I FOUND NO TRACE of the unholy soldiers I was seeking, or anyone who knew of mysterious knights in dark robes. Nor was I able to gain access to the barracks. Time was growing short. Stephen was due back at the castle in days. Once he returned, it would be too dangerous to press my case.

Two days later, Emilie took me aside as I was playing jack-straws with Anne's son, William. She saw my demeanor was glum.

Do not be so sad, jester, she said with a smile. I have a job for you. And a new pretext.

There was to be a celebration that evening in the chatelain's hall, she explained. A bachelor party. Gilles, the captain of the guard, was to be married in the next few days. There would be knights, soldiers, members of the guard. Lots of speeches and drink.Their guard would be down , so to speak.

I have arranged for you to be the entertainment, Emilie announced.

You seem to have a skill at this sort of thing, my lady. Once again I owe you thanks.

Thank me by finding what you seek, she said, and touched my hand. And, Hugh, be careful. Please.

That night there was lots of wine and awful singing. Gilles's buddies stood and made bold and mocking speeches until they slurred their words and fell back onto their benches. I was to be the last act before they dragged Gilles down to a brothel in town.

I had to make them laugh, and yet my eyes kept searching for the rogue knights. I did sleight-of-hand tricks to warm them up, simple stuff Norbert had shown me, pulling objects out of tunics to their drunken awe.

Then it was on to the jokes. I know this man, I announced, sliding to a stop on the tabletop in front of the groom to be, whose cock was permanently engorged.

You flatter me. Gilles pretended to blush. But, joker, must you betray my secret toall ?

Try as he could, I went on, he could not get the damn thing to go down. Finally he sought out his local apothecary. There, he encountered a stunning young woman. `I'd like to speak to your father,' the man with the problem said.

`My father is dead,' she answered. `I run this apothecary with my sister. Anything you can tell a man, you can tell us.' ............