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〃I have no wine to spare； but I will give you a keg of apples；〃
said the other。 〃I had it out of the Peter and Paul； the Falmouth
boat that struck in Creux Bay。〃
〃Well； well your apples may be the worse for keeping； but so is
old Marie； and we can cry quits on that。 Come round and drink a
cup over the bargain。〃
They shuffled onward in the darkness。
〃Heard you ever such villainy？〃 cried Aylward； breathing fierce
and hard。 〃Did you hear them； Simon？ A woman for a keg of
apples！ And my heart's root is sad for the other one； the girl of
Normandy。 Surely we can land to…morrow and burn all these water…
rats out of their nest。〃
〃Nay； Sir Robert will not waste time or strength ere he reach
Brittany。〃
〃Sure I am that if my little master Squire Loring had the handling
of it； every woman on this island would be free ere another day
had passed。〃
〃I doubt it not；〃 said Simon。 〃He is one who makes an idol of
woman； after the manner of those crazy knight errants。 But Sir
Robert is a true soldier and hath only his purpose in view。〃
〃Simon；〃 said Aylward； 〃the light is not overgood and the place is
cramped for sword…play； but if you will step out into the open I
will teach you whether my master is a true soldier or not。〃
〃Tut； man！ you are as foolish yourself；〃 said Simon。 〃Here we are
with our work in hand； and yet you must needs fall out with me on
our way to it。 I say nothing against your master save that he
hath the way of his fellows who follow dreams and fancies。 But
Knolles looks neither to right nor left and walks forward to his
mark。 Now； let us on； for the time passes。〃
〃Simon； your words are neither good nor fair。 When we are back on
shipboard we will speak further of this matter。 Now lead on； I
pray you； and let us see some more of this ten…devil island。〃
For half a mile Simon led the way until they came to a large house
which stood by itself。 Peering at it from the edge of the
cutting； Aylward could see that it was made from the wreckage of
many vessels； for at each corner a prow was thrust out。 Lights
blazed within； and there came the sound of a strong voice singing
a gay song which was taken up by a dozen others in the chorus。
〃All is well； lad！〃 whispered Simon in great delight。 〃That is
the voice of the King。 It is the very song he used to sing。 'Les
deux filles de Pierre。' 'Fore God； my back tingles at the very
sound of it。 Here we will wait until his company take their
leave。〃
Hour after hour they crouched in the peat…cutting； listening to
the noisy songs of the revelers within； some French； some English；
and all growing fouler and less articulate as the night wore on。
Once a quarrel broke out and the clamor was like a cageful of wild
beasts at feeding…time。 Then a health was drunk and there was
much stamping and cheering。
Only once was the long vigil broken。 A woman came forth from the
house and walked up and down； with her face sunk upon her breast。
She was tall and slender； but her features could not be seen for a
wimple over her head。 Weary sadness could be read in her bowed
back and dragging steps。 Once only they saw her throw her two
hands up to Heaven as one who is beyond human aid。 Then she
passed slowly into the house again。 A moment later the door of
the hall was flung open； and a shouting stumbling throng came
crowding forth； with whoop and yell； into the silent night。
Linking arms and striking up a chorus； they marched past the
peat…cutting； their voices dwindling slowly away as they made for
their homes。
〃Now； Samkin； now！〃 cried Simon； and jumping out from the
hiding…place he made for the door。 It had not yet been fastened。
The two comrades sprang inside。 Then Simon drew the bolts so that
none might interrupt them。
A long table littered with flagons and beakers lay before them。
It was lit up by a line of torches； which flickered and smoked in
their iron sconces。 At the farther end a solitary man was seated。
His head rested upon his two hands； as if he were befuddled with
wine； but at the harsh sound of the snapping bolts he raised his
face and looked angrily around him。 It was a strange powerful
head； tawny and shaggy like a lion's； with a tangled beard and a
large harsh face； bloated and blotched with vice。 He laughed as
the newcomers entered； thinking that two of his boon companions
had returned to finish a flagon。 Then he stared hard and he
passed his hand over his eyes like one who thinks he may be
dreaming。
〃Mon Dieu！〃 he cried。 〃Who are you and whence come you at this
hour of the night？ Is this the way to break into our royal
presence？〃
Simon approached up one side of the table and Aylward up the
other。 When they were close to the King； the man…at…arms plucked
a torch from its socket and held it to his own face。 The King
staggered back with a cry； as he gazed at that grim visage。
〃Le diable noir！〃 he cried。 〃Simon； the Englishman！ What make
you here？〃
Simon put his hand upon his shoulder。 〃Sit here！〃 said he； and he
forced the King into his seat。 〃Do you sit on the farther side of
him； Aylward。 We make a merry group； do we not？ Often have I
served at this table； but never did I hope to drink at it。 Fill
your cup； Samkin； and pass the flagon。〃
The King looked from one to the other with terror in his bloodshot
eyes。 〃What would you do？〃 he asked。 〃Are you mad； that you
should come here。 One shout and you are at my mercy。〃
〃Nay； my friend； I have lived too long in your house not to know
the ways of it。 No man…servant ever slept beneath your roof； for
you feared lest your throat would be cut in the night…time。 You
may shout and shout； if it so please you。 It chanced that I was
passing on my way from England in those ships which lie off La
Brechou； and I thought I would come in and have speech with you。〃
〃Indeed； Simon； I am right glad to see you；〃 said the King；
cringing away from the fierce eyes of the soldier。 〃We were good
friends in the past； were we not； and I cannot call to mind that I
have ever done you injury。 When you made your way to England by
swimming to the Levantine there was none more glad in heart than！〃
〃If I cared to doff my doublet I could show you the marks of what
your friendship has done for me in the past；〃 said Simon。 〃It is
printed on my back as clearly as on my memory。 Why； you foul dog；
there are the very rings upon the wall to which my hands were
fastened； and there the stains upon the boards on which my blood
has dripped！ Is it not so； you king of butchers？〃
The pirate chief turned whiter still。 〃It may be that life here
was somewhat rough； Simon； but if I have wronged you in anyway； I
will surely make amends。 What do you ask？〃
〃I ask only one thing； and I have come hither that I may get it。
It is that you pay me forfeit for that you have lost your wager。〃
〃My wager； Simon！ I call to mind no wager。〃
〃But I will call it to your mind； and then I will take my payment。
Often have you sworn that you would break my courage。 ‘By my
head！' you have cried to me。 ‘You will crawl at my feet！' and
again： ‘I will wager my head that I will tame you！' Yes； yes； a
sc