第57章 JACOB VAN ARTEVELDE(4)

Walter was therefore obliged to stoop low and to hurl himself head forwards across the gulf.He succeeded in the attempt, shooting clear through the casement on to the floor beyond.Instantly he picked himself up and went to Ralph's assistance.The latter, taller and more bulky, had greater difficulty in the task, and only his shoulder arrived through the window.

Walter seized him, and aided him at once to scramble in, and they closed the casement behind them.

"It was well we took off our armour, Ralph; its pattern would have been recognized in an instant."Walter had thrown off his helmet as he bounded up the stairs, and both he and his companion had rid themselves of their heavy armour.

"I would give a good deal," he said, "for two bourgeois jerkins, even were they as foul as those of the skinners.This is a woman's apartment," he added, looking round, "and nothing here will cover my six feet of height, to say nothing of your four inches extra.Let us peep into some of the other rooms.This is, doubtless, the house of some person of importance, and in the upper floor we may find some clothes of servants or retainers."They were not long in their search.The next room was a large one, and contained a number of pallet beds, and hanging from pegs on walls were jerkins, mantles, and other garments, evidently belonging to the retainers of the house.Walter and Ralph were not long in transmogrifying their appearance, and had soon the air of two respectable serving-men in a Flemish household.

"But how are we to descend?" Ralph asked."We can hardly hope to walk down the stairs and make our escape without being seen, especially as the doors will all be barred and bolted, seeing the tumult which is raging outside.""It all depends whether our means of escape are suspected," Walter replied, "I should scarce think that they would be.The attention of our pursuers was wholly taken up by Van Artevelde, and some minutes must have passed before they followed us.No doubt they will search every place in the house, and all within it will by this time have been slaughtered.But they will scarce organize any special search for us.All will be fully occupied with the exciting events which have taken place, and as the casement by which we entered is closed it is scarcely likely to occur to any one that we have escaped by that means.I will listen first if the house is quiet.

If so, we will descend and take refuge in some room below, where there is a better chance of concealment than here.Put the pieces of armour into that closet so that they may not catch the eye of any who may happen to come hither.The day is already closing.In half an hour it will be nightfall.

Then we will try and make our way out.

Listening at the top of the stairs they could hear voices below; but as the gallery was quiet and deserted they made their way a floor lower, and seeing an open door entered it.Walter looked from the window.