Beatrix of Clare

Beatrix of Clare, by John Reed
Scott

The Project Gutenberg EBook of Beatrix of Clare, by John Reed Scott
This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with
almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or
re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included
with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.net
Title: Beatrix of Clare
Author: John Reed Scott
Illustrator: Clarence F. Underwood
Release Date: November 18, 2005 [EBook #17100]
Language: English
Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1
*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK BEATRIX
OF CLARE ***

Produced by Al Haines

[Illustration: Cover art.]

[Frontispiece: The Countess raised her hand and pointed at him.]

BEATRIX OF CLARE
BY
JOHN REED SCOTT

AUTHOR OF "THE COLONEL OF THE RED HUZZARS"

WITH ILLUSTRATIONS BY
CLARENCE F. UNDERWOOD

GROSSET & DUNLAP
PUBLISHERS ------- NEW YORK

Copyright, 1907, by John Reed Scott
Published May, 1907

CONTENTS
CHAPTER
I.
RUDDY TRESSES AND GREAT EYES II. RICHARD OF
GLOUCESTER III. THE VOICE ON THE RAMPARTS IV.

TRAILING CHAINS V. THE CAPTURED FAVOR VI. A WAYSIDE
SKIRMISH VII. A FAVOR LOST VIII. THE INN OF
NORTHAMPTON IX. THE ARREST X. THE LADY MARY
CHANGES BARGES XI. ON CHAPEL CREEK XII. THE KING'S
WORD XIII. AT ROYAL WINDSOR XIV. THE QUEEN OF
ARCHERY XV. THE FROWN OF FATE XVI. THE FLAT-NOSE
REAPPEARS XVII. IN PURSUIT XVIII. THE HOUSE IN
SHEFFIELD XIX. BACK TO THE KING XX. IN ABEYANCE XXI.
BUCKINGHAM'S REVENGE XXII. THE KNIGHT AND THE
ABBOT XXIII. THREE CHEVRONS GULES XXIV. "WHEN YOU
HAVE TOPPED THESE STAIRS" XXV. A PAGE FROM THE PAST
XXVI. THE JUDGMENT OF THE KING

ILLUSTRATIONS
Cover Art
The Countess raised her hand and pointed at him . . . Frontispiece
The Duke fastened his eyes upon the young knight's face.
He struck him a swinging right arm blow that sent him plunging among
the rushes on the floor.

BEATRIX OF CLARE
I
RUDDY TRESSES AND GREY EYES
Two archers stepped out into the path,--shafts notched and bows up.
"A word with your worship," said one.
The Knight whirled around.

"A word with your worship," greeted him from the rear.
He glanced quickly to each side.
"A word with your worship," met him there.
He shrugged his shoulders and sat down on the limb of a fallen tree.
Resistance was quite useless, with no weapon save a dagger, and no
armor but silk and velvet.
"The unanimity of your desires does me much honor," he said; "pray
proceed."
The leader lowered his bow.
"It is a great pleasure to meet you, Sir Aymer de Lacy," said he, "and
particularly to be received so graciously."
"You know me?"
"We saw you arrive yesterday--but there were so many with you we
hesitated to ask a quiet word aside."
The Knight smiled. "It is unfortunate--I assure you my talk would have
been much more interesting then."
"In that case it is we who are the losers."
De Lacy looked him over carefully.
"Pardieu, man," said he, "your language shames your business."
The outlaw bowed with sweeping grace.
"My thanks, my lord, my deepest thanks." He unstrung his bow and
leaned upon the stave; a fine figure in forest green and velvet bonnet, a
black mask over eyes and nose, a generous mouth and strong chin
below it. "Will your worship favor me with your dagger?" he said.

The Knight tossed it to him.
"Thank you . . . a handsome bit of craftsmanship . . . these stones are
true ones, n'est ce pas?"
"If they are not, I was cheated in the price," De Lacy laughed.
The other examined it critically.
"Methinks you were not cheated," he said, and drew it through his belt.
"And would your lordship also permit me a closer view of the fine gold
chain that hangs around your neck?"
De Lacy took it off and flung it over.
"It I will warrant true," he said.
The outlaw weighed the links in his hand, then bit one testingly.
"So will I," said he, and dropped the chain in his pouch.
"And the ring with the ruby--it is a ruby, is it not?--may I also examine
it? . . . I am very fond of rubies. . . Thank you; you are most obliging. . .
It seems to be an especially fine stone--and worth . . . how many rose
nobles would you say, my lord?"
"I am truly sorry I cannot aid you there," De Lacy answered; "being
neither a merchant nor a robber, I have never reckoned its value."
The other smiled. "Of course, by 'merchant,' your worship has no
reference to my good comrades nor myself."
"None whatever, I assure you."
"Thank you; I did not think you would