They say, too, her conditions were gentle and winsome as a
child; and"--
"Good," said De Poininges, who found he was slipping away from the main
subject. "But hath not Sir Thomas made some apparent search since her
disappearance from the hall?"
"Save the mark--she was drowned in the moat. So say the gossips," said
the clerk, looking askance. "Her hood and mantle were on the brink--but
her body! why, it never jumped out again to look for them--that's all."
"But did no one look for the body?" carelessly inquired De Poininges.
"The knight groped diligently in the castle ditch for many days; but
light fishes make light nets, as we say. There was no corpse to be
found, and many an Ave Maria has been said for her soul."
"What cause was then assigned for this fearful deed?"
"'Tis said she was in love, and went mad! I wot she was ever sighing and
rambling about the house, and would seldom venture out alone, looking as
though she were in jeopardy, and dreaded some hidden danger."
"Thinkest thou, friend, that some hidden danger might not be the cause;
and this show of her drowning but a feint or device that should turn
aside the current of their inquiry?"
The clerk looked anxious and uneasy, sore puzzled, as it might seem, to
shape out an answer.
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