Page:A C Doyle - The White Company.djvu/364

330 the walls and the men-at-arms were heavy with wine : they must have been slain in their beds, for these devils crept from room to room with soft step and ready knife. Sir Amory the Hospitaller was struck down with an axe as he rushed before us from his sleeping chamber. Save only ourselves, I do not think there are any left alive.'

'What, then, would you counsel?'

'That we make for the keep. It is unused, save in time of war, and the key hangs from my poor lord and master's belt.'

'There are two keys there.'

'It is the larger. Once there, we might hold the narrow stair; and at least, as the walls are of a greater thickness, it would be longer ere they could burn them. Could we but carry the lady across the bailey, all might be well with us.'

'Nay; the lady hath seen something of the work of war,' said Tiphaine, coming forth, as white, as grave, and as unmoved as ever. 'I would not be a hamper to you, my dear spouse and gallant friends. Rest assured of this, that if all else fail I have always a safeguard here'—drawing a small silver-hilted poniard from her bosom—'which sets me beyond the fear of these vile and bloodstained wretches.'

'Tiphaine,' cried Du Guesclin, 'I have always loved you, and now, by Our Lady of Rennes! I love you more than ever. Did I not know that your hand will be as ready as your words, I would myself turn my last blow upon you, ere you should fall into their hands. Lead on, Godfrey! A new golden pyx shall shine in the Minster of Dinan if we come safely through with it.'

The attention of the insurgents had been drawn away from murder to plunder, and all over the castle might be heard their cries and whoops of delight as they dragged forth the rich tapestries, the silver flagons, and the carved furniture. Down in the courtyard half-clad wretches, their bare limbs all mottled with blood stains, strutted about with plumed helmets upon their heads, or with the Lady Rochefort's silken gowns girt round their loins and trailing on the ground