The Forest Lovers | Page 7

and find me ready to recompense you with what I have."
She stopped as if to judge the weight of her words, then went on
slowly-- "I know not, indeed, how could I deny you anything."
Prosper could have seen, if he would, the quickened play of her breath.
"Let us go into the open," said he, "and find my horse. Then you shall
tell me whence you are, and whither I may speed you, and how
safeliest--with other things proper to be known."
They went together. "My lord," said she then, "my lodging is far from
here and ill to come by. Nevertheless, I know of a hermitage hard at
hand where we could rest a little, and thereafter we could find the way
to my house. Will you come with me thither?"

"Whither?" asked Prosper.
"Ah, the hermitage, or wheresoever you will."
Prosper looked steadily at her.
"Tell me the name and condition of the dead man," said he.
"Ranulf de Genlis, a knight of Brittany."
"The badge on his breast was of our blazonry," said Prosper, half to
himself, "and he looked to have been of this side the Southern Sea."
"Do you doubt my word, Sir Knight?"
"Madam, I do not question it. Will you tell, me how he came by his
death?"
"I was hunting very early in the morning with my esquires and ladies,
and by ill-hap lost them and my way. After many wanderings in search
of either, I encountered this man now dead, and inquired news of him.
He held me some time in talk, delayed me with sham diligence, and at
last and, suddenly professed an ardent love for me. I was frightened, for
I was alone in the wood with him, in a glade not far from here. And it
seemed that I had reason, since from words he went on to force and
clamour and violence. I had almost succumbed--I know not how to hint
at the fate which threatened me, or guess how long I could have
struggled against it. He had closed with me, he held me in a vice; then
all at once he loosed hold of me and shuddered. Some seizure or
sudden stroke of judgment overtook him, I suppose, so that he fell and
lay writhing, with a foam on his lips, as you saw. You may judge," she
added, after waiting for some comment from Prosper, which did not
come, "you may judge whether this is a pleasant tale for me to tell, and
whether I should tell it willingly to any man. For what one attempted
against me another might also try--and not fail."
She stopped and glanced at her companion. The manner in each of
them was changed; the lady was not the scornful beauty she had

seemed, while Prosper's youth was dry within him. She seemed a
suppliant, he a judge, deliberate. Such a story from such an one would
have set him on fire an hour ago; but now his words came sharply from
him, whistling like a shrill wind.
"The grave was dug overnight," was what he said.
The lady started and paled. Then she drew a deep breath, and said--"Do
you again doubt my word, sir?"
"I do not question it," he replied as before. It is a fact that he had
noticed the turned earth by the pit. There was gossamer upon it, but that
said little. Rabbits had been there also, and that said everything.
The lady said nothing more, and in silence they went on until they
reached a fork in the path. Prosper stopped here. One path led north, the
other west.
"Here is my road," said he, pointing to the west.
"The hermitage is close by, my lord," urged the lady in a low voice. "I
pray my lord to rest him there."
"That I cannot do," says he.
She affected indignation. "Is it then in the honour of a knight to desert a
lonely lady? I am learning strange doctrine, strange chivalry! Farewell,
sir. You are young. Maybe you will learn with years that when a lady
stoops to beg it is more courtly to forestall her."
Prosper stood leaning on his shield. "The knight's honour," he said, "is
in divers holds--in his lady's, in God's, and in the king's. These three fly
not always the same flag, but two at least of them should be in pact."
"Ah," said she slyly, "ah, Sir Discreet, I see that you have the lady
first."
Prosper grew graver. "I said 'his lady,'" he repeated.

"And could not I, for such service as yours, be your lady, fair sir?" she
asked in a very low and troubled voice. "At least I am here-- alone--in
the wood--and at your mercy."
Prosper looked straight in front of him, grave,