"My lord
bids thee cast aside thy woman's dress," said he, "and ride in thine
own character."
"And who art thou? And who is thy lord? And wherefore art thou come?"
demanded Humphrey, bravely, as he spurred his horse between Hugo and
the man-at-arms who had spoken.
The man-at-arms laughed. "I see thou hast cause to dread pursuit," he
said. "And, in truth, we did pass some vile knaves riding fast to
overtake ye. One and all they do hope for the king's reward, for the
old man at the White Horse hath betrayed ye."
Closer to Hugo's side Humphrey reined his horse, and the captain of the
men-at-arms laughed louder than before. "Why, what couldst thou do for
the lad against us?" he said. "And yet, thou art brave to try. But put
away thy fears. Lord De Launay is, as thou shouldst know, the sworn
friend of Lord De Aldithely, and he hath sent us to overtake ye and to
carry ye safe to the ship at Dover. So let us on and set a merry pace
for these knaves that would follow us. But first, off with that woman's
robe, my young lord Josceline."
"Willingly!" cried Hugo, who did not even now betray the secret that he
was not Josceline, not knowing what might come of it.
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