I'll come as far as that in time," added the apprentice with a shade
of bitterness.

"Thou art a singular villain," said Geoffrey, "and wonderfully frank
spoken."

"And so thou'rt to be married?" Hubert said gently.

"By this next noon, if all goes well!" exclaimed the lover with
ardour.

"Heigho!" sighed Hubert, turning to go, "'twill be a merry Christmas
for somebody."

"Give me thy hand," cried Geoffrey, feeling universally hearty.

"No," replied the freebooter; "what meaning would there be in that? I
would sever thy jugular vein in a moment if that would mend the broken
fortunes of my chief. Farewell, however. Good luck attend thee."

The eyes of both young men met, and without unkindness in them.

"But I am satisfied with my calling," Hubert asserted, repudiating
some thought that he imagined was lurking in Geoffrey's look. "Quite
content! It's very dull to be respectable. Look! the dawn will
discover us."

"But this plan?" cried Geoffrey, hastening after him; "I know
nothing."

"Thou needest know nothing. Keep the door of the pit shut. Farewell."

And Geoffrey found himself watching the black form of Hubert dwindle
against the white rises of the ground. He walked towards the tavern in
miserable uncertainty, for the brief gust of elation had passed from
his heart. Then he returned irresolute, and looked into the pit. There
was Sir Francis, dressed in the crocodile.

"Come in, come in, young fellow! Ha! ha! how's thy head?" The Baron
was at the window, calling out and beckoning with vigour.

Geoffrey returned to the study. There was no help for it.

"We have written fifty-nine already!" said the Rev. Hucbald.

But the youth cast a dull eye upon the growing heap, and sealed them
very badly. What pleasure was it to send out invitations to his own
wedding that might never be coming off?

As for Hubert out in the night, he walked slowly through the wide
white country. And as he went across the cold fields and saw how the
stars were paling out, and cast long looks at the moon setting across
the smooth snow, the lad's eyes filled so that the moon twinkled and
shot rays askew in his sight. He thought how the good times of
Oyster-le-Main were ended, and he thought of Miss Elaine so far beyond
the reach of such as he, and it seemed to him that he was outside the
comfortable world.

[Illustration]

[Illustration]

CHAPTER X

The Great White Chr