“To be frank with you, señora, I am here to carry off your niece,” said Sir Nicholas. He walked to the door, opened it, and looked out into the passage. There was no sign of anyone stirring. He shut the door, and came back into the room. “And if your charming son is at hand I shall be happy to cross swords with him,” he added.
She gave a low laugh of pure enjoyment. “You are delightful,” she assured him. “But do you think I shall sit quiet while you perform these deeds?”
He smiled disarmingly. “Why, as to that, señora, I am afraid I shall have to use you rather roughly,” he said. “It is not my custom to war with women, and I should be loth to have you think me a brutal fellow, but I fear I shall have to tie you up and gag you.” The smile grew. “Be at ease, I shall not hurt you.”
She was perfectly at her ease. “Holy Virgin, a desperate man, I see! What possessed you to come in at this window, Señor Beauvallet?”
“It was the only one that stood open,” he replied lightly.
“You might have chanced on my son, señor, instead of me.”
“I had rather hoped that I might,” agreed Sir Nicholas. “I am out of luck.”
Her eyelids drooped. “Yes, señor, you are out of luck; more so than you know,” she said.
“Am I so, señora?” The blue eyes were watchful now.
“Sadly, I fear. You will have to be content to talk to me. I confess I could not have hit upon a more entrancing way of spending this tedious evening. You see, I am alone in the house but for my servants.”
“You astonish me, señora,” said Sir Nicholas, politely incredulous.
“Pray you search the house if it will set your mind at rest,” she invited. “I am a creature quite without guile. This is a most amusing situation, do you not find?”
Sir Nicholas sat down on the edge of a small table near at hand. He began to play with his pomander, but his eyes never left the lady’s face for all they were so careless-seeming. “It is unexpected,” he admitted. “But then, as you no doubt know, señora, my genius lies in dealing with the unexpected. Where, dear lady, has your son taken Doña Dominica?”
She was prepared for that. “Rather, señor, he has gone in search of her. Yesterday, not ten miles from here, our equipage was set upon by brigands, and my niece carried off.”
“Brigands is exactly the word I should myself have chosen,” nodded Sir Nicholas, dangerously sweet. “I understand now why you are in so much agitation, señora. A grievous thing to have your cherished niece carried off.” His voice changed; he let fall his pomander, and Doña Beatrice saw that the laughing eyes were like twin swords. “Come, señora!” he said briskly. “Give me credit for some little measure of wit! Where has he taken her?”
“My dear Señor Beauvallet, if he had taken her you would surely not expect me to tell you,” she pointed out.
Sir Nicholas’ brain was working swiftly now. “I think you have told me all I have need to know,” he said. “There is a certain hunting-lodge not five miles from here, is there not?”
The faintest shade of alarm, or perhaps is was only of annoyance, crossed her face. It was enough for Sir Nicholas, watching like a hawk. “My thanks, señora.” He stood up. There was no smile in his eyes now; they were blazing, and the fine mouth was set hard.
“You know more than I do, señor,” she shrugged.
He stood looking down at her for a moment; she gave a little laugh, and looked away. “I know,” said Sir Nicholas softly, “that I shall have rid the earth of a very knave when I rid it of Don Diego de Carvalho. As for you, señora—” He broke off, and threw up his head, intently listening. The sound of horses, approaching fast, was heard. He took a quick step forward, and before she could move had a hand hard clamped over Doña Beatrice’s mouth, the other gripping her shoulder. There was a sound of trampling round at the front of the house, and at that moment Joshua’s alarmed face peeped over the windowsill.
The black brows lifted interrogatively.
“Master, master, King’s men!” whispered Joshua.
He nodded briefly. “Rip me up your cloak. Quick, man!” His hand left Doña Beatrice’s shoulder, and flicked the handkerchief from the sleeve of his doublet. Without ceremony he forced it into the lady’s mouth. Not afraid, but cynical still, she was able to admire in a detached way his coolness, and to reflect that she could hardly recognise him now for the same man who had ruffled it so gaily in Madrid. He had a ruthless look now; there would be quick death for any who crossed his path tonight.
Joshua threw his torn cloak into the room. A thunder of knocks on the front door in the distance set him shivering again. “For God’s sake, master—!”
Sir Nicholas answered never a word. With swift, sure movements he twisted one of the strips of cloth tightly round Doña Beatrice’s gagged mouth, and tied it. Another encircled her body, pinning her arms to her sides. She made no resistance; over the bandage her eyes looked mockingly. If the King’s men were at hand now El Beauvallet was doomed.
There was a hurry of footsteps in the passage, servants were running to the front door. Sir Nicholas bent, passed the third strip round the lady’s wide skirts, and hobbled her tightly.
“In the King’s name!” The peremptory voice reached the parlour; evidently the front door was open now.
Sir Nicholas smiled grimly. “Now, señora!” he said, and lifted her up bodily. She was no light weight, but he carried her easily to the window. Her eyes no longer mocked;
