saint george for england-第30节
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own； beside the fact that his evidence does not rest upon mere assertion； but that the man in the hut promised to do what you actually performed； namely； to delay me at Richmond； and to wrap me in a white cloak in order that I might be recognized by the river pirates。〃
Sir James was silent。 In truth； as he saw； the evidence was overwhelmingly strong against him。 After a while he stammered out； 〃I cannot deny that I was the man in question； but I swear to you that this boy was mistaken； and that the scoundrel acted altogether beyond my instructions； which were simply that he should board the boat and carry you and your daughter away to a safe place。〃
〃And with what object； sir；〃 Dame Vernon said contemptuously； 〃was I to be thus taken away？〃
〃I do not seek to excuse myself；〃 the knight replied calmly； having now recovered his self…possession； 〃for I own I acted wrongly and basely； but in truth I loved you； and would fain have made you my wife。 I knew that you regarded me with only the calm affection of a kinswoman； but I thought that were you in my power you would consent to purchase your freedom with your hand。 I know now that I erred greatly。 I acknowledge my fault； and that my conduct was base and unknightly； and my only excuse is the great love I bore you。
〃And which；〃 the lady said sarcastically； 〃you have now transferred to my daughter。 I congratulate you； Sir James； upon the possession of a ready wit and an invention which does not fail you at a pinch； and of a tongue which repeats unfalteringly any fable which your mind may dictate。 You do not； I suppose； expect me to believe the tale。 Still； I own that it is a well…devised one； and might； at a pinch； pass muster； but fear not； Sir James。 As hitherto I have kept silence as to the author of the outrage committed upon me； so I have no intention of proclaiming the truth now unless you force me to do so。 Suffice that both for myself and for my daughter I disclaim the honour of your hand。 So long as you offer no molestation to us； and abstain from troubling us in any way； so long will my mouth be sealed； and I would fain bury in my breast the memory of your offence。 I will not give the world's tongue occasion to wag by any open breach between kinsfolk； and shall therefore in public salute you as an acquaintance； but under no pretence whatever will I admit you to any future private interview。 Now leave me； sir； and I trust that your future life will show that you deeply regret the outrage which in your greed for my husband's lands you were tempted to commit。〃
Without a word Sir James turned and left the room； white with shame and anger； but with an inward sense of congratulation at the romance which he had； on the spur of the moment； invented； and which would； he felt sure； be accepted by the world as probable； in the event of the share he had in the matter being made public； either upon the denunciation of Dame Vernon or in any other manner。
One determination； however； he made； and swore； to himself； that he would bitterly avenge himself upon the youth whose interference had thwarted his plans； and whose report to his kinswoman had turned her mind against him。 He； at any rate； should be put out of the way at the first opportunity； and thus the only witness against himself be removed； for Lady Vernon's own unsupported story would be merely her word against his； and could be treated as the malicious fiction of an angry woman。
The following day Dame Vernon sent for Walter； and informed him exactly what had taken place。
〃Between Sir James and me；〃 she said； 〃there is； you see； a truce。 We are enemies； but； we agree to lay aside our arms for the time。 But； Walter； you must be on your guard。
You know as well as I do how dangerous this man is； and how good a cause he has to hate you。 I would not have divulged your name had I not known that the frequency of your visits here and the encouragement which I openly give you as the future suitor of my daughter； would be sure to come to his ears； and he would speedily discover that it was you who saved our lives on the Thames and gave your testimony before the justices as to the conversation in the hut on the marshes。 Thus I forestalled what he would in a few days have learnt。〃
〃I fear him not； lady；〃 Walter said calmly。 〃I can hold mine own； I hope； against him in arms； and having the patronage and friendship of Sir Walter Manny I am above any petty malice。 Nevertheless I will hold myself on my guard。 I will； so far as possible； avoid any snare which he may； as 'tis not unlikely； set for my life； and will； so far as I honourably can； avoid any quarrel with which he may seek to saddle me。
A few days later Walter again met Sir James Carnegie in the king's anteroom； and saw at once； by the fixed look of hate with which he had regarded him； that he had already satisfied himself of his identity。 He returned the knight's stare with a cold look of contempt。 The knight moved towards him； and in a low tone said； 〃Beware； young sir； I have a heavy reckoning against you； and James Carnegie never forgets debts of that kind！〃
〃I am warned； Sir James；〃 Walter said calmly； but in the same low tone； 〃and； believe me； I hold but very lightly the threats of one who does not succeed even when he conspires against the lives of women and children。〃
Sir James started as if he had been struck。 Then； with a great effort he recovered his composure； and； repeating the word 〃Beware！〃 walked across to the other side of the chamber。 The next day Walter went down the river and had a talk with his friend Geoffrey。
〃You must beware； lad；〃 the armourer said when he told him of the return of Sir James Carnegie and the conversation which had taken place between them。 〃This man is capable of anything； and careth not where he chooseth his instruments。 The man of the hut at Lambeth has never been caught since his escape from Richmond Jail … thanks； doubtless； to the gold of his employer … and； for aught we know； may still be lurking in the marshes there； or in the purlieus of the city。 He will have a grudge against you as well as his employer； and in him Sir James would find a ready instrument。 He is no doubt connected； as before； with a gang of water pirates and robbers； and it is not one sword alone that you would have to encounter。 I think not that you are in danger just at present； for he would know that； in case of your murder； the suspicions of Dame Vernon and of any others who may know the motive which he has in getting rid of you would be excited； and he might be accused of having had a share in your death。 Still； it would be so hard to prove aught against him； that he may be ready to run the risk in order to rid himself of you。 Look here； Walter。 What think you of this？〃 and the smith drew out from a coffer a shirt of mail of finer work than Walter had ever before seen。
〃Aye； lad； I knew you would be pleased；〃 he said in answer to Walter's exclamation at the fineness of the workmanship。 〃I bought this a month ago from a Jew merchant who had recently come from Italy。 How he got it I know not； but I doubt if it were honestly； or he would have demanded a higher price than I paid him。 He told me that it was made by the first armourer in Milan； and was constructed especially for a cardinal of the church； who had made many enemies by his evil deeds and could not sleep for fear of assassination。 At his death it came as the Jew said； into his possession。 I suppose some rascally attendant took it as a perquisite； and； knowing not of its value； sold it for a few ducats to the Jew。 However； it is of the finest workmanship。 It is； as you see； double； and each link is made of steel so tough that no dagger or sword…point will pierce it。 I put it on a block and tried the metal myself； and broke one of my best daggers on it without a single link giving。 Take it； lad。 You are welcome to it。 I bought it with a special eye to you； thinking that you might wear it under your armour in battle without greatly adding to the weight； but for such dangers as threaten you now it is invaluable。 It is so light and soft that none will dream that you have it under your doublet； and I warrant me it will hold you safe against the daggers of Sir James's ruffians。
Walter did not like taking a gift so valuable； for his apprenticeship as an armourer had taught him the extreme rarity and costliness of so fine a piece of work。 Geoffrey； however； would not hear of his refusal； and insisted on his then and there taking off his doublet and putting it on。 It fitted closely to the body； descending just below the hips； and coming well up on the neck； while the arms extended to the wrists。
〃There！〃 the smith said with delight。 〃Now you are safe against sword or dagger； save for a sweeping blow at the head； and that your sword can be trusted to guard。 Never take it off； Walter； save when you sleep； and except when in your own bed； at Sir Walter Manny's； I should advise you to wear it even at night。 The weight is nothing； and it will not incommode you。 So long as this caitiff knight lives； your life will not be safe。 When he is dead you may hang up the shirt of mail with a light heart。〃
CHAPTER XII： JACOB VAN ARTEVELDE
King Edward found no difficulty in awak
