"
"She and I, Alleyne, broke the lucky groat together ere we
parted, and she wears my ring upon her finger. `Caro mio,' quoth
she when last we parted, `I shall be near thee in the wars, and
thy danger will be my danger.' Alleyne, as God is my help, as I
came up the stairs this night I saw her stand before me, her face
in tears, her hands out as though in warning--I saw it, Alleyne,
even as I see those two archers upon their couches. Our very
finger-tips seemed to meet, ere she thinned away like a mist in
the sunshine."
"I would not give overmuch thought to it," answered Alleyne. "Our
minds will play us strange pranks, and bethink you that these
words of the Lady Tiphaine Du Guesclin have wrought upon us and
shaken us."
Ford shook his head. "I saw little Tita as clearly as though I
were back at the Rue des Apotres at Bordeaux," said he.
"But the hour is late, and I must go."
"Where do you sleep, then?"
"In the chamber above you. May the saints be with us all!" He
rose from the couch and left the chamber, while Alleyne could
hear his feet sounding upon the winding stair.
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