He tried to make a plan, but it was hard to plan out of this! Best still trust Success. He took a pebble and tossed it, then followed it. Narrow road little travelled. He walked upon this some way and saw a horseman coming. Out of track into a hazel brake, wait and see what like he might be! Sun glinted, boughs waved, birds sang, over all things lay a pearly moisture after storm.
Young Thomas Bettany, riding from town because town oppressed him, taking idle way and ancient road because to-day bustle liked him not, errandless and leaving John Cobb at home, rode through the old forest with hanging head. He would mend the world if he knew how, but he did not know how.
Coming to brake his horse started aside. Thomas crossed himself. A monk was standing there, seemed to have stepped forth from it. “Is it a ghost? By Saint John, Brother! you look it and you do not look it!”
He knew him now, having seen him at Silver Cross thrice, maybe, since the finding of Holy Well. Thomas Bettany felt himself tremble a little. Brother Richard—if he were mad—but then he remembered himself that he was hardly so! They said he was mad, an Abbot and a Prior whose deeds might not be scanned. Brother Richard! Though some were guilty the monk was not. Again he saw things “in a flash.” The monstrous disappointment—Heaven’s boon companion, then fall—fall—fall! How sharp the stones and black the land!
He spoke in a whisper. “Did you break last night from Westforest?” All the countryside knew that Brother Richard, now alas! utterly mad, was to be hidden there in a grated cell.
Richard Englefield knew not why Success was here. He said, “You know me then? Who are you?”
“Thomas Bettany, merchant’s son.”
“I greatly need,” said the man by the hazels, “burgher’s dress, a purse of money, and to reach some ship in river that presently makes sail.” Having spoken, he waited again upon Success.
“I shall have to ride to Middle Forest and back,” said Thomas Bettany. “Over yonder a mile lies a ruined farm. No one goes by wood that way. Walk till you see the house through trees, then lie close till I come.” Few words more and he turned horse and presently disappeared down the leafy road.