"Surely I or any man of gentle blood would be the champion of any woman who had suffered wrong."
"You or any and I or any--what sort of speech is that? Is it a compliment, think you, to be mixed with a drove in that fashion? My question was of you and me. If I were wronged would you be my man?"
"Try me and see, Edith!"
"Then I will do so, Nigel. Either Sir George Brocas or the Squire of Fernhurst would gladly do what I ask, and yet I am of a mind, Nigel, to turn to you."
"I pray you to tell me what it is."
"You know Paul de la Fosse of Shalford?"
"You mean the small man with the twisted back?"
"He is no smaller than yourself, Nigel, and as to his back there are many folk that I know who would be glad to have his face."
"Nay, I am no judge of that, and I spoke out of no discourtesy. What of the man?"
"He has flouted me, Nigel, and I would have revenge."
"What--on that poor twisted creature?"
"I tell you that he has flouted me!"
"But how?"
"I should have thought that a true cavalier would have flown to my aid, withouten all these questions. But I will tell you, since I needs must. Know then that he was one of those who came around me and professed to be my own. Then, merely because he thought that there were others who were as dear to me as himself he left me, and now he pays court to Maude Twynham, the little freckle-faced hussy in his village."
"But how has this hurt you, since he was no man of thine?"
"He was one of my men, was he not? And he has made game of me to his wench. He has told her things about me. He has made me foolish in her eyes. Yes, yes, I can read it in her saffron face and in her watery eyes when we meet at the church door on Sundays. She smiles--yes, smiles at me! Nigel, go to him! Do not slay him, nor even wound him, but lay his face open with thy riding-whip, and then come back to me and tell me how I can serve you."
Nigel's face was haggard with the strife within, for desire ran hot in every vein, and yet reason shrank with horror. "By Saint Paul! Edith," he cried, "I see no honor nor advancement of any sort in this thing which you have asked me to do. Is it for me to strike one who is no better than a cripple? For my manhood I could not do such a deed, and I pray you, dear lady, that you will set me some other task."