d up in the storerooms for use in the winter, since
Lady Carleon had been a good and provident housewife.

So those three did not starve, although Sir Geoffrey would touch little
of the salted stuff. He existed on a few fruits when they could get
them, and after these were gone, on wine mingled with water.

At length came the end. For two days he had lain senseless. One night,
however, David, who was watching in his chamber, crept into the room
where Hugh slept hard by and told them that Sir Geoffrey was awake and
calling them. They rose and went to him. By the light of the moon which
shone in at the open window, that same window through which Lady Carleon
had looked toward England ere she passed away, they saw him lying
quietly, a happy smile upon his face.

"Friends," he said in a weak voice, "by the mercy of God, I go out of
this hell to heaven, or so I think. But, if indeed this be not the end
of the world, I hope that you who have lived so long will continue to
live, and I have sent for you to bless you and to thank you both. In
yonder case are certain papers that have to do with the King's business.
I pray you deliver them to his Grace if you can and with them my homage
and my thanks for the trust that he has reposed in me. Tell him what I
have not written in the letters"--and here he smiled faintly--"that I
think that few of his creditors in Venice will trouble him at present,
though afterward their heirs, if they have left any, may do so. Say,
too, to the Doge, who, I believe, still lives, that I send him my good
wishes and respects. Also that I grieve that I have not been able to
hand him my letters of recall in person, since the King who summons me
sends none.

"So much for business, but there are two things more: I have no
relatives living save my wife's sister. Therefore, Sir Hugh and Captain
Richard, I have made you my joint heirs with her; my testament duly
signed and witnessed is in that case with the other papers. My wealth is
not great. Still there are certain land and manors in England, a sum of
money placed with a merchant in London, whose name you will find written
in the testament, my plate and gold coin here, though the former you may
not be able to move. Therefore I charge you to bury it and return for it
later on, if you can. It is of value, since all my life I have collected
such trinkets. I beg you to make provision also for this good lad,
David, should he be spared."

He paused a while, f