to have and to hold-第24节

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aightened　herself　and　raised　her　weary　head。　〃The　next　time　we　go　to　the　forest；　Ralph；〃　she　said　in　a　clear；　high　voice；　〃thou　'lt　show　me　a　certain　tree；〃　and　she　broke　into　silvery　laughter。　She　laughed　until　we　had　left　behind　the　guest　house　and　the　figure　in　the　upper　window；　and　then　the　laughter　changed　to　something　like　a　sob。　If　there　were　pain　and　anger　in　her　heart；　pain　and　anger　were　in　mine　also。　She　had　never　called　me　by　my　name　before。　She　had　only　used　it　now　as　a　dagger　with　which　to　stab　at　that　fierce　heart　above　us。

At　last　we　reached　the　minister's　house；　and　dismounted　before　the　door。　Diccon　led　the　horses　away；　and　I　handed　my　wife　into　the　great　room。　The　minister　tarried　but　for　a　few　words　anent　some　precautions　that　I　meant　to　take；　and　then　betook　　himself　to　his　own　chamber。　As　he　went　out　of　the　door　Diccon　entered　the　room。

〃Oh；　I　am　weary！〃　sighed　Mistress　Jocelyn　Percy。　〃What　was　the　mighty　business；　Captain　Percy；　that　made　you　break　tryst　with　a　lady？　You　should　go　to　court；　sir；　to　be　taught　gallantry。〃

〃Where　should　a　wife　go　to　be　taught　obedience？〃　I　demanded。　〃You　know　where　I　went　and　why　I　could　not　keep　tryst。　Why　did　you　not　obey　my　orders？〃

She　opened　wide　her　eyes。　〃Your　orders？　I　never　received　any；　…　not　that　I　should　have　obeyed　them　if　I　had。　Know　where　you　went？　I　know　neither　why　nor　where　you　went！〃

I　leaned　my　hand　upon　the　table；　and　looked　from　her　to　Diccon。

〃I　was　sent　by　the　Governor　to　quell　a　disturbance　amongst　the　nearest　Indians。　The　woods　today　have　been　full　of　danger。　Moreover；　the　plan　that　we　made　yesterday　was　overheard　by　the　Italian。　When　I　had　to　go　this　morning　without　seeing　you；　I　left　you　word　where　I　had　gone　and　why；　and　also　my　commands　that　you　should　not　stir　outside　the　garden。　Were　you　not　told　this；　madam？〃

〃　No！〃　she　cried。

I　looked　at　Diccon。　〃I　told　madam　that　you　were　called　away　on　business；〃　he　said　sullenly。　〃I　told　her　that　you　were　sorry　you　could　not　go　with　her　to　the　woods。〃

〃You　told　her　nothing　more？〃

〃No。〃

〃May　I　ask　why？〃

He　threw　back　his　head。　〃I　did　not　believe　the　Paspaheghs　would　trouble　her；〃　he　answered；　with　　hardihood；　〃and　you　had　n't　seen　fit；　sir；　to　tell　me　of　the　other　danger。　Madam　wanted　to　go；　and　I　thought　it　a　pity　that　she　should　lose　her　pleasure　for　nothing。〃

I　had　been　hunting　the　day　before；　and　my　whip　yet　lay　upon　the　table。　〃I　have　known　you　for　a　hardy　rogue；〃　I　said；　with　my　hand　upon　it；　〃now　I　know　you　for　a　faithless　one　as　well。　If　I　gave　you　credit　for　all　the　vices　of　the　soldier；　I　gave　you　credit　also　for　his　virtues。　I　was　the　more　deceived。　The　disobedient　servant　I　might　pardon；　but　the　soldier　who　is　faithless　to　his　trust〃　…

I　raised　the　whip　and　brought　it　down　again　and　again　across　his　shoulders。　He　stood　without　a　word；　his　face　dark　red　and　his　hands　clenched　at　his　sides。　For　a　minute　or　more　there　was　no　sound　in　the　room　save　the　sound　of　the　blows；　then　my　wife　suddenly　cried　out：　〃It　is　enough！　You　have　beaten　him　enough！　Let　him　go；　sir！〃

I　threw　down　the　whip。　〃Begone；　sirrah！〃　I　ordered。　〃And　keep　out　of　my　sight　to…morrow！〃

With　his　face　still　dark　red　and　with　a　pulse　beating　fiercely　in　his　cheek；　he　moved　slowly　toward　the　door；　turned　when　he　had　reached　it　and　saluted；　then　went　out　and　closed　it　after　him。

〃Now　he　too　will　be　your　enemy；〃　said　Mistress　Percy；　〃and　all　through　me。　I　have　brought　you　many　enemies；　have　I　not？　Perhaps　you　count　me　amongst　them？　I　should　not　wonder　if　you　did。　Do　you　not　wish　me　gone　from　Virginia？〃

〃So　I　were　with　you；　madam；〃　I　said　bluntly；　and　went　to　call　the　minister　down　to　supper。



CHAPTER　XVI　　IN　WHICH　I　AM　RID　OF　AN　UNPROFITABLE　SERVANT


THE　next　day；　Governor　and　Councilors　sat　to　receive　presents　from　the　Paspaheghs　and　to　listen　to　long　and　affectionate　messages　from　Opechancanough；　who；　like　the　player　queen；　did　protest　too　much。　The　Council　met　at　Yeardley's　house；　and　I　was　called　before　it　to　make　my　report　of　the　expedition　of　the　day　before。　It　was　late　afternoon　when　the　Governor　dismissed　us；　and　I　found　myself　leaving　the　house　in　company　with　Master　Pory。

〃I　am　bound　for　my　lord's；〃　said　that　worthy　as　we　neared　the　guest　house。　〃My　lord　hath　Xeres　wine　that　is　the　very　original　nectar　of　the　gods；　and　he　drinks　it　from　goblets　worth　a　king's　ransom。　We　have　heard　a　deal　to…day　about　burying　hatchets：　bury　thine　for　the　nonce；　Ralph　Percy；　and　come　drink　with　us。〃

〃Not　I；〃　I　said。　〃I　would　sooner　drink　with　…　some　one　else。〃

He　laughed。　〃Here's　my　lord　himself　shall　persuade　you。〃

My　lord；　dressed　with　his　usual　magnificence　and　darkly　handsome　as　ever；　was　indeed　standing　within　the　guest…house　door。　Pory　drew　up　beside　him。　I　was　passing　on　with　a　slight　bow；　when　the　Secretary　caught　me　by　the　sleeve。　At　the　Governor's　house　wine　had　been　set　forth　to　revive　the　jaded　Council；　　and　he　was　already　half　seas　over。　〃Tarry　with　us；　captain！〃　he　cried。　〃Good　wine's　good　wine；　no　matter　who　pours　it！　'S　bud！　in　my　young　days　men　called　a　truce　and　forgot　they　were　foes　when　the　bottle　went　round！〃

〃If　Captain　Percy　will　stay；〃　quoth　my　lord；　〃I　will　give　him　welcome　and　good　wine。　As　Master　Pory　says；　men　cannot　be　always　fighting。　A　breathing　spell　to…day　gives　to…morrow's　struggle　new　zest。〃

He　spoke　frankly；　with　open　face　and　candid　eyes。　I　was　not　fooled。　If　yesterday　he　would　have　slain　me　only　in　fair　fight；　it　was　not　so　to…day。　Under　the　lace　that　fell　over　his　wrist　was　a　red　cirque；　the　mark　of　the　thong　with　which　I　had　bound　him。　As　if　he　had　told　me；　I　knew　that　he　had　thrown　his　scruples　to　the　winds；　and　that　he　cared　not　what　foul　play　he　used　to　sweep　me　from　his　path。　My　spirit　and　my　wit　rose　to　meet　the　danger。　Of　a　sudden　I　resolved　to　accept　his　invitation。

〃So　be　it；〃　I　said；　with　a　laugh　and　a　shrug　of　my　shoulders。　〃A　cup　of　wine　is　no　great　matter。　I'll　take　it　at　your　hands；　my　lord；　and

drink　to　our　better　acquaintance。〃

We　all　three　went　up　into　my　lord's　room。　The　King　had　fitted　out　his　minion　bravely　for　the　Virginia　voyage；　and　the　riches　that　had　decked　the　state　cabin　aboard　the　Santa　Teresa　now　served　to　transform　the　bare　room　in　the　guest　house　at　Jamestown　into　a　corner　of　Whitehall。　The　walls　were　hung　with　arras；　there　was　a　noble　carpet　beneath　as　well　as　upon　the　table；　and　against　the　wall　stood　richly　carved　trunks。　On　the　table；　beside　a　bowl　of　late　flowers　were　a　great　silver　flagon　and　a　number　of　goblets；　some　of　chased　silver　and　some　of　colored　　glass；　strangely　shaped　and　fragile　as　an　eggshell。　The　late　sun　now　shining　in　at　the　open　window　made　the　glass　to　glow　like　precious　stones。

My　lord　rang　a　little　silver　bell；　and　a　door　behind　us　was　opened。　〃Wine；　Giles！〃　cried　my　lord　in　a　raised　voice。　〃Wine　for　Master　Pory；　Captain　Percy；　and　myself！　And　Giles；　my　two　choice　goblets。〃

Giles；　whom　I　had　never　seen　before；　advanced　to　the　table；　took　the　flagon；　and　went　toward　the　door；　which　he　had　shut　behind　him。　I　negligently　turned　in　my　seat；　and　so　came　in　for　a　glimpse；　as　he　slipped　through　the　door；　of　a　figure　in　black　in　the　next　room。

The　wine　was　brought；　and　with　it　two　goblets。　My　lord　broke　off　in　the　midst　of　an　account　of　the　morning's　bear…baiting　which　the　tediousness　of　the　Indians　had　caused　us　to　miss。　〃Who　knows　if　we　three　shall　ever　drink　together　again？〃　he　said。　〃To　honor　this　bout　I　use　my　most　precious　cups。〃　Voice　and　manner　were　free　and　unconstrained。　〃This　gold　cup　〃　…　he　held　it　up　…　〃belonged　to　the　Medici。　Master　Pory；　who　is　a　man　of　taste；　will　note　the　beauty　of　the　graven　m‘nads　upon　this　side；　and　of　the　Bacchus　and　Ariadne　upon　this。　It　is　the　work　of　none　other　than　Benvenuto　Cellini。　I　pour　for　you；　sir。〃　He　filled　the　gold　cup　with　the　ruby　wine　and　set　it　before　the　Secretary；　who　eyed　it　with　all　the　passion　of　a　lover；　and　waited　not　for　us；　but　raised　it　to　his　lips　at　once。　My　lord　took　up　the　other　cup。　〃This　glass；〃　he　continued；　〃as　green　as　an　emerald；　freckled　inside　and　out　with　gold；　and　shaped　like　a　lily；　was　once　amongst　a　convent's　treasures。　My　father　brought　it　from　Italy；　years　ago。　　I　use　it　as　he　used　it；　only　on　gala　days。　I　fill　to　you；　sir。〃　He　poured　the　wine　into　the　green　and　gold　and　twisted　bauble　and　set　it　before　me；　then　filled　a　silver　goblet　for　himself。　〃Drink；　gentlemen；〃　he　said。

〃Faith；　I　have　drunken　already；〃　quoth　the　Secretary；　and　proceeded　to　fill　for　himself　a　second　time。　〃Here's　to　you；　gentlemen！〃　and　he　emptied　half　the　measure。

〃Captain　Percy　does　not　drink；〃　remarked　my　lord。

I　leaned　my　elbow　upon　the　table；　and；　holding　up　the　glass　against　the　light；　began　to　admire　its　beauty。　〃The　tint　is　wonderful；〃　I　said；　〃as　lucent　a　green　as　the　top　of　the　comber　that　is　to　break　and　overwhelm　you。　And　these　knobs　of　gold；　within　and　without；　and　the　strange　shape　the　tortured　glass　has　been　made　to　take。　I　find　it　of　a　quite　sinister　beauty；　my　lord。〃

〃It　hath　been　much　admired；〃　said　the　nobleman　addressed。

〃I　am　strangely　suited；　my　lord；〃　I　went　on；　still　dreamily　enjoying　the　beauty　of　the　green　gem　within　my　clasp。　〃I　am　a　soldier　with　an　imagination。　Sometimes；　to