She laughed abruptly.
"Remember I have told you to beware of enemies," she went on, gathering up her reins. "Any one may be an enemy—even I. Keep silent."
She was gone like a flash, flogging her horse unmercifully.
It was three days after this that Matteo broke in upon Hugh as he conned over certain memoranda of counsels which he had writ down for Villehardouin.
"Who think you hath just arrived?" cried the jongleur.
"Who?"
"The Young Alexius—Alexius Angelos."
"And who is he, Matteo?"
"Who but Dandolo's lure—or I never saw a hawk flown! Nay, put down your parchments. This is most important. It means much to us. It tells us why that fat-faced wolf Michael Comnenus hath been hanging about Dandolo. It tells us how Dandolo intends to swing the Crusade towards Constantinople."
"Tell, then, Messer Oracle," said Hugh, laughing.