A Boys Ride | Page 8

a meddling question. He would say,
'What hast thou to do with the whereabouts of the postern key?' And
then he would away to his mother with a tale of me, and the key would
be more securely hidden than before."
"And Lord De Aldithely still further endangered if he came riding and
pursued?"
"Even so. I see that thou art a clever lad. Much cleverer than thy years
warrant. And I warn thee, speak to no one of what I have said to thee,
or it may be worse for thee. But tell me plainly, since we have gone so
far, knowest thou the whereabouts of the key?"
"Nay," answered Hugo. "I know not. I have never before thought of the
postern and its key."

The traitor's frowning face cleared. "I believe thou speakest truly," he
said. "Thou art so full of being a knight that thou thinkest only of
knightly exercises in the tilt-yard. I will speak a good word for thee,
and it may be thou wilt be admitted a page to the Earl of Hertford."
"And hast thou influence there?" inquired Hugo, with assumed interest.
"Yea, that have I," answered Robert Sadler, falsely. For he had no
influence anywhere. "I will so speak for thee that thou wilt be page but
a short while before thou art made an esquire. Do thou but bide quiet
concerning what hath passed between us, and thou shalt fare never the
worse."
Then he departed to the stables and Hugo was left alone. To be able to
conceal what one feels is a great accomplishment. Rarely do people of
any age succeed in doing so, and it was with a feeling of exultation
over his success that the boy looked after Robert Sadler.
The next day Lady De Aldithely summoned her men-at-arms before her
in the castle hall. She had a missive in her hand. "I must send one of
you on a journey," she said. "More than one I cannot now spare to go to
Chester. Who will take this missive from me to the town of Chester,
and bring back from my aunt what it calleth for?"
A light flashed in the eyes of Robert Sadler which Lady De Aldithely
affected not to see. The opportunity he had been seeking was before
him. He would go out alone, but he would not return alone. When the
drawbridge should be lowered to admit him on his return the king's
messengers with a troop of horse would be at hand. They would make a
rush while he held parley with the old warder. They would gain
entrance to the castle; Josceline would be taken, and the reward for his
own treachery would be gained. He had plenty of time to think of all
this, for the men were slow to offer. Aside from Robert Sadler they
were all true and devoted adherents of the De Aldithelys, and each one
imagined the castle and its inmates safer because of his presence.
Therefore none desired to go.
"No man seemeth willing to do thy ladyship's behest," said Robert

Sadler, with a crafty smile. "I will, by thy leave, undertake it."
Lady De Aldithely looked calmly upon him. "Thou shalt do so, Robert
Sadler," she said courteously, "and thou hast my thanks for the service.
Thou shalt depart to-morrow morn, and thou shouldest return by the
evening of this day week. See that thou bringest safely with thee what
the missive calleth for."
"I will return at eventide of this day week," promised the traitor as he
received the missive.
"And now," he said to himself, when Lady De Aldithely had retired
from the hall, "let her keep the postern key. I care not for it."

CHAPTER III
It was now mid-June. The air was dry and cool. But Robert Sadler
thought not of June nor dryness and coolness of air as in triumph he
made ready for his journey.
"I should have gone," grumbled Humphrey the serving-man when he
heard of it. "Who knoweth this Robert Sadler? My lord had him at the
recommendation of Lord Clifford and he hath been at the castle not yet
a year. Who knoweth that he is to be trusted? I should have gone. I did
dream of serpents last night, and that foretelleth a prison. Robert Sadler
will no doubt be caught by some marauding baron as he cometh again
from Chester, and he will be thrown into the dungeon, and then my
lady will see."
So grumbling he was summoned to the ladies' bower just as the
drawbridge was lowered to permit the departure of Robert Sadler.
Ungraciously he obeyed; and just as ungraciously he continued his
grumbling in her ladyship's presence. "I did dream of serpents last
night," he began, "and that foretelleth a