CHAPTER XV.
How I saw an evil face at a casement, and how, at my uncle's house of St. Sauveur, I heard tell of my father. And of what happed on our setting forth for Valognes.
Now, as we rode into Coutances that day, I saw a sight that made me again fearful. The street was full narrow, and the houses leaned forward from either side, so as to leave but scant vision of the blue sky above, and there were plenty of windows in each story.
Now, as I rode by, I was level with the first story of the houses. And, suddenly, before one window, my eyes were held captive, and I could not turn them away. A man in a fisher's tunic was gazing out on us, and I had not even to ask myself where I had seen his face before, for I knew that it was Maugher. My eyes fell before his, and I blushed and trembled at his sight.
"Uncle, uncle! my lord vicomte!" I said when we were passed, "dost know who stood at yon window in a sailor's dress?"
"What meanest thou?" said he, as he saw me tremble.
"It was my Lord Archbishop of Rouen, the Sarrasin's accomplice," I whispered in his ear.
We reined in our horses and looked back, but the man was gone.
"It was a fancy, child," said the vicomte; "there was no man there."