the dark arch of the distant gateway hid him from her sight.

A few moments later Sir Aymer de Lacy came riding across the courtyard
with his escort. He had changed his suit of velvet for one of steel;
for being ignorant both of the country into which he was about to
travel and of what manner of adventure might lie before him, he had
deemed it well to have something more than silken doublet between his
heart and a cloth-yard shaft. His visor was raised, and as he passed
the keep, he looked up at every window. All were deserted, however,
and he was about to turn away when, suddenly, a casement swung open and
the Countess of Clare appeared in the stone-framed opening.

"_Au revoir_," she cried, and waved her kerchief.

Then by some mischance the bit of lace slipped from her fingers and
floated slowly downward. She made a quick grasp for it, but it had
sunk beyond her reach. A puff of wind spread it wide and carried it
out toward De Lacy. He watched it as it dropped, bringing Selim almost
to a stand to keep beneath it, and at length it rested upon his
extended hand.

"I claim my favor, fair Countess," he called, and wound it round the
crest of his helmet--then loosened rein and dashed away.




VI

A WAYSIDE SKIRMISH