Also, he
feared your vengeance."
"Well, of a truth, you have the reward," said Dick, looking at his
ghastly wound.
"Where then is Acour?" gasped Hugh.
"I know not. He fled from the battle an hour ago with the King of
France, but I who was doomed would not fly. Oh, that I could find a
priest to shrive me!"
"Whither does he fly?" asked Hugh again.
"I know not. He said that if the battle went against us he would seek
his castle in Italy, where Edward cannot reach him."
"What armour did he wear?" asked Dick.
"Mine, mine--a wolf upon his shield, a wolf's head for crest."
Hugh reeled as though an arrow had passed through him.
"The wolf knight, Acour!" he groaned. "And I spared his life."
"A very foolish deed, for which you now pay the price," said Dick, as
though to himself.
"We met in the battle and he told me," said de la Roche, speaking very
slowly, for he grew weak. "Yes, he told me and laughed. Truly we are
Fate's fools, all of us," and he smiled a ghastly smile and died.
Hugh hid his face in his hands and sobbed in his helpless rage.
"The innocent slain," he said, "by me, and the guilty spared--by me. Oh,
God! my cup is full. Take his arms, man, that one day I may show them to
Acour, and let us be going ere we share this poor knight's fate. Ah!
who could have guessed it was thus that I and Sir Pierre should meet and
part again.
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