to have and to hold-第25节

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〃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　give　the　rein　to　my　fancy　pleases　me　more　than　wine。　Now；　this　strange　chalice；　…　might　it　not　breed　dreams　as　strange？〃

〃When　I　had　drunken；　I　think；〃　replied　my　lord。　〃The　wine　would　be　a　potent　spur　to　my　fancy。〃

〃What　saith　honest　Jack　Falstaff？〃　broke　in　the　maudlin　Secretary。　〃Doth　he　not　bear　testimony　that　good　sherris　maketh　the　brain　apprehensive　and　quick；　filleth　it　with　nimble；　fiery；　and　delectable　shapes；　which　being　delivered　by　the　tongue　become　　excellent　wit？　Wherefore　let　us　drink；　gentlemen；　and　beget　fancies。〃　He　filled　for　himself　again；　and　buried　his　nose　in　the　cup。

〃　'T　is　such　a　cup；　methinks；〃　I　said；　〃as　Medea　may　have　filled　for　Theseus。　The　white　hand　of　Circe　may　have　closed　around　this　stem　when　she　stood　to　greet　Ulysses；　and　knew　not　that　he　had　the　saving　herb　in　his　palm。　Goneril　may　have　sent　this　green　and　gilded　shape　to　Regan。　Fair　Rosamond　may　have　drunk　from　it　while　the　Queen　watched　her。　At　some　voluptuous　feast；　C‘sar　Borgia　and　his　sister；　sitting　crowned　with　roses；　side　by　side；　may　have　pressed　it　upon　a　reluctant　guest；　who　had；　perhaps；　a　treasure　of　his　own。　I　dare　swear　Ren？；　the　Florentine；　hath　fingered　many　such　a　goblet　before　it　went　to　whom　Catherine　de'　Medici　delighted　to　honor。〃

〃She　had　the　whitest　hands；〃　maundered　the　Secretary。　〃I　kissed　them　once　before　she　died；　in　Blois；　when　I　was　young。　Ren？　was　one　of　your　slow　poisoners。　Smell　a　rose；　draw　on　a　pair　of　perfumed　gloves；　drink　from　a　certain　cup；　and　you　rang　your　own　knell；　though　your　bier　might　not　receive　you　for　many　and　many　a　day；　…　not　till　the　rose　was　dust；　the　gloves　lost；　the　cup　forgotten。〃

〃There's　a　fashion　I　have　seen　followed　abroad；　that　I　like；〃　I　said。　〃Host　and　guest　fill　to　each　other；　then　change　tankards。　You　are　my　host　to…day；　my　lord；　and　I　am　your　guest。　I　will　drink　to　you；　my　lord；　from　your　silver　goblet。〃

With　as　frank　a　manner　as　his　own　of　a　while　before；　I　pushed　the　green　and　gold　glass　over　to　him；　and　held　out　my　hand　for　the　silver　goblet。　That　a　man　may　smile　and　smile　and　be　a　villain　is　no　new　doctrine。　My　lord's　laugh　and　gesture　of　courtesy　　were　as　free　and　ready　as　if　the　poisoned　splendor　he　drew　toward　him　had　been　as　innocent　as　a　pearl　within　the　shell。　I　took　the　silver　cup　from　before　him。　〃I　drink　to　the　King；〃　I　said；　and　drained　it　to　the　bottom。　〃Your　lordship　does　not　drink。　'T　is　a　toast　no　man　refuses。〃

He　raised　the　glass　to　his　lips；　but　set　it　down　before　its　rim　had　touched　them。　〃I　have　a　headache；〃　he　declared。　〃I　will　not　drink　to…day。〃

Master　Pory　pulled　the　flagon　toward　him；　tilted　it；　and　found　it　empty。　His　rueful　face　made　me　laugh。　My　lord　laughed　too；　…　somewhat　loudly；　…　but　ordered　no　more　wine。　〃I　would　I　were　at　the　Mermaid　again；〃　lamented　the　now　drunken　Secretary。　〃There　we　did　n't　split　a　flagon　in　three　parts。　。　。　。　The　Tsar　of　Muscovy　drinks　me　down　a　quartern　of　aqua　vit‘　at　a　gulp；　…　I've　seen　him　do　it。　。　。　。I　would　I　were　the　Bacchus　on　this　cup；　with　the　purple　grapes　adangle　above　me。　。　。　。　Wine　and　women　…　wine　and　women。　。　。　good　wine　needs　no　bush。　。　。　good　sherris　sack〃　。　。　。　His　voice　died　into　unintelligible　mutterings；　and　his　gray　unreverend　head　sank　upon　the　table。

I　rose；　leaving　him　to　his　drunken　slumbers；　and；　bowing　to　my　lord；　took　my　leave。　My　lord　followed　me　down　to　the　public　room　below。　A　party　of　upriver　planters　had　been　drinking；　and　a　bit　of　chalk　lay　upon　a　settle　behind　the　door　upon　which　the　landlord　had　marked　their　score。　I　passed　it；　then　turned　back　and　picked　it　up。　〃How　long　a　line　shall　I　draw；　my　lord？〃　I　asked　with　a　smile。

〃How　does　the　length　of　the　door　strike　you？〃　he　answered。

I　drew　the　chalk　from　top　to　bottom　of　the　wood。　　〃A　heavy　Core　makes　a　heavy　reckoning；　my　lord；〃　I　said；　and；　leaving　the　mark　upon　the　door；　I　bowed　again　and　went　out　into　the　street。

The　sun　was　sinking　when　I　reached　the　minister's　house；　and　going　into　the　great　room　drew　a　stool　to　the　table　and　sat　down　to　think。　Mistress　Percy　was　in　her　own　chamber；　in　the　room　overhead　the　minister　paced　up　and　down；　humming　a　psalm。　A　fire　was　burning　briskly　upon　the　hearth；　and　the　red　light　rose　and　fell；　…　now　brightening　all　the　room；　now　leaving　it　to　the　gathering　dusk。　Through　the　door；　which　I　had　left　open；　came　the　odor　of　the　pines；　the　fallen　leaves；　and　the　damp　earth。　In　the　churchyard　an　owl　hooted；　and　the　murmur　of　the　river　was　louder　than　usual。

I　had　sat　staring　at　the　table　before　me　for　perhaps　half　an　hour；　when　I　chanced　to　raise　my　eyes　to　the　opposite　wall。　Now；　on　this　wall；　reflecting　the　firelight　and　the　open　door　behind　me；　hung　a　small　Venetian　mirror；　which　I　had　bought　from　a　number　of　such　toys　brought　in　by　the　Southampton；　and　had　given　to　Mistress　Percy。　My　eyes　rested　upon　it；　idly　at　first；　then　closely　enough　as　I　saw　within　it　a　man　enter　the　room。　I　had　heard　no　footfall；　there　was　no　noise　now　behind　me。　The　fire　was　somewhat　sunken；　and　the　room　was　almost　in　darkness；　I　saw　him　in　the　glass　dimly；　as　shadow　rather　than　substance。　But　the　light　was　not　so　faint　that　the　mirror　could　not　show　me　the　raised　hand　and　the　dagger　within　its　grasp。　I　sat　without　motion；　watching　the　figure　in　the　glass　grow　larger。　When　it　was　nearly　upon　me；　and　the　hand　with　the　dagger　drawn　back　for　the　blow；　I　sprang　up；　wheeled；　and　caught　it　by　the　wrist。

A　moment's　fierce　struggle；　and　I　had　the　dagger　in　my　own　hand　and　the　man　at　my　mercy。　The　fire　upon　the　hearth　seized　on　a　pine　knot　and　blazed　up　brightly；　filling　the　room　with　light。　〃Diccon！〃　I　cried；　and　dropped　my　arm。

I　had　never　thought　of　this。　The　room　was　very　quiet　as；　master　and　man；　we　stood　and　looked　each　other　in　the　face。　He　fell　back　to　the　wall　and　leaned　against　it；　breathing　heavily；　into　the　space　between　us　the　past　came　thronging。

I　opened　my　hand　and　let　the　dagger　drop　to　the　floor。　〃I　suppose　that　this　was　because　of　last　night；〃　I　said。　〃I　shall　never　strike　you　again。〃

I　went　to　the　table；　and　sitting　down　leaned　my　forehead　upon　my　hand。　It　was　Diccon　who　would　have　done　this　thing！　The　fire　crackled　on　the　hearth　as　had　crackled　the　old　camp　fires　in　Flanders；　the　wind　outside　was　the　wind　that　had　whistled　through　the　rigging　of　the　Treasurer；　one　terrible　night　when　we　lashed　ourselves　to　the　same　mast　and　never　thought　to　see　the　morning。　Diccon！

Upon　the　table　was　the　minister's　inkhorn　and　pen。　I　drew　my　tablets　from　the　breast　of　my　doublet　and　began　to　write。　〃Diccon！〃　I　called；　without　turning；　when　I　had　finished。

He　came　slowly　forward　to　the　table；　and　stood　beside　it　with　hanging　head。　I　tore　the　leaf　from　the　book　and　pushed　it　over　to　him。　〃Take　it；〃　I　ordered。

〃To　the　commander？〃　he　asked。　〃I　am　to　take　it　to　the　commander？〃

I　shook　my　head。　〃Read　it。〃

He　stared　at　it　vacantly；　turning　it　now　this　way；　now　that。

〃Did　you　forget　how　to　read　when　you　forgot　all　else？〃　I　said　sternly。

He　read；　and　the　color　rushed　into　his　face。

〃It　is　your　freedom；〃　I　said。　〃You　are　no　longer　man　of　mine。　Begone；　sirrah！〃

He　crumpled　the　paper　in　his　hand。　〃I　was　mad；〃　he　muttered。

〃I　could　almost　believe　it；〃　I　replied。　〃Begone！〃

After　a　moment　he　went。　Sitting　still　in　my　place；　I　heard　him　heavily　and　slowly　leave　the　room；　descend　the　step　at　the　door；　and　go　out　into　the　night。

A　door　opened；　and　Mistress　Jocelyn　Percy　came　into　the　great　room；　like　a　sunbeam　strayed　back　to　earth。　Her　skirt　was　of　flowered　satin；　her　bodice　of　rich　taffeta；　between　the　gossamer　walls　of　her　French　ruff　rose　the　whitest　neck　to　meet　the　fairest　face。　Upon　her　dark　hair　sat；　as　lightly　as　a　kiss；　a　little　pearl…bordered　cap。　A　color　was　in　her　cheeks　and　a　laugh　on　her　lips。　The　rosy　light　of　the　burning　pine　caressed　her；　…　now　dwelling　on　the　rich　dress；　now　on　the　gold　chain　around　the　slender　waist；　now　on　rounded　arms；　now　on　the　white　forehead　below　the　pearls。　Well；　she　was　a　fair　lady　for　a　man　to　lay　down　his　life　for。

〃I　held　court　this　afternoon！〃　she　cried。　〃Where　were　you；　sir？　Madam　West　was　here；　and　my　Lady　Temperance　Yeardley；　and　Master　Wynne；　and　Master　Thorpe　from　Henricus；　and　Master　Rolfe　with　his　Indian　brother；　…　who；　I　protest；　needs　but　silk　doublet　and　hose　and　a　month　at　Whitehall　to　make　him　a　very　fine　gentleman。〃

〃If　courage；　steadfastness；　truth；　and　courtesy　make　a　gentleman；〃　I　said；　〃he　is　one　already。　Such　an　one　needs　not　silk　doublet　nor　court　training。〃

She　looked　at　me　with　her　bright　eyes。　〃No；〃　she　repeated；　〃such　an　one　needs　not　silk　doublet　nor　　court　training。〃　Going　to　the　fire；　she　stood　with　one　hand　upon　the　mantelshelf；　looking　down　into　the　ruddy　hollows。　Presently　she　stooped　and　gathered　up　something　from　the　hearth。　〃You　waste　paper　strangely；　Captain　Percy；〃　she　said。　〃Here　is　a　whole　handful　of　torn　pieces。〃

She　came　over　to　the　table；　and　with　a　laugh　showered　the　white　fragments　down　upon　it；　then　fell　to　idly　piecing　them　together。　〃What　were　you　writing？〃　she　asked。　〃'To　all　whom　it　may　concern：　I；