"Messire," said he, "yonder lieth thy way to life and the world. As thou did'st give me life so do I give thee thine. Thou wert, as I remember thee, a very gentle, tender youth--to-night are three dead without reason--"
"Reason, good Fool," said Beltane, "thou did'st see me borne in a prisoner to Garthlaxton; now, tell me I pray, who was she that rode with us?"
"'Twas the Duchess Helen of Mortain, messire; I saw her hair, moreover--"
But lo, even as the jester spake, Beltane turned, and striding down the tunnel, was swallowed in the dark.