It seemed most unaccountable that Murielle should anticipate the evening fixed by the abbot, and appoint a wayside auberge as a place of meeting; but the presence of her betrothal ring could not be doubted; and she was in danger, or tribulation, as this apparently suave and honest fellow admitted. What lover could linger or doubt? "You will come, messire?" entreated Carl. "Come--instantly! my sword and cloak----" "Nay, messire, I have the honour to mention," said the sleek Carl, "that mademoiselle does not expect you until the cathedral bells have rung the hour of nine, and when the lamps are hung in the spire." To Gray this information was more perplexing than ever. "Near the auberge," continued Carl, "is a stone cross, one hundred paces to the right of the road, where a votive lamp burns--there she will meet you." "Grace guide me!" exclaimed Gray, "what mystery is this? Is not that district a perilous one after nightfall?" "There are certainly some clerks of St. Nicholas in the woods at times," said Carl, with pretended hesitation. "What manner of clerks are they?" "Disbanded Brabanters, who are their own paymasters." "Robbers, in fact," said Gray, sharply. "Ay, robbers, and all kinds of wild fellows." "Come! this is pleasant for one who will be alone." "Messire shall not be alone," said Carl, "for I shall be there as a guide." "Thanks and largesse to you, most worthy varlet," said Gray, gratefully, though feeling more and more bewildered. He then put some money into the hands of Carl, who, glad that his mission was over, hurriedly withdrew, and within an hour duly reported his progress to the count of Endhoven, who still remained at the auberge, though Albany and Achanna had returned to the house of the Dyck Graf, to wait the event of the night. Gray sat in a turmoil of thought after Carl had retired. The idea of a snare never occurred to him. The presence of Murielle's ring lulled every suspicion, if he had one; and he kissed it again and again, for it had been on her finger since that night when first she admitted that he might love her, when the summer moon was wading the fleecy clouds above the Galloway hills that slept in her silver sunshine, which cast the towers of Thrave in sombre shadow on the black waters of the Dee. As it did not suit the purpose of master Carl Langfanger to have any outrage committed _in_ his auberge--a place on which the officials of the Dyck Graf had more than once cast eyes of suspicion--it had been arranged that Gray should be waylaid at the solitary cross, and there disarmed, mutilated in the horrible manner suggested by the barbarous count of Endhoven, who is recorded to have treated more than one of his prisoners thus, especially, a poor pilgrim from Antwerp and a merchant of Bruges. This votive wayside cross had been erected by the eldest son of Reinald, the warlike duke of Gueldres, as a propitiation for his unnatural conduct, in making a captive of his father, who died in 1325.