Adventure Magazine, April 10, 1924 — page 14: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

12 Adventure gaged the pleasure of the marquis and mace answer accordingly. “Nay, domna, the very jewels of the rings you wear are paying usury to the Jews.” “Then must we pawn our very lives, that this dour Englishman——~”’ A chuckle from Hugo interrupted her, and she wrinkled her brows in pretended dis- pleasure. The marquis lolled in his chair, delighted with the word-play of his favorite, while he stroked the feathers of a favorite hawk perched beside him. “_ be safe,”’ she concluded, ‘‘unless he dare seek his ransom with his sword from the hands of those Moslems about whom he doth prate so roundly.” It became clear to Robert that they were mocking him, for the marquis was lord of wide lands and great treasure. Guiblo dis- liked him, realizing that the former castellan of Antioch might urge his claim upon the king. Hugo, indifferent to everything that did not minister to his pleasure, had little desire to grant a small store of gold to the knight for what he held to be merely a quirk of conscience. “And so,” said Mistress Bengli, smiling full upon Robert, “it is our pleasure that you should seek to gain your treasure from the castles of the paynims—a worthy quest for the Longu’ espée——” “Aye, let the wild boar root i’ the thick- et,” shouted Piculph. “for a year and a day,” cried the wo- man shrilly above the maudlin merriment of the feasters, ‘‘and that i is the sentence of the court of his peers.” “Ts it yours, my lord?” Robert leaned forward to address his host. “Tt is so,’ ing up. But up from the table rose the Sieur de la Marra unsteadily, yet with a purpose in his bleared eyes. “By the throne of Antichrist, by the palladium of the Horned One, ’tis a foul wrong so to mischief a warrior of the Cross. Has your Grace forgotten that he kept your wall of Antioch against the Saracen spears when the waters of the moat were red with blood?” Alone of those present the knight of the Marra was not bound to the fortunes of Montserrat by ties of ambition, and Guiblo frowned at his words. ‘The recent truce had altered the situation in Palestine, and the ’ responded Hugo wwithonit look- mastery of the rich coast cities was passing into the hands of the Lombards and Vene- tians who had no wish to see the barons of England or France return to the ceurt. Knowing that Hugo wishe:l to be rid of the Longsword, Guiblo made answer accord- ingly: “Hast wooed the cup toc leng this night, Sir Hospitaler. Art a fool to give belief to the tale of this wanderer. If my lord of Montserrat had not deemed his tale a lie, he would have granted the Longw’ espée his boon. But two thousand pieces of gold for a vassal’s ransom passes belief—-when the asker rides with a Moslem.” “Now by Venus, her girdle,” cried the Sieur de la Marra, reaching a quivering hand for his sword, “that “touches upon mine honor ss “T give you thanks, Sir Hospitaler,” broke in Robert, “for your abetment, but no man’s aid seek I.” The red lips of Mistress Bengli curled, for here was a quarrel brewing, and she loved well to see men put themselves to the hazard of drawn steel. She did not fear for Guiblo, knowing that her cousin was well able to make shift for himself, and as for Hugo—a vassal might not strike or miscall his lord. But she was more than a little puzzled when Robert signed for his cup to be filled and waited until Hugo had done likewise. “My lord,” he said slowly, “T greet you with this, my stirrup cup. In this hour I ride from Montserrat, and my allegiance is at an end. No vassal am I, but my own man henceforth, by your will. With Messer Guiblo and the seneschal I shall have other speech.” He emptied his goblet and Hugo did the same. Then the Englishman beckoned to Abdullah at the lower table, and in the silence that had fallen upon the company his summons was clearly heard. “O minstrel, a song for the people of the castle. We have had our dinner, it seems, and the wine thereof, and in this place a man must pay a reckoning for all that is bestowed upon him. Sing, O Abdullah, of gold and gear and treasure, that they mav be pleasured, for my entertainment was but indifferent and dull.” At this the marquis flushed, while his followers fingered the poniards in their belts; but Mistress Bengli laughed musically, for the Englishman promised to be entertaining after all. Abdullah rose without comment COmiclbookSs.C©