I bade one of the fellows who had dismounted to give me
his cloak, and while they were still staring at me, I sprang into the
saddle, arranged the cloak, and rode off in pursuit. I knew I could
keep my seat even on a man's saddle, for cavaliers' daughters had had
to do strange things, and it was thus that I was obliged to come away
from my dear Berenger's side. But then I rode between my father and
Eustace. Now, if I did not find out where my poor Margaret was
gone, who was to deliver her?
The men had heart of grace enough to follow me, more of them, indeed,
than I wanted, as of course it was better to go quietly than to have
them clattering with me. I told them to keep a little in the rear,
and I rode on, trying to see above the hedges the glancing of the
helmets of the dragoons. Across some vineyards I once caught sight
of something like a carriage and a troop of horse, quite in a
different direction from what I expected, and presently, when I came
to a cross-road, I saw by the marks in the mud and more that they
must have turned that way. I must follow by such guidance as these
supplied, and fortunately there had recently been rain, so that the
wheel and hoof marks could be tracked. To my amazement they led
through many turns and twists at last towards Paris; but to my
dismay, when I came to the paved roads that surround the city, I lost
all traces. I knew I was a remarkable figure when we were on the
high roads, and so I kept back, making one of the servants inquire at
a little cabaret on the road whether a carriage, attended by
dragoons, had passed that way.
Pages:
262
263
264
265
266
267
268
269
270
271
272
273
274
275
276
277
278
279
280
281
282
283
284
285
286