He drew not a rein till he was in the midst of them; then, with one slight touch, checked his horse and vaulted to the ground. The haste in which he had arrived was now equalled by the rapidity of his words, as he gave a number of different orders to the men who surrounded him, clearly and precisely, but with a celerity which showed that no time was to be lost.
"Matthew, my good lieutenant," he said, laying his hand upon the shoulder of the old man, "who is fittest to send to Germany, on an errand to a prince?"
"Why not myself?" demanded the adventurer.
"Because I want you here, and cannot do without you," replied the chief.
"Well, then, send Walter there," rejoined the old man; "he is a Frenchman, and courtly in his way."
"Courtly and honest, too," added the Vert Gallant, "which is a wonder. There, Master Walter, take that letter to the Bishop of Triers. You will find him at Cologne with the bishop of that city. There, mount and be gone! you know your way. Here is a purse of gold to pay your expenses. The bishop will send you on to the archduke. The Germans are frugal; therefore be not you over fine. Yet spare not the florins, where it may do honour to him that sent you. Away!"
"You, good Matthew, yourself," continued the Vert Gallant, "speed like lightning to Ghent; but cast off your steel jacket, and robe me yourself like the good burgher of a country town. Seek out your old friend Martin Fruse: confer with him, and with his nephew Albert Maurice; they are now all powerful in Ghent. Bid them beware of Louis King of France. Tell them it is his purpose to force the Princess Mary into a marriage with his puny son, and to make her yield her fair lands into his hand, that he himself may seize them all when death lays hold upon his sickly boy. Bid them oppose it by all means, but by none more than by delay. Risk not your person, however; and if you cannot speak with them in safety, write down the message, and have it given by another hand. You, Frank Van Halle--you are bold and shrewd, though you have but little speech: follow Matthew Gournay, habited as his man; but when you are within the walls of Ghent, find out some way of speech with the princess; and, whether in public or in private, give her that ring, with this small slip of paper. Then leave the city as quickly as you may."
"I doubt me it will be sure death?" replied Van Halle, looking up with an inquiring glance. "What! you afraid, Van Halle!" exclaimed his leader; "but go; there is no fear."
"Afraid! No, no," answered the man; "but I only thought, if I were to die, I would go home first, and, with Martin of Gravelines and Dick Drub-the-Devil, would drink out the pipe of sack I bought: pity it should be wasted."
"Keep it for another time," said the Vert Gallant, "for, by my faith, your errand to Ghent will never stop your drinking it."