edith
with a defiant face； the man with a bitter smile upon his lips and
malignant hatred in his eyes。
〃What；〃 said he； 〃the knight errant still lingers？ Have we not
heard of his thirst for glory？ What new venture does he see that
he should tarry here？〃
Nigel walked to the table。
〃There is no glory and little venture；〃 said he； 〃but I have come
for a purpose and I must do it。 I learn from your own lips；
Edith； that you will not leave this man。〃
〃If you have ears you have heard it。〃
〃You are； as you have said； a free woman； and who can gainsay you？
But I have known you； Edith； since we played as boy and girl on
the heather…hills together。 I will save you from this man's
cunning and from your own foolish weakness。〃
〃What would you do？〃
〃There is a priest without。 He will marry you now。 I will see
you married ere I leave this hall。〃
〃Or else？〃 sneered the man。
〃Or else you never leave this hall alive。 Nay； call not for your
servants or your dogs！ By Saint Paul！ I swear to you that this
matter lies between us three； and that if any fourth comes at your
call you； at least； shall never live to see what comes of it！
Speak then； Paul of Shalford！ Will you wed this woman now； or
will you not？〃
Edith was on her feet with outstretched arms between them。 〃Stand
back； Nigel！ He is small and weak。 You would not do him a hurt！
Did you not say so this very day？ For God's sake； Nigel； do not
look at him so！ There is death in your eyes。〃
〃A snake may be small and weak； Edith； yet every honest man would
place his heel upon it。 Do you stand back yourself； for my
purpose is set。〃
〃Paul！〃 she turned her eyes to the pale sneering face。 〃Bethink
you； Paul！ Why should you not do what he asks？ What matter to
you whether it be now or on Monday？ I pray you； dear Paul； for my
sake let him have his way！ Your brother can read the service
again if it so please him。 Let us wed now； Paul； and then all is
well。〃
He had risen from his chair； and he dashed aside her appealing
hands。 〃You foolish woman；〃 he snarled； 〃and you； my savior of
fair damsels； who are so bold against a cripple； you have both to
learn that if my body be weak there is the soul of my breed within
it！ To marry because a boasting； ranting； country Squire would
have me do so … no； by the soul of God； I will die first！ On
Monday I will marry； and no day sooner； so let that be your
answer。〃
〃It is the answer that I wished；〃 said Nigel； 〃for indeed I see no
happiness in this marriage； and the other may well be the better
way。 Stand aside； Edith！〃 He gently forced her to one side and
drew his sword。
De la Fosse cried aloud at the sight。 〃I have no sword。 You
would not murder me？〃 said he； leaning back with haggard…face and
burning eyes against his chair。 The bright steel shone in the
lamp…light。 Edith shrank back； her hand over her face。
〃Take this sword！〃 said Nigel； and he turned the hilt to the
cripple。 〃Now！〃 he added； as he drew his hunting knife。 〃Kill me
if you can； Paul de la Fosse； for as God is my help I will do as
much for you！〃
The woman； half swooning and yet spellbound and fascinated； looked
on at that strange combat。 For a moment the cripple stood with an
air of doubt； the sword grasped in his nerveless fingers。 Then as
he saw the tiny blade in Nigel's hand the greatness of the
advantage came home to him； and a cruel smile tightened his loose
lips。 Slowly； step by step he advanced； his chin sunk upon his
chest； his eyes glaring from under the thick tangle of his brows
like fires through the brushwood。 Nigel waited for him； his left
hand forward； his knife down by his hip； his face grave； still and
watchful。
Nearer and nearer yet； with stealthy step； and then with a bound