The Forest Lovers - Page 150/206

Beyond the man, his bowl, and his books, Prosper could see little else

in the room. There was, it is true, a shelf full of bottles, and

another full of images; but that was all.

Prosper stepped lightly into the room and laid a hand upon the

reader's shoulder. The young man did not start; he carefully recorded

his place before he lifted a thin face from his work to his visitor.

You were conscious of an extravagantly peaked nose, like the beak of

some water-fowl, of the wandering glance of two pale eyes, and of

little else except a mild annoyance.

"What is your pleasure, fair sir?" asked the young man.

"Sir," began Prosper, "I fear I have intruded upon your labours."

"You have," said the young man.

It was an uncompromising beginning. The young man beamed upon him,

waiting.

"Nevertheless, sir," Prosper went on, "I am driven to force myself

upon your hospitality for the night. Your house is large and

apparently roomy. It is dark and wild weather, with a prospect of

tempest. I must sleep here or on the moors."

"Sir," said the other, "you shall be welcome to my poor house, and

that notwithstanding the last guests I harboured murdered everybody in

it but myself. If it had not been for the intercession of a very

charming lady, who has but now left me, I had been dead ere this and

unable to play the host either to her or you. This I say not as

casting any imputation upon you, of whom I am willing to believe as

much as, nay, more than, our limited acquaintance may warrant. Regard

it rather as my excuse for affording you little more than a roof."

"By my faith," said Prosper, "I had believed the castle to be deserted

or sacked. But I am sorry enough to hear that my foreboding was so

near the truth."

"It was a certain lord calling himself Galors de Born, he and his

company, who did these harms upon my house," the young man explained.

"Me too he will assuredly murder before many days. Unless indeed the

lady of whom I spoke just now should return."

"I think I may say that she will not return, and that it will be

better for you if she do not. Galors, too, has other fish to fry. But

if he should happen to come, I pray God that I may be by with a

company to fight at your back." So Prosper.

"If God hear your prayer, which I should have thought more than

dubious," returned his host, "I only hope He may see fit to help you

to a company as well, for I have none. And as to fighting at my back,

I promise you I am a most indifferent leader, being, as you see,

somewhat immersed in other affairs."