But when they were out of the room
he said that he must have fresh air or he would faint, which was not
strange, seeing that heat prevailed on this night in Venice of an
intensity unknown there at this season of the year.
"Whither shall we go?" asked Dick, mopping his brow. "Guards stand at
the door and, I doubt, will not let us pass."
"I wish to see the place where we are to fight to-morrow," answered
Hugh, "so as to form my judgment of it, if only we may come there."
At this moment an English lad of Sir Geoffrey's household chanced to
pass by, having come to ask as to the feeding of the horse which Hugh
should ride. Dick caught him by the arm and asked whether he could get
them out of the house secretly, so that the Guards would not see them,
and conduct them to the spot called the Place of Arms, where they
understood they were to fight.
The lad, whose name was David Day, replied somewhat doubtfully that he
could do so by a back door near the kitchen, and guide them also, but
that they must protect him from the anger of Sir Geoffrey. This Hugh
promised to do. So presently they started, carrying their weapons, but
wearing no mail because of the intense heat, although Dick reminded his
master how they had been told that they should not venture forth without
body armour.
"I have a sword and you have bow and axe," answered Hugh, "so we'll risk
it.
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