said the stranger.
The effect was startling. The priest stepped forward, checked, and stepped back hurriedly. He stretched out a hand, and clutched at the man’s cloak, saying urgently,
"Quick! quick come inside before you are seen! Have you spoken to anyone in the city before you arrived here? I beg you, come in off the street!"
He anxiety was so great that it gave him a surprising amount of strength in such an apparently feeble body, and his visitor found himself being dragged bodily into the interior of the priest’s dwelling. He stumbled slightly, and removed the priest’s hand as gently as he could. Half-laughing, half-puzzled, he said, "I spoke to no-one, Father, but some shopkeeper on your main street. He directed me here."
The little priest crossed himself, and asked, "Did you speak in English, or in French?"
"In French, of course, Father, as we do now!"
"Then perhaps you’re safe. Still, it’s unwise to speak to anyone anyone at all while you are in France. Especially here in Amiens! You must know that Henry, your King, is staying nearby. His knights and their retainers are frequent visitors to the shops and taverns, and anyone who has spoken to a strange knight, travelling on his own and not knowing his way, is bound to mention it to them, in the hope of receiving a reward."
He peered more closely at the stranger.
"Which of Simon’s men are you? No name was given to me, nor when I should expect you."
The man laughed, and doffed his hat with a flourish.
"Guy de Montfort thanks you for your concern and commends your caution," he said, with a smile. "And would welcome a warming draught of something, if you can spare it, Father."
The priest threw up his hands in mock horror.
"But of course! You must be frozen, even in so fine a cloak. My apologies for not making you more welcome. I was forgetting my manners entirely....."
He turned, beckoning Guy to follow him, and bustled along a dark passage, muttering to himself as he did so. Guy followed, grinning hugely, as he listened to the priest castigating himself and, at the same time, planning aloud the meal he would put before his unexpected visitor.
"Really, to keep a tired man standing thus.... perhaps there’s some of that good wine, still....and one of Simon’s sons, too.... there’s some cold mutton somewhere, I’m certain....
BOSON BOOKS
-26-
Belaset’s Daughter
how far has the poor lad come all the way from England?....I have some bread, I know, and the fire will heat the wine...."
He flung open the door at the end of the passage, and Guy could see a large room, with a cheerful fire burning on the opposite side from where they stood. A big, worn table, two stools, a chest against one wall, and the priest’s narrow bed against the other, provided most of the furniture. Two small windows, high up in the wall, provided more than enough fresh air, but little light at this time of the year.
The little priest turned and beckoned, and Guy walked past him into the room.
Throwing his cloak across the end of the table, he sat down on one of the stools, and stretched his hands towards the fire. He sat enjoying the warmth, and watching with amusement, as the priest rushed to and fro between the chest and the table, with plate, spoon, knife and a beaker. A door in the corner by the chest was opened, to reveal a dark cupboard, with a few shelves, from which the priest took a loaf, some cold mutton, and an earthenware jug. The jug was half full of some rough, red wine, which he poured into the beaker and offered to Guy, with an encouraging nod.
"You have a message for me, Father?" said Guy, urgently, as he took the beaker.
"I have, my son," said the priest. "But you must refresh yourself first. Eat and drink, and I’ll fetch what I’ve been given for you, as you do."
He turned to leave the room.
"Just a minute, Father," said Guy, standing up, hastily. "Where are you going isn’t the message here, in your keeping?"
The priest turned and smiled patiently at the young man.
"Yes, of course. It’s in a very safe place. Come with me, if you wish, and I’ll show you.
Theres no need for alarm!"
Guy came round the table, his hand reaching to unsheathe his dagger. The priest shook his head at him, and motioned for him to replace the weapon.
"You’re in God’s house, Guy, there is no reason to arm yourself," he said,