Haste was essential; and as two could make more speed to Lincoln than a dozen, the question was whether to go himself or to dispatch trusty messengers.  Each course had its advantages and defects.  If he went, he would be obliged to leave Lord Darby behind and trust Dauvrey to bring him to the King.  Not to go, would be to seem lax in Richard’s service, and possibly to miss the opening moves in the campaign, which must necessarily begin instantly and hurry Southward, and in which he would perforce be obliged to take part the moment he did arrive.  For well he foresaw that Richard would have no time to devote to the Countess’ affairs at such a crisis.  The business of the individual, however much a favorite, must needs give place to a struggle for a Kingdom and a Crown.

Yet he was loath to let Darby out of his own grasp and, for an instant, he was minded to stake all on one throw.  He was firmly persuaded that Darby could disclose the Countess’ whereabouts, if she were still of this world.  Why not put him to the torture and wring the truth from him?  Success would excuse, nay, approve such measures. . .  But to fail!  Mon Dieu!  No; decidedly, no!  It would be folly pure and childish.  Only the long strain and his stress of feeling would have suggested it.  Then he thought of sending Darby to Pontefract and, on the authority of the King’s ring, place him in confinement there until a more favorable period.  But this, too, was dismissed, and he came back to the original problem:  whether himself to hurry to Lincoln or to send a message.

There was but one wise choice, however, as he had appreciated all along, though he had fought against it; and now he took it but with sore reluctance.  Wrapping his cloak about him, he motioned for the landlord to unbar the door and plunged out into the storm.  In the face of the gale and pounding rain, through mud and water, he presently regained the house where he had left his men.

Drawing the squire aside he related the host’s story and his own purpose of hastening on to warn the King.  To Dauvrey he gave command of the party and full instructions as to the custody of the prisoner and the course to pursue when Lincoln was, reached.  Then directing that one of the men be sent to the inn at daybreak to attend him, he returned once more to his lodgings and retired.

Morning brought no change in the weather; and when he rode off, at the first touch of light, the rain was still falling with a monotonous regularity that gave small hope for betterment.

Save a shirt of Italian steel, worn beneath his doublet, De Lacy was without armor, only a thick cloak being thrown over his ordinary clothes.  It was a long ride to Lincoln ere nightfall, even in the best of weather; but to make it now was possible only with the very lightest weight in the saddle and good horse-flesh between the knees.  No one horse—­not even Selim—­could do the journey over such