of
Guildford?"

"Say only that I sent my greeting, and that Saint Catharine has been my
friend--only that and nothing more. And now leave me, I pray you, for my
head is weary and I would fain have sleep."

Thus it came about that a month later on the eve of the Feast of Saint
Matthew, the Lady Mary, as she walked front Cosford gates, met with
a strange horseman, richly clad, a serving-man behind him, looking
shrewdly about him with quick blue eyes, which twinkled from a red and
freckled face. At sight of her he doffed his hat and reined his horse.

"This house should be Cosford," said he. "Are you by chance the Lady
Mary who dwells there?"

The lady bowed her proud dark head.

"Then," said he, "Squire Nigel Loring sends you greeting and tells you
that Saint Catharine has been his friend." Then turning to his servant
he cried: "Heh, Raoul, our task is done! Your master is a free man once
more. Come, lad, come, the nearest port to France! Hola! Hola! Hola!"
And so without a word more the two, master and man, set spurs to their
horses and galloped like madmen down the long slope of Hindhead, until
as she looked after them they were but two dark dots in the distance,
waist-high in the ling and the bracken.

She turned back to the house, a smile upon her face. Nigel had sent her
greeting. A Frenchman had brought it. His bringing it had made him a
freeman. And Saint Catherine had been Nigel's friend. It was at her
shrine that he had sworn that three deeds should be done ere he should
set eyes upon her again. In the privacy of her room the Lady Mary sank
upon her prie-dieu and poured forth the thanks of her heart to the
Virgin that one deed was accomplished; but even as she did so her joy
was overcast by the thought of those two others which lay before him.

XVI. HOW THE KING'S COURT FEASTED IN CALAIS CASTLE

It was a bright sunshiny morning when Nigel found himself at last able
to leave his turret chamber and to walk upon the rampart of the castle.
There was a brisk northern wind, heavy and wet with the salt of the
sea, and he felt, as he turned his face to it, fresh life and strength
surging in his blood and bracing his limbs. He took his hand from
Aylward's supporting arm and stood with his cap off, leaning on the
rampart and breathing in the cool strong air. Far off upon the distant
sky-line, half hidden by the heave of the waves, was the low white
fringe of cliffs which skirted England. Between him and th