Go see Sir
John and tell him that the lady softens. Send men on to King's Lynn also
to bid them have our ship prepared to sail the minute we appear, which
with good fortune should be within forty-eight hours from now. Above
all, forget not that I run great risk to soul and body for your sake and
that there are abbeys vacant in Normandy. Now, farewell, I must to my
work, for this medicine takes much skill such as no other leech has save
myself. Ay, and much prayer also, that naught may hinder its powerful
working."
"Prayer to the devil, I think," said his master looking after him with
a shrug of his shoulders. "God's truth! if any one had told me three
months gone that de Noyon would live to seek the aid of priests and
potions to win a woman's favour, I'd have named him liar to his face.
What would those who have gone before her think of this story, I
wonder?"
Then with a bitter laugh he turned and went about his business, which
was to lie to the father as he had lied to the daughter. Only in this
second case he found one more willing to listen and easier to deceive.
On the following morning, as it chanced, Eve had no relish for the food
that was brought to her, for confinement in that narrow place had robbed
her of her appetite. Also she had suffered much from grievous fear and
doubt, for whatever she might say to Acour, how could she be sure that
his story was not true? How could she be sure that her lover did not, in
fact, now lie dead at the headsman's hands? Such things often happened
when kings were wroth and would not listen.
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