Raymond had gauged the character of that knight before, and knew that he would sell his daughter without scruple to any person who would make it worth his while.  It had been notorious in old days that the Sanghursts had some peculiar hold upon him, and was it likely that Peter Sanghurst, who was plainly resolved to make Joan his wife, would allow that power to rest unused when it might be employed for the furtherance of his purpose?  To send Gaston forth upon the quest for Joan was much; but he himself must fight this wasting sickness, that he might be ready to go to her when the summons came that she was found, and was ready to welcome her faithful knight.

From that hour Raymond began to amend; and although his progress was slow, and seemed doubly slow to his impatience, it was steady and sure, and he was as one given back from the dead.

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“Mistress Joan Vavasour, boy? why, all the world is making that inquiry.  How comes it that thou, by thine own account but just home from Gascony, shouldst be likewise asking the same question?”

Master Bernard de Brocas turned his kindly face towards Gaston with a look of shrewd inquiry in his eyes.  His nephew had arrived but a short half-hour at his house, somewhat jaded by rapid travelling, and after hurriedly removing the stains of the journey from his person, was seated before a well-supplied board, whilst the cleric sat beside him, always eager for news, and exceedingly curious to know the history of the twin brothers, who for the past six months seemed to have vanished from the face of the earth.  But for the moment Gaston was too intent upon asking questions to have leisure to answer any.

“How?” he questioned; “what mean you, reverend Sir?  Everybody asking news of her?  How comes that about?”

“Marry, for the reason that the lady hath disappeared these last three weeks from her father’s house, and none can tell whither she has fled, or whether she has been spirited away, or what hath befallen her.  Sir Hugh is in a mighty taking, for he had just arranged a marriage betwixt her and Peter Sanghurst, and the lady had given her consent (or so it is said, albeit there be some who doubt the truth of that), and he is sorely vexed to know what can have become of her.”

“Peter Sanghurst! that arch-villain!” cried Gaston, involuntarily laying his hand on the hilt of his dagger.  “Mine uncle, I have come to ask counsel of thee about that same miscreant.  I am glad that he at least has not fled the country.  He shall not escape the fate he so richly merits.”

And then, with flashing eyes and words eloquent through excess of feeling, Gaston related the whole story of the past months:  the appearance on board the vessel of the Black Visor; the concerted action against Raymond carried out by Sanghurst, thus disguised, and the Sieur de Navailles; and the cruelty devised against him, from which he had escaped only by something of a miracle.