"But didst thou?" she repeated, noting the evasion.

"I did so."

In saying which, Edward told a deliberate falsehood.

"And when will he be at Cardiff?"

"When the wind bloweth him thither," said the Duke drily.

"Now, Ned!"

"Nay, Custance--what know I more than thou? The winds be no squires of mine."

"But he will come with speed?"

"No doubt."

"Sent he no word unto me?"

"Oh, ay--an hogshead full!"

"Ned, thou caitiff! [miserable wretch]--what were they?"

"Stuff and folly."

"Thou una.s.soiled villain, tell me them this minute, or--"

"Thou wilt drop from the pillion? By all means, an' it so like thee. I shall but be left where I am."

"Ned! I will nip thee like a pasty, an' thou torment me thus."

"Forsooth, Custance, I charged no memory of mine with such drastis,"

[dross, rubbish].

"Drastis!"

"I cry thee mercy--cates [delicates, good things] and honey, if thou wilt have it so. 'Twas all froth and thistle-down."

"I have done, Ned. I will not speak to thee again this month."

"And wilt keep that resolve--ten minutes? By 'r Lady, I am no squire of dames, Custance. Prithee, burden not me with an heap of fond glose,"

[foolish flattery].

"By Saint Mary her hosen, but I would my Lord had chosen a better messenger!"

Constance was really vexed. Edward himself was in a little difficulty, for he had only been amusing himself with his sister's anxieties. In reality, he was charged with no message, and he did not want the trouble of devising one suitable to Kent's character.

"By Saint Mary her galoches," [loose over-shoes], he said jocularly, "what wouldst have of me, Custance? I cannot carry love-letters in mine head."

"But canst not tell me one word?"

Edward would have given a manor if she would have been quiet, or would have pa.s.sed to some other topic. But he said--

"Lo' you, Custance! I cannot gallop and talk."

"Hast found that out but now?" was the ironical response.

"Well, if thou must needs have a word," replied he testily, "he said he loved thee better than all the world. Will that do?"

"Ay, that shall serve," said Constance in a low voice.

So it might have done--had it been true.

There was silence for half an hour; when Edward said in his gravest tone--

"Custance! I would fain have thee hearken me."

"For a flyting?" demanded his sister in a tone which was not at all grave. "Thy voice hath sound solemn enough for a justiciary."

"_Ninerias_ [nonsense], Custance! I speak in sober earnest."

"Say on, my Lord Judge!"

"When I have seen thee in safety, I look to turn back to the Court."

"Sweet welcome thou shalt find there!"

"Maybe--if I scale yet again the walls of Eltham Palace, where the King now abideth--as I sought in vain to do this last Christmas."

"Scale the walls!--What to do, Ned?"

"What thinkest, Custance?"

"Ned! surely thou meanest not to take the King's life? caitiff though he be!"

"Nay," said Edward slowly; "scantly that, Custance--without I were forced thereto. It might be enough to seize him and lock him up, as he did to our Lord, King Richard."

"I will have no hand in murder, caitiff!"

Constance spoke too sternly to be disregarded. And it was in her nature to have turned back to Windsor that moment, had she been left without rea.s.surance that all would go right.

"Softly, fair Sister!--who spake of so horrid a thing? Most a.s.suredly I mean no such, nor have any intent thereto."

"Scale walls at thy pleasure," she said in a calmer tone, "and lock Harry of Bolingbroke under forty keys if thou list: I will not let thee.

But no blood, Ned, or I leave thee and thy gear this minute."

"Fair sister Custance, never had I no such intent, by All Hallows!"