Coming into the town he noticed that there seemed to be a lot of excitement abroad. People were running towards the market-place, chattering like magpies. Gentlemen on horseback were coming and going about the streets in all directions. Among them Giles recognized Master Piers Belmont, the Duke’s Chamberlain.
On reaching the market-place he found the fuss and commotion greater still. A large crowd of folk was gathered about the Town Crier, who was giving out a message to the people from the Duke. Giles elbowed his way in to listen.
The message was a long one and was all about a visit which the King was to pay the town. This was the first time that the new King had come here. He was going to stay at the castle with his cousin, the Duke, who wished the townsfolk to give him a worthy welcome and show their loyalty in a befitting manner. Then there was a whole lot more about a grand feast that was to be given in the King’s honour the day of his coming, and of the special guards that were to be on duty certain hours of the day and night throughout the whole time His Majesty was here.
Giles hurried home to bring his sister the great news. But he found that it had got there ahead of him. His own home and the whole street in which he lived were in a great hubbub.
While the chatter was at its noisiest, the shell again grew hot in his pocket and he listened to it.
There were two voices this time—Luke’s and the Applewoman’s. Without waiting to hear what words were passing between them, Giles grasped his sister by the hand and hurried out into the street.
‘What is it, Giles?’ she cried. ‘Not so fast! I can hardly keep up with you at such a pace.’
‘It was Agnes again,’ he called back over his shoulder. ‘Come on. Let’s hurry. It was Agnes and Luke talking. She is bound to be at his stable—curing his leg most likely—because he can barely walk. If we’re in time we’ll catch her. If we miss her we’ll maybe not get another such chance for goodness knows how long.’
But though they raced there as quickly as they could, they arrived too late. Luke told them that Agnes had come and gone.
‘It’s a big risk she took in coming here,’ said he, as the children sank down disappointed on the straw beside him. ‘Yes, a big risk—and for my sake. I think there is an order out for her arrest.’