The Southampton merchant quailed beneath the imperious glance of the haughty French woman. Shuffling his feet uneasily, he tried to make reply.
"My worthy friend hath ever been bashful in the presence of beauty," explained Ratclyffe with courtier-like quickness. "He bears the name of Sir Paul Roche, of Lucre Castle, hard by the town of Southampton."
"Greetings, Sir Paul," exclaimed Sir Raoul's wife, as the pseudo-knight gallantly kissed her hand. "But 'tis to no purpose to dally here. Aimée, my belle, come hither; it is to these honourable cavaliers that we owe our preservation."
Aimée d'Aulx, Sir Raoul's only daughter, was a tall, graceful maiden of about thirteen years of age, with dark chestnut tresses and a wondrous clear complexion. She had now completely recovered from her fright, and Geoffrey especially could not help noticing her beauty. While possessing a certain sense of dignity, she lacked the haughty mien of her mother, and unaffectedly she presented her hand to be saluted by Geoffrey and his companions, including "Sir Paul," who, having regained his composure, seemed not a little tickled by his newly-acquired position.
Arnold Gripwell had meanwhile given the archers orders to dispatch the wounded robbers, according to the custom of the Middle Ages, when human life was cheaply esteemed in the case of common men who were unable to pay ransom.
"I pray thee examine yonder rogue," said the Lady d'Aulx, pointing to the corpse of the cross-bowman who had held her captive. "Methinks he was the leader of the rabble, yet I trow he is no base-born serf."
The old man-at-arms strode over to the spot where the dead ruffian lay, and with a kick turned the body over on its back.
"See here, Master Geoffrey," he shouted. "I' faith, though thou wert reckless enow in rushing in upon a levelled cross-bow, the rogue was but playing a trick. See, here is the string still notched, but no sign of a quarrel."
"Then he was a brave man to cover his comrade's retreat with a boltless bow," replied the lad.
"And thou equally brave, not knowing that thy life was saved by this man being without a shaft," added Gripwell.