Chapter III.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume VI, Issue 51, 1 March 1871, Page 3

Chapter 111.

PITZ-OSBERT'S HOUSE. —A PLOT. William Fitz-Osbert dwelt in Cheapside, the principal thoroughfare from east to west. . While the priest and the young Crusadey' had been conversing by Houndsditch, the shopkeepers in Cheapside were running to their doors or thrusting their heads out of the narrow Aviudows above in great excitement. A large concourse of people, mostly

of the poorer class, were hurrying through the street and shouting boisterously. In the midst of the bustle was a man with a black beard of extraordinary length. He was supported on the shoulders of two powerful men, and had the appearance of a person of higher social grade than the majority of the rabble which surrounded him and bore him along in triumph. Iv the midst of all the enthusiasm, all the gesticulation and babble of the crowd, Fitz-Osbert — for it was he whom they thus carried victoriously horne — maintained an easy composure of mauner. Yet, notwithstanding his bland smiles and gentle remonstrances at their rather rough display of approbation, there was a fiery light in the small dark eyes beneath his overhanging brows, and a hardness of feature which would have conveyed an unfavourable impression to a physiognomist, aud which were by no means relieved by a deformity of the back, causing his shoulders to be raised unnaturally and his head to be thrown forward. The noisy crowd stopped before a house close to the venerable church of St. Mary-le-bow, and making way for William FitzOsbert to enter, concluded the proceedings with cheers and yells. Having exhausted their raptuves, and perhaps their lungs, they gradually dispersed in various directions, evidently much pleased with' themselves and their hero. "Hallo, there ! Master Wickles," bawled a burly citizen, who stood at the door of a shop where numerous vessels of tin and brass were exposed for sale. The person addressed was a little fat man, who had been a much excited actor in the drama just ended, and was walking past with a red face and vigorous step. He turned round on hearing his name. "Ha! it's thee, is it, Master Tapper? Merry doings these for St. Ambrose Day." "'By the good Saint thou art right," replied Tapper. " I fear me that thy loyalty to Will Longbeard will jeopardise thy trade as purveyor of candles to the Barons of Exchequer." " I care not," said Wickles. "Were I a maker of stewpans I would be a man of even more metal in this righteous cause. Fitz-Osbert— whom ye nickname Longbeard — is a noble fellow. Had'st thou seen him face the justices in court this morning, and heard him talk, about the unfair taxes on the poor, thou would'st have risked a few of thy tin pots to give him greeting. The King's Bailiffs go to seize old widow Langton's goods to-night, and they say the people will oppose these unjust stewards, c'en if the Chief Justicier himself and all his train be at their heels. There'll be a riot, Master Tapper, such as hath not been since the slaying of the Jews. If it be not as I say I'm no candle-maker, but a — " " Come, come, Master Wickles, cool thyself a trifle. If thou goest home in this fuming manner thou wilt melt thy waves. 'Twould be more profit if people minded their own affairs. For my part, I shall sit by my fireside with a mug of ale, and let others run the streets for broken heads. 'Twill be well when King Richard comes to put an end to all this turmoil. They say there is to be a tax to pay his ransom." "A tax!" quoth Wickles, getting redder in the face — "A tax! To be sure, a hundred taxes! taxes on everything! taxes everywhere! while the poor are fools enough to pay them, and the rich can keep their money in their coffers. See! here comes Fitz-Osbert's fair daughter; she is a comely creature, and worthy of her noble father." Unconscious of what had taken place, Nelly Fitz-Osbert walked briskly along Cheapside with her little basket on her arm, and her golden hair floating gracefully ovei* her shoulders. She was an object of admiration to many a stalwart apprentice. The armourers stopped their hammers, and allowed the iron to cool on the anvil as she passed. The vendors of herbs and medicine peeped at her between their bottles, and the carpenters and carvers of wood rested their chisels and files to look at her. She was too shrewd not to know the influence of ber personal attractions, but a lofty mind taught her humility, and filled her with thoughts of charity. No matter how dreary, how stormy, how wet and cold the outer world, there was a warm, cheerful little world within herself, which accompanied her on her daily rounds visiting the poor and giving alms. She tapped at her father's door, and it was opened by a Saxon bondsman with a bright silver ring round his neck. The man had been a faithful domestic in her mother's family, and had followed their fortunes, clinging to them thcough good and evil, and even learning to likeTaud obey FitzOsbert, who was of Norman blood. '" Is father within, Wilfred ?" " Aye, he hath returned home with half London behind him." " What mean you .?" said Nelly. ',* - ■ "He hath been speaking before the justices against the taxes. on the poor, and they say that one of the justices wept, and people never heard such bold aud moving talk before, and in their joy afc his doings they carried him home with such shouts and cheers as have not heen known for many a long day."

. - Nelly knew her father's boldness of spirit and powers of speech ; she had met on her way fionae an unusual number of citizens, and ffhe conjectured at once what had taken place). Hurryiug into tlie chamber where her father sat, she flung her arms round his, neck and wept. She foresaw the beginning ot a great trouble, yet she believed her father was engaged in a good cause, and she watched his plans with, pride, with love, and with faith. The death of her grandfather, Ralf, had been a severe straiu upon, her nerves, and for a moment slie lost all-c ontrol over her emotion. <f Nelly, dear Nelly! What is the meaning of this?" said her father, gently disengaging himself. "Oh, I know not; I feel so troubled. Grandfather is gone! and it seems as though something dreadful were about to happen." ";.01d Ralf dead! Well, that is no reason jto be troubled. Xc had been long useless'hcre, and avotsc than useless to himself. He/ left my roof to dribMc in the ears of some old-woman priest,- and give the lie to all his former life." ! " Stay, father !" interrupted Nelly, regaining her composure. "Do not blame the dead !" '•' It matters little, child, my praise oxblame will not affect the will of Heaven !" said Fite-Osbert with an evident desire to dismiss the subject from his mind. " See, Nelly," he continued, "here is our faithful friend Armstrong, the armourer." Nelly was startled to find that they were not alone, and gracefully craved pardon for her negligence. Armstrong was a young man of giant proportions and awkward bearing. He received Nelly's apology with extreme confusion, swayed his heavy body from sido to side, scratched his rough head of red hair, and muttered some clumsy answer. He had a loud voice and bold spirit among men, but he had a feeling towards Nelly which made him lose all courage and all power in her fair presence. " Had any new customers to-day, Armstrong?"^ inquired Nelly, trying to he cheerful. " No — that is — I have not attended much to business to-day." "I thought you mipht have had some good orders, for Sir Hugh De Danedred and his few remaining followers have just returned. They must surely need new armour." Nelly's back was turned towards her father, or she would have remarked the terrible pallor which spread over his face, and the peculiar light which gleamed beneath his brow at the mention of Sir Hugh. "He is snch a fine, handsome, bravelooking young baron!" she continued. "I met him at Houndsditch. He was. waiting for one of the friars of the Priory Vho had been attending ou my poor. grandfather. His face was quite bronzed with the Eastern sun, and he seemed to have such kind and graceful manners. I did not know he was the brave young Crusader until I met Margaret of the Tower, who told me of his arrival, and then I recoguised him by her description. He looked so noble!" William Fitz-Osbert paced the room moodily, his arms folded, and his head bowed down over his chest. Armstrong, moved uneasily on the bench where he sat, and felt a strange sensation of hatred for the youug Crusader. " I have customers enough without him," he stammered in a sulky tone. "These fine Crusaders are not worth much after all!" "Nelly," said Fitz-Osbert suddenly, "go and prepare our noontide meal; let us have some of the best ale." His daughter tripped out of the room at once, aud Fitz-Osbert approached the armourer. "Armstrong/ he said, in a loav husky voice, "T. want you to assist me in a dangerous matter, but one of great importance. You heard my daughter speak of the young Crusader, Sir Hugh de Danedred,." " I did," replied Armstrong. * " I must have him under bolt and bar wilhin my power before to-morrow's dawn. Cau you — will you help me ? Ask no questions ; be sure I have good reason for so bold an enterprise." " How am I to do youv bidding ?" asked the armourer, again scratching his red head. " The task don't appear very easy." " I will tell you how," replied FitzOsbert. "Promise me your help — your will tp do — and we will soon discuss the means." To be continued.