I  questioned  him  not  as  to  his  business  here,  con-
cluding it  was  some  matter  of  heirloom,  of  jewels,  or


Beyond  the  Seas.  5

plate,  or  muniments,  or  of  moneys,  that  he  would
secure  against  the  spoiling  of  his  estate  ;  but  his
business  was  to  provide  for  the  safety  of  his  cousin
and  ward,  the  Lady  Geraldine  Scudamour,  a  child  of
but  fifteen  years,  his  sole  near  relative  save  myself
(who  am  indeed,  as  I  have  hinted,  no  legitimate
kinsman  of  his  or  hers)  :  this  young  lady's  wardship
having,  upon  his  father's  demise,  so  quick  and
strangely  were  matters  jumbled  in  these  jumbled
times,  devolved  upon  him,  a  youth,  though  grave
beyond  his  years,  of  but  twenty-three.  The  Lady
Geraldine  resided  at  St.  Keyne  Castle  with  a  religious
lady  from  the  convent  of  the  Ursulines  at  Poitiers,
and  when  my  Lord  and  I  alighted  from  our  horses,
'twas  the  child  who  greeted  us.
"  Geraldine  !  "  cried  my  Lord,  after  he  had  saluted
her  upon  the  cheek,  "  Geraldine,  my  dear,"  says  he
very  gently  but  sadly,  "  the  King's  cause  is  lost."

The  child  went  very  pale.
"  Lost ! "  she  called  out,  "  then  will  they  murder
us  all  ? "

"  Nay,"  said  his  Lordship,  "  thou  wilt  be  spared,
and  madame  here.  The  lady  came  up  at  this  moment,
very  much  frightened.
"  But  you,  Ralph ! "  and  the  child  clung  to  him
weeping,  "  what  will  become  of  you  ?  "  for  the  two
had  been  in  a  manner  playfellows  together.
"  Our  kinsman  Humphrey  and  I,"  quoth  he,  look-
ing at  me  confidently,  "will  pass  easily  through  our
enemies  and  embark  for  Spain.      The  king  of  that


6  Beyond  the  Seas.
