CHAPTER XIII

OF THE LOVE OF WOMEN

‘Ask me no more how I did in those days,’ writes Abbot Milo.  ’Mercy smile upon me in the article of death, but I worked for the ransom of King Richard as (I hope) I should for that of King Christ.  Many an abbey of Touraine goes lean now because of me; many a mass is wrought in a pewter chalice that Richard might come home.  Yet I soberly believe that Madame Alois, King Philip’s sister, was precious above rubies in the work.’

I think he is right.  That stricken lady, in the habit of a grey nun of Fontevrault, came by night to Paris, and found her brother with John of Mortain.  They had been upon the very business.  Philip, not all knave, had been moved by the news of Richard’s immobility.  He had had some of De Gurdun’s report.

‘Christ-dieu,’ he said, ’a great king calm in chains!  And my brother Richard.  Yet God knows I hate him.’  So he went muttering on.  The Count edged in his words as he could.

‘He hates you, indeed, sire.  He hates me.  He hates all of us.’

’I think we could find him reasons for that, my friend, if he lacked them,’ said Philip shrewdly.  ’Do you know that De Gurdun is in Poictou come from Styria?’

Count John said nothing; but he did know it very well.  When they announced Madame Alois the King started, and the Count went sick white.

‘We will receive her Grace,’ said Philip, and advanced towards the door for the purpose.  In she came in her old eager, stumbling, secret way, knelt in a hurry to kiss her brother’s hand, then rose and looked intently at John of Mortain.

The King said, ’You visit us late, sister; but your occasions may drive you.’

’They do drive me, sire.  I have seen the Sieur Gilles de Gurdun.  King Richard is in hold at Gratz, and must be delivered.’

‘By you, sister?’

‘By me, sire.’

‘You grow Christian, Madame.’

’It is my need, sire.  I have done King Richard a great wrong.  This is not tolerable to me.’

‘Eh,’ says Philip, ‘not so fast.  Was no wrong done to you?’

‘Wrong was done me,’ said the white girl, ‘but not by him.’

’The wrong lies in his blood.  What though the wrong-doer is dead?  His blood must answer it.’

Alois shivered, and so, for that matter, did one other there.  She answered, ’I pray for his death.  Dying or dead, his blood shall answer it.’

‘You speak darkly, sister.’

‘I live in the dark,’ said Alois.

‘King Richard has affronted my house in you sister.’

But she said, ‘I have affronted King Richard through his house.’

‘Is this all you have to say, Alois?’

‘No, sire,’ she told him, with a fierce and biting look at Mortain; ’but it is all I need say now.’

It was.  A cry broke strangling from the Count.  ’Ha, Jesus!  Sire!  Save my brother!’ The wretch could bear no more.  The woman’s eyes were like swords.