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‘‘Here； most noble lord；'' said Gregory； sliding from his palfrey； and
stepping forward； ‘‘ready to receive the guerdon which your bounty would
heap on him。''
‘‘Truly； friend Gregory；'' answered the young warrior； ‘‘thou shalt not
be forgotten； for thou didst run speedily； and roar manfully for aid； without
which； I think verily； we had not received it…But the brave forester；
who came to my rescue when these three ruffians had nigh overpowered
me； where is he？''
Every one looked around； but though all had seen him on entering the
thicket； he was not now to be found。 They could only conjecture that he
had retired during the confusion occasioned by the detention of Gaston。
‘‘Seek not for him；'' said the Lady Emma； who had now in some degree
recovered her composure； ‘‘he will not be found of mortal； unless at his
own season。''
The Baron； convinced from this answer that her terror had； for the time；
somewhat disturbed her reason； forbore to question her； and Matilda and
Eleanor； to forlorn a message had been despatched with the result of this
strange adventure； arriving； they took the Lady Emma between them； and
all in a body returned to the castle。
The distance was； however； considerable； and； before reaching it； they
had another alarm。 The prickers； who rode foremost in the troop； halted；
and announced to the Lord Boteler that they perceived advancing towards
them a body of armed men。 The followers of the Baron were numerous；
but they were arrayed for the chase； not for battle； and it was with great
pleasure that he discerned； on the pennon of the advancing body of men…at…arms；
instead of the cognizance of Gaston； as he had some reason to
expect； the friendly bearings of Fitzosborne of Diggswell； the same young
lord who was present at the May…games with Fitzallen of Marden。 The
knight himself advanced； sheathed in armour； and； without raising his
visor； informed Lord Boteler； that； having heard of a base attempt made
upon a part of his train by ruffianly assassins； he had mounted and armed
a small party of his retainers； to escort them to Queenhoo…Hall。 Having
received and accepted an invitation to attend them thither； they prosecuted
their journey in confidence and security； and arrived safe at home without
any further accident。
CHAPTER FIFTH。
INVESTIGATION OF THE ADVENTURE OF THE HUNTING…A DISCOVERY…
GREGORY'S MANHOOD…FATE OF GASTON ST。 CLERE…CONCLUSION。
So soon as they arrived at the princely mansion of Boteler； the Lady
Emma craved permission to retire to her chamber that she might compose
her spirits after the terror she had undergone。 Henry St。 Clere； in a few
words； proceeded to explain the adventure to the curious audience。 ‘‘I
had no sooner seen my sister's palfrey； in spite of her endeavours to the
contrary； entering with spirit into the chase set on foot by the worshipful
Gregory； than I rode after to give her assistance。 So long was the chase；
that when the greyhounds pulled down the knobbler； we were out of hearing
of your bugles； and having rewarded and coupled the dogs； I gave
them to be led by the jester； and we wandered in quest of our company；
whom it would seem the sport had led in a different direction。 At length；
passing through the thicket where you found us； I was surprised by a
cross…bow bolt whizzing past mine head。 I drew my sword； and rushed
into the thicket； but was instantly assailed by two ruffians； while other
two made towards my sister and Gregory。 The poor knave fled； crying
for help； pursued by my false kinsman； now your prisoner； and the designs
of the other on my poor Emma （murderous； no doubt） were prevented by
the sudden apparition of a brave woodsman； who； after a short encounter；
stretched the miscreant at his feet； and came to my assistance。 I was
already slightly wounded； and nearly overlaid with odds。 The combat
lasted some time； for the caitiffs were both well armed； strong； and desperate；
at length； however； we had each mastered our antagonist； when
your retinue； my Lord Boteler； arrived to my relief。 So ends my story；
but； by my knighthood； I would give an earl's ransom for an opportunity
of thanking the gallant forester by whose aid I live to tell it。''
‘‘Fear not；'' said Lord Boteler； ‘‘he shall be found； if this or the four
adjacent counties hold him…And now Lord Fitzosborne will be pleased to
doff the armour he has so kindly assumed for our sakes； and we will all
bowne ourselves for the banquet。''
When the hour of dinner approached； the Lady Matilda and her cousin
visited the chamber of the fair Darcy。 They found her in a composed but
melancholy posture。 She turned the discourse upon the misfortunes of
her life； and hinted； that having recovered her brother； and seeing him look
forward to the society of one who would amply repay to him the loss of
hers； she had thoughts of dedicating her remaining life to Heaven； by whose
providential interference it had been so often preserved。
Matilda coloured deeply at something in this speech； and her cousin inveighed
loudly against Emma's resolution。 ‘‘Ah； my dear Lady Eleanor；''
replied she； ‘‘I have to…day witnessed what I cannot but judge a super…natural
visitation； and to what end can it call me but to give myself to the
altar？ That peasant who guided me to Baddow through the Park of Danbury；
the same who appeared before me at different times； and in different
forms； during that eventful journey…that youth； whose features are imprinted
on my memory； is the very individual forester who this day rescued
us in the forest。 I cannot be mistaken； and connecting these marvellous
appearances with the spectre which I saw while at Gay Bowers； I cannot
resist the conviction that Heaven has permitted my guardian angel to
assume mortal shape for my relief and protection。''
The fair cousins； after exchanging looks which implied a fear that her
mind was wandering； answered her in soothing terms； and finally prevailed
upon her to accompany them to the banqueting…hall。 Here the first person
they encountered was the Baron Fitzosborne of Diggswell； now divested of
his armour； at the sight of whom the Lady Emma changed colour； and exclaiming；
‘‘It is the same！'' sunk senseless into the arms of Matilda。
‘‘She is bewildered by the terrors of the day；'' said Eleanor； ‘‘and we
have done ill in obliging her to descend。''
‘‘And I；'' said Fitzosborne； ‘‘have done madly in presenting before her
one； whose presence must recall moments the most alarming in her life。''
While the ladies supported Emma from the hall； Lord Boteler and St。
Clere requested an explanation from Fitzosborne of the words he had used。
‘‘Trust me； gentle lords；'' said the Baron of Diggswell； ‘‘ye shall have
what ye demand； when I learn that Lady Emma Darcy has not suffered
from my imprudence。''
At this moment Lady Matilda returning； said that her fair friend； on
her recovery； had calmly and deliberately insisted that she had seen Fitzosborne
before； in the most dangerous crisis of her life。
‘‘I dread；'' said she； ‘‘her disordered mind connects all that her eye
beholds with the terrible passages that she has witnessed。'