"Art thou Raoul de Rohein, the chirurgeon?" he asked, in a lisping voice, flourishing a musk-perfumed handkerchief as if to ward off the hideous shape before him.
"At thy service, my lord—barber, chirurgeon, apothecary, having been duly examined and licensed by the great John Pitart, surgeon of the Châtelet of Paris."
"'Tis well! I am the Sieur d'Erqui, and I am bound for the army of Charles of Blois, that lieth before Hennebon. In camps one has always the fear of plague. Therefore, believing that forewarned is forearmed, I come to thee for a remedy or, rather, a preventative—'gainst the fell disorder."
"I have the very thing, monsieur! But five sols nine deniers the box—the nine deniers being devoted to the funds of the hospital of St. Brieuc, bien entendu! By the holy St. Mark, the very thing! A mixture of sulphur, viper's cake, powder of pearls, confection of hyacinth, and an extract of the juice of scorsonera, all prepared according to the recipe of the learned John Pitart, and made into tablets covered with gold foil. One drachm three times a week, in the morning, is the dose, monsieur, and if exposed to the infection two drachms before going to bed!"
"And is that all?" inquired the Sieur anxiously, as if the presence of the barber was a presage of the plague.
"Nay, of thine own ordering there is much to be done. I perceive that monsieur carries the perfume of musk about with him. That is wrong. Instead, let him take a citron pricked with cloves. Never walk out fasting, neither drink wine immoderately; and, in the case of immediate danger, take a little theriaque; and I'll warrant Erqui will welcome its Sieur home in due course. And the fee, monsieur, is, as I said, seven sols nine deniers."
"But now thou didst ask five sols and nine deniers!"
"Two sols in addition for the advice—excellent advice, monsieur. Merci, monsieur, et bon voyage!"
The Sieur had gone, and Raymond and his father came from their hiding-place. Redward explained to his son, in a few words, the nature of their disguise. Once again the talon-like hand of the miserly Raoul closed over the money, and away he went to look for the required garments.
In a few moments he returned. The Englishmen donned the repulsive insignia of the leper, and took the barillets in their hands. The barber again unfastened the door and listened intently for any sound. There was none.