appendix-1-第5章

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a　small　party　of　his　retainers；　to　escort　them　to　Queenhoo…Hall。　Having
received　and　accepted　an　invitation　to　attend　them　thither；　they　prosecuted
their　journey　in　confidence　and　security；　and　arrived　safe　at　home　without
any　further　accident。


CHAPTER　FIFTH。

INVESTIGATION　OF　THE　ADVENTURE　OF　THE　HUNTING…A　DISCOVERY…
GREGORY'S　MANHOOD…FATE　OF　GASTON　ST。　CLERE…CONCLUSION。


　　So　soon　as　they　arrived　at　the　princely　mansion　of　Boteler；　the　Lady
Emma　craved　permission　to　retire　to　her　chamber　that　she　might　compose
her　spirits　after　the　terror　she　had　undergone。　Henry　St。　Clere；　in　a　few
words；　proceeded　to　explain　the　adventure　to　the　curious　audience。　‘‘I
had　no　sooner　seen　my　sister's　palfrey；　in　spite　of　her　endeavours　to　the
contrary；　entering　with　spirit　into　the　chase　set　on　foot　by　the　worshipful
Gregory；　than　I　rode　after　to　give　her　assistance。　So　long　was　the　chase；
that　when　the　greyhounds　pulled　down　the　knobbler；　we　were　out　of　hearing
of　your　bugles；　and　having　rewarded　and　coupled　the　dogs；　I　gave
them　to　be　led　by　the　jester；　and　we　wandered　in　quest　of　our　company；
whom　it　would　seem　the　sport　had　led　in　a　different　direction。　At　length；
passing　through　the　thicket　where　you　found　us；　I　was　surprised　by　a
cross…bow　bolt　whizzing　past　mine　head。　I　drew　my　sword；　and　rushed
into　the　thicket；　but　was　instantly　assailed　by　two　ruffians；　while　other
two　made　towards　my　sister　and　Gregory。　The　poor　knave　fled；　crying
for　help；　pursued　by　my　false　kinsman；　now　your　prisoner；　and　the　designs
of　the　other　on　my　poor　Emma　（murderous；　no　doubt）　were　prevented　by
the　sudden　apparition　of　a　brave　woodsman；　who；　after　a　short　encounter；
stretched　the　miscreant　at　his　feet；　and　came　to　my　assistance。　I　was
already　slightly　wounded；　and　nearly　overlaid　with　odds。　The　combat
lasted　some　time；　for　the　caitiffs　were　both　well　armed；　strong；　and　desperate；
at　length；　however；　we　had　each　mastered　our　antagonist；　when
your　retinue；　my　Lord　Boteler；　arrived　to　my　relief。　So　ends　my　story；
but；　by　my　knighthood；　I　would　give　an　earl's　ransom　for　an　opportunity
of　thanking　the　gallant　forester　by　whose　aid　I　live　to　tell　it。''

　　‘‘Fear　not；''　said　Lord　Boteler；　‘‘he　shall　be　found；　if　this　or　the　four
adjacent　counties　hold　him…And　now　Lord　Fitzosborne　will　be　pleased　to
doff　the　armour　he　has　so　kindly　assumed　for　our　sakes；　and　we　will　all
bowne　ourselves　for　the　banquet。''

　　When　the　hour　of　dinner　approached；　the　Lady　Matilda　and　her　cousin
visited　the　chamber　of　the　fair　Darcy。　They　found　her　in　a　composed　but
melancholy　posture。　She　turned　the　discourse　upon　the　misfortunes　of
her　life；　and　hinted；　that　having　recovered　her　brother；　and　seeing　him　look
forward　to　the　society　of　one　who　would　amply　repay　to　him　the　loss　of
hers；　she　had　thoughts　of　dedicating　her　remaining　life　to　Heaven；　by　whose
providential　interference　it　had　been　so　often　preserved。

　　Matilda　coloured　deeply　at　something　in　this　speech；　and　her　cousin　inveighed
loudly　against　Emma's　resolution。　‘‘Ah；　my　dear　Lady　Eleanor；''
replied　she；　‘‘I　have　to…day　witnessed　what　I　cannot　but　judge　a　super…natural
visitation；　and　to　what　end　can　it　call　me　but　to　give　myself　to　the
altar？　That　peasant　who　guided　me　to　Baddow　through　the　Park　of　Danbury；
the　same　who　appeared　before　me　at　different　times；　and　in　different
forms；　during　that　eventful　journey…that　youth；　whose　features　are　imprinted
on　my　memory；　is　the　very　individual　forester　who　this　day　rescued
us　in　the　forest。　I　cannot　be　mistaken；　and　connecting　these　marvellous
appearances　with　the　spectre　which　I　saw　while　at　Gay　Bowers；　I　cannot
resist　the　conviction　that　Heaven　has　permitted　my　guardian　angel　to
assume　mortal　shape　for　my　relief　and　protection。''

　　The　fair　cousins；　after　exchanging　looks　which　implied　a　fear　that　her
mind　was　wandering；　answered　her　in　soothing　terms；　and　finally　prevailed
upon　her　to　accompany　them　to　the　banqueting…hall。　Here　the　first　person
they　encountered　was　the　Baron　Fitzosborne　of　Diggswell；　now　divested　of
his　armour；　at　the　sight　of　whom　the　Lady　Emma　changed　colour；　and　exclaiming；
‘‘It　is　the　same！''　sunk　senseless　into　the　arms　of　Matilda。

　　‘‘She　is　bewildered　by　the　terrors　of　the　day；''　said　Eleanor；　‘‘and　we
have　done　ill　in　obliging　her　to　descend。''

　　‘‘And　I；''　said　Fitzosborne；　‘‘have　done　madly　in　presenting　before　her
one；　whose　presence　must　recall　moments　the　most　alarming　in　her　life。''

　　While　the　ladies　supported　Emma　from　the　hall；　Lord　Boteler　and　St。
Clere　requested　an　explanation　from　Fitzosborne　of　the　words　he　had　used。

　　‘‘Trust　me；　gentle　lords；''　said　the　Baron　of　Diggswell；　‘‘ye　shall　have
what　ye　demand；　when　I　learn　that　Lady　Emma　Darcy　has　not　suffered
from　my　imprudence。''

　　At　this　moment　Lady　Matilda　returning；　said　that　her　fair　friend；　on
her　recovery；　had　calmly　and　deliberately　insisted　that　she　had　seen　Fitzosborne
before；　in　the　most　dangerous　crisis　of　her　life。

　　‘‘I　dread；''　said　she；　‘‘her　disordered　mind　connects　all　that　her　eye
beholds　with　the　terrible　passages　that　she　has　witnessed。''

　　‘‘Nay；''　said　Fitzosborne；　‘‘if　noble　St。　Clere　can　pardon　the　unauthorised
interest　which；　with　the　purest　and　most　honourable　intentions；　I　have
taken　in　his　sister's　fate；　it　is　easy　for　me　to　explain　this　mysterious　impression。''

　　He　proceeded　to　say；　that；　happening　to　be　in　the　hostelry　called　the
Griffin；　near　Baddow；　while　upon　a　journey　in　that　country；　he　had　met
with　the　old　nurse　of　the　Lady　Emma　Darcy；　who；　being　just　expelled　from
Gay　Bowers；　was　in　the　height　of　her　grief　and　indignation；　and　made　loud
and　public　proclamation　of　Lady　Emma's　wrongs。　From　the　description
she　gave　of　the　beauty　of　her　foster…child；　as　well　as　from　the　spirit　of
chivalry；　Fitzosborne　became　interested　in　her　fate。　This　interest　was
deeply　enhanced；　when；　by　a　bribe　to　old　Gaunt　the　Reve；　he　procured　a
view　of　the　Lady　Emma　as　she　walked　near　the　castle　of　Gay　Bowers。　The
aged　churl　refused　to　give　him　access　to　the　castle；　yet　dropped　some
hints；　as　if　he　thought　the　lady　in　danger；　and　wished　she　were　well　out
of　it。　His　master；　he　said；　had　heard　she　had　a　brother　in　life；　and　since
that　deprived　him　of　all　chance　of　gaining　her　domains　by　purchase；　he
　in　short；　Gaunt　wished　they　were　safely　separated。　‘‘If　any　injury；''
quoth　he；　‘‘should　happen　to　the　damsel　here；　it　were　ill　for　us　all。　I　tried；
by　an　innocent　stratagem；　to　frighten　her　from　the　castle；　by　introducing
a　figure　through　a　trap…door；　and　warning　her；　as　if　by　a　voice　from　the
dead；　to　retreat　from　thence；　but　the　giglet　is　wilful；　and　is　running　upon
her　fate。''

　　Finding　Gaunt；　although　covetous　and　communicative；　too　faithful　a
servant　to　his　wicked　master　to　take　any　active　steps　against　his　commands；
Fitzosborne　applied　himself　to　old　Ursely；　whom　he　found　more　tractable。
Through　her　he　learned　the　dreadful　plot　Gaston　had　laid　to　rid　himself　of　his
kinswoman；　and　resolved　to　effect　her　deliverance。　But　aware　of　the　delicacy
of　Emma's　situation；　he　charged　Ursely　to　conceal　from　her　the　interest　he
took　in　her　distress；　resolving　to　watch　over　her　in　disguise　until　he　saw
her　in　a　place　of　safety。　Hence　the　appearance　he　made　before　her　in
various　dresses　during　her　journey；　in　the　course　of　which　he　was　never　far
distant；　and　he　had　always　four　stout　yeomen　within　hearing　of　his　bugle；
had　assistance　been　necessary。　When　she　was　placed　in　safety　at　the
lodge；　it　was　Fitzosborne's　intention　to　have　prevailed　upon　his　sisters　to
visit；　and　take　her　under　their　protection；　but　he　found　them　absent　from
Diggswell；　having　gone　to　attend　an　aged　relation　who　lay　dangerously　ill
in　a　distant　county。　They　did　not　return　until　the　day　before　the　May…games；
and　the　other　events　followed　too　rapidly　to　permit　Fitzosborne　to
lay　any　plan　for　introducing　them　to　Lady　Emma　Darcy。　On　the　day　of
the　chase　he　resolved　to　preserve　his　romantic　disguise；　and　attend　the
Lady　Emma　as　a　forester；　partly　to　have　the　pleasure　of　being　near　her；
and　partly　to　judge　whether；　according　to　an　idle　report　in　the　country；
she　favoured　his　friend　and　comrade　Fitzallen　of　Marden。　This　last　motive；
it　may　easily　be　believed；　he　did　not　declare　to　the　company。　After　the
skirmish　with　the　ruffians；　he　waited　till　the　Baron　and　the　hunters　arrived；
and　then；　still　doubting　the　farther　designs　of　Gaston；　hastened　to　his　castle；
to　arm　the　band　which　had　escorted　them　to　Queenhoo…Hall。

　　Fitzosborne's　story　being　finished；　he　received　the　thanks　of　all　the　company；
particularly　of　St。　Clere；　who　felt　deeply　the　respectful　delicacy　with
which　he　had　conducted　himself　towards　his　sister。　The　lady　was　carefully
informed　of　her　obligations　to　him；　and　it　is　left　to　the　well…judging　reader；
whether　even　the　raillery　of　Lady　Eleanor　made　her　regret　that　Heaven　had
only　employed　natural　means　for　her　security；　and　that　the　guardian　angel
was　converted　into　a　handsome；　gallant；　and　enamoured　knight。

　　The　joy　of　the　company　in　the　hall　extended　itself　to　the　buttery；　where
Gregory　the　jester　narrated　such　feats　of　arms　done　by　himself　in　the　fray
of　the　morning　as　might　have　shamed　Bevis　and　Guy　of　Warwick。　He
was；　according　to　his　narrative；　singled　out　for　destruction　by　the　gigantic
Baron　himself；　while　he　abandoned　to　meaner　hands　the　destruction　of　St。
Clere　and　Fitzosborne。

　　‘‘But　certes；''　said　he；　‘‘the　foul　paynim　met　his　match；　for；　ever　as　he
foined　at　me　with　his　brand；　I　parried　his　blows　with　my　bauble；　and　closing
with　him　upon　the　third　veny；　threw　him　to　the　ground；　and　made　him
cry　recreant　to　an　unarmed　man。''

　　‘‘Tush；　man。''　said　Drawslot；　‘‘thou　forgettest　thy　best　auxiliaries；　the
good　greyhounds；　Help　and　Holdfast！　I　warrant　thee；　that　when　the
humpbacked　Baron　caught　thee　by　the　cowl；　which　he　hath　almost　torn
of；　thou　hadst　been　in　a　fair　plight　had　they　not　remembered　an　old　friend；
and　come　in　to　the　rescue。　Why；　man；　I　found　them　fastened　on　him
myself；　and　there　was　odd　staying　and　suckling　to　make　them　‘ware
haunch！'　Their　mouths　were　full　of　the　flex；　for　I　pulled　a　piece　of　the
garment　from　their　jaws。　I　warrant　thee；　that　when　they　brought　him　to
the　ground；　thou　fled'st　like　a　frighted　pricket。''

　　‘‘And　as　for　Gregory's　gigantic　paynim；''　said　Fabian；　‘‘why；　he　lies
yonder　in　the　guard…room；　the　very　size；　shape；　and　colour　of　a　spider　in　a
yew…hedge。''

　　‘‘It　is　false；''　said　Gregory；　‘‘Colbrand　the　Dane　was　a　dwarf　to　him。''

　　‘‘It　is　as　true；''　returned　Fabian；　‘‘as　that　the　Tasker　is　to　be　married；
on　Tuesday；　to　Pretty　Margery。　Gregory；　thy　sheet　hath　brought　them
between　a　pair　of　blankets。''

　　‘‘I　care　no　more　for　such　a　gillflirt；''　said　the　Jester；　‘‘than　I　do　for　thy
leasings。　Marry；　thou　hop…o'…my…thumb；　happy　wouldst　thou　be　could　thy
head　reach　the　captive　Baron's　girdle。''

　　‘‘By　the　mass；''　said　Peter　Lanaret；　‘‘I　will　have　one　peep　at　this　burly
gallant；''　and　leaving　the　buttery；　he　went　to　the　guard…room　where　Gaston
St。　Clere　was　confined。　A　man…at…arms；　who　kept　sentinel　on　the　strong
studded　door　of　the　apartment；　said　he　believed　he　slept；　for　that　after
raging；