“And what art thou?” retorted Henry, with a sudden fierceness.
“Listen, young men,” said Sir Robert, “this I know, my patient there will soon be nothing if ye continue in this strain. A litter shall bring him to the infirmary.”
“Nay,” said Henry hastily, “not so, good Father. Here I abide, hap what may.”
“And I abide with him,” said Richard.
“Not so, I say,” returned the Hospitalier, “unless thou wouldst slay him outright. Return to the Spital with me; and at morn, if he have recovered himself, unravel these riddles as thou and he will.”
“It is well, Father,” said Henry. “Go with him, Richard; but mark me. Be silent as the grave, and see me again.”
And reluctant as he was, Richard was forced to comply.
CHAPTER VI
THE BEGGAR EARL
“Along with the nobles that fell at that tyde,
His eldest son Henrye, who fought by his syde,
Was felde by a blow he receivde in the fight;
A blow that for ever deprivde him of sight.”Old Beggar.
The chapel at the Spital was open to all who chose to attend. The deep choir was filled with the members of the Order, half a dozen knights in the stalls, and the novices and serving-brothers so ranged as to give full effect to the body of voice. Richard knelt on the stone floor outside the choir, intending after early mass to seek his brother; but to his surprise he found the blind man with his child at his feet in what was evidently his accustomed place, just within the door. His hair and beard were now arranged, his appearance was no longer squalid; but when he rose to depart, guided in part by the child, but also groping with a stick, he looked even more helpless than on his bed, and Richard sprang forward to proffer an arm for his support.