"Some fellow who stood in our path, fair sir," replied Geoffrey breathlessly.
By this time the prisoner had recovered his senses, and by an unexpected thrust of his feet sent Geoffrey staggering into the arms of the Constable. At the same time he contrived, bound as he was, to wrench himself out of Geoffrey's arms, and, falling on his feet, he swayed to and fro in helpless rage, unable, by reason of the gag, to utter a sound.
But as the glare of the fires fell upon his features Geoffrey found, to his discomfiture and consternation, that his prisoner was none other than his fellow squire, Richard Ratclyffe!
CHAPTER XXIV
THE BATTLE OF AGINCOURT
"A scurvy trick hast thou played on me," exclaimed Ratclyffe when the amused soldiers had released him from his bonds. "By the Rood I'll think twice ere I venture again into the forest to seek for thee."
"Hadst thou but spoken thou wouldst not have been mishandled thus," replied Geoffrey, who had by now expressed his sorrow for the mistake.
"Spoken! Forsooth! Did I not try to speak the moment I heard Gripwell discussing with thee on the subject of letting out my life's blood? But what with being wellnigh smothered by his cloak, and——"
"Nay, say no more, squire," interrupted Sir Thomas. "'Twas all a mistake, and beyond a shrewd blow—of which we shall have plenty ere long, I trow—there is little scath. Now, Geoffrey, the nature of thy report?"
Briefly the squire told his master of what had occurred, the nature of the ground, the position of the French outposts, and, most important of all, the conversation in the tent of d'Albert relating to the plan of attack.