A Boys Ride | Page 6

Hugo of his
project. "Hast abandoned thy plan?" she asked.
"Nay, my lady," he replied. "How should I abandon it? Is it not a good
one?"
"Good for my son," admitted Lady De Aldithely, "but bad for thee."
"Thou wilt find it will be bad for neither," said Hugo, stoutly. "I am
resolved."
Lady De Aldithely sighed in relief. "Come nearer," she said. "I would
confide in thee, and none but thou must hear. I have discovered the
traitor within our walls. For a sum of money he will deliver my son to
the king. Ask me not how. I have discovered it."
Hugo looked at her and his eyes flashed indignation. "Deliver Josceline,

he shall not!" he cried.
"He could but for thee, for we are powerless."
"Then again I say, he shall not."
"Come nearer still," said Lady De Aldithely. "I would tell thee the
man's name. What sayest thou to Robert Sadler?"
Hugo stared. "Robert Sadler!" he repeated. "Why, 'tis he of all the
men-at-arms, save William Lorimer, who is kindest to Josceline and me.
He will be ever with us; in the tilt-yard, in the stables, in the hall,
everywhere."
"To watch you," said Lady De Aldithely. "To mark what you say. To
catch your plans."
"He shall catch no more plans from me!" cried Hugo, indignantly. "I
will speak no more with him, nor be with him."
"Ah, but thou must," counselled Lady De Aldithely. "Wert thou to turn
from him, as thou sayest, he would know at once thou hadst been
warned against him, and would hasten his own plans. What said he to
thee yesterday?"
"He did ask me when I should leave the castle."
Lady De Aldithely's face clouded with anxiety. "And what didst thou
answer?" she asked.
"I said it might be one day and it might be another. For thou didst
forbid me to speak of my plan."
"I marvel at thy prudence," smiled Lady De Aldithely. "Where didst
thou learn it?"
"From my uncle, the prior. He never telleth aught to any man. And no
one can wring from him ay or nay by a question."

"A blessing upon him!" breathed Lady De Aldithely.
The boy's eyes brightened. "He is a good man, my uncle, the prior," he
said. "And ever he saith to me, 'In troublous times a prudent tongue is
worth ten lances and shields.'"
Lady De Aldithely smiled. "May he keep his priory in peace," she said.
"'Twere a pity that he should lose it."
Hugo looked at her gratefully. Not every one so leniently regarded the
prior's prudence. In more than one quarter his reticence was severely
blamed. By some it was called cowardice, by others self-seeking.
"And now thou knowest the worst," said Lady De Aldithely. "Within
three days I will contrive to send Robert Sadler hence on an errand.
When he is gone thou shalt go forth in the daylight, and that same night
my son and I will flee into Scotland. There, if no one tracks our steps,
we may be safe. Were I to drive Robert Sadler forth as a traitor, I know
full well that some other would arise in his place to practise treachery
against us. And so we flee."
And now Hugo drew himself proudly up. He felt that he was trusted
and that he was doing a knight's part in rescuing a lady in distress,
though he had not, as yet, taken his knightly vow, and was not even an
esquire.
Lady De Aldithely saw it and smiled. "Thou must put off that high look,
dear lad," she said. "It might beget wonderment in the brain of Robert
Sadler, and so lead him to seek its cause. Look and act as thou hast in
the past. Call to mind thine uncle, the prior, and guard not only thy
tongue, but the glance of thine eye, and the carriage of thy body."
Hugo blushed. "I fear I am like to mar all without thy counsel," he said
humbly.
"Thou art but a lad," replied Lady De Aldithely, kindly, "and my
counsel thou shalt freely have. And now I must tell thee that thou art to
take our good Humphrey with thee on thy journey."

Hugo started and looked disappointed. But all he said was, "Dost not
think him very like an old crone, with his dreams and his omens and his
charms?"
"I may not criticise Humphrey thus," said Lady De Aldithely, gravely,
"because I know his great faithfulness to me and mine. And thou
knowest there is much superstition abroad in the land--too much to
make it just to single out Humphrey for dislike because he is tainted
with it. I send him with thee because I have the highest regard for thy
safety. Thou wilt consent to take him