the caged lion-第28节

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　gathering　of　English　country　gentlemen　and　yeomen　to　mercenary　bands　of　men…at…arms；　the　mere　greedy；　rapacious；　and　insubordinate　became　their　temper。　　Well　knowing　the　greatness　of　the　peril；　and　that　the　very　best　of　his　captains　had　scarcely　the　will；　if　they　had　the　power；　to　restrain　the　license　that　soon　became　barbarity　unimaginable；　he　spoke　sadly　overnight　of　his　dread　of　the　day　of　surrender；　when　it　might　prove　impossible　to　prevent　deeds　that　would　be　not　merely　a　blot　on　his　scutcheon；　but　a　shame　to　human　nature；　looking　back　to　the　exultation　with　which　he　had　entered　Harfleur　as　a　mere　effect　of　boyish　ignorance　and　thoughtlessness。

Having　taken　all　possible　precautions；　he　stood　in　his　full　armour；　with　the　fox's　brush　in　his　helmet；　under　the　great　elm　in　the　market…place；　received　the　keys；　accepted　the　sword　of　the　captain　commissioned　by　Charles　with　royal　courtesy；　gave　his　hand　to　be　kissed　by　the　mayor；　and　then；　with　grave　inexorable　air；　like　a　statue　of　steel；　watched　as　the　freebooter　Vaurus　and　his　two　chief　companions　were　led　down　with　their　hands　tied；　halters　round　their　necks；　and　priests　at　their　sides；　preparing　them　to　be　hung　on　that　very　tree。　　They　were　proud　hard　men；　and　uttered　no　entreaty　for　grace。　　They　had　hung　too　many　travellers　upon　these　same　branches　not　to　expect　their　own　turn；　and　they　were　no　cravens　to　abase　themselves。

That　act　of　justice　ended；　Henry　mounted　his　warhorse　and　rode　in　at　the　gates。　　His　wont　was　to　go　straight　to　the　principal　church；　and　there　attend　a　solemn　mass　of　thanksgiving；　but　experience　had　taught　him　that　his　devotions　were　the　very　opportunity　of　his　men's　rapine：　he　had　therefore　arranged　that　as　soon　as　he　should　have　arrived　in　the　choir　of　the　cathedral；　James　should　take　his　place；　and　he　slip　out　by　a　side　door；　so　as　to　return　to　the　scene　of　action。

In　full　procession　he　and　his　suite　reached　the　chief　door；　and　there　dismounted　in　an　immense　crowd；　which　thronged　in　at　the　doors。

'Come；　Glenuskie；'　said　Ralf　Percy；　as　the　two　youths　were　pushed　chose　together　in　the　press；　'if　you　have　a　fancy　for　being　smothered　in　the　minster；　I　have　none。　　We　shall　never　be　missed。　　'Twill　be　sport　to　walk　round　and　see　how　these　hardy　rogues　contrived　to　hold　out。'

Malcolm　willingly　turned　aside　with　him；　and　looked　down　the　sloping　street；　which　was　swarming　with　comers　and　goers。　　The　whole　place　was　in　an　inflammable　state。　　Soldiers　were　demanding　quarters；　which　the　citizens　unwillingly　gave。　　A　refusal　or　expostulation　against　a　rough　entry　led　to　violence；　and　ever　as　the　two　youths　walked　farther　from　the　cathedral；　there　was　more　of　excitement；　more　rude　oaths　of　soldiers；　more　shrieking　of　women；　often　crying　out　even　before　any　harm　was　done　to　them　or　their　houses。

At　last；　before　a　tall　overhanging　house；　there　was　an　immense　press；　and　a　frightful　din　of　shouts　and　imprecations；　filling　both　the　new…　comers　with　infectious　eagerness。

'How　now？　how　now？'　called　Percy。　　'Keep　the　peace；　good　fellows。'

'Sir；'　cried　a　number　of　voices；　passionately；　'the　French　villains　have　barred　their　door。　　There's　a　lot　of　cowardly　Armagnacs　hid　there　with　their　gold；　trying　to　balk　honest　men　of　their　ransom。'

Such　was　the　cry　resounding　on　all　sides。　　'Have　at　them！　　There's　the　rogue　at　the　windows。　　Out　on　the　fellows！　　Burn　down　the　door！　'Tis　Vaurus　himself　and　all　his　gold。　　Treason！　treason！'

The　clamour　was　convincing　to　the　spirit；　if　not　to　the　senses。　　The　two　lads　believed　in　the　concealed　Armagnacs；　or　perhaps　more　truly　were　carried　away　by　the　vehemence　around　them；　and　with　something　of　the　spirit　of　the　chase；　threw　themselves　headlong　into　the　affair。

'Open！　open！'　shouted　Ralf。　　'Open；　in　the　name　of　King　Henry！'

An　old　man's　face　peeped　through　a　little　wicket　in　the　door；　and　at　sight　of　the　two　youths；　evidently　of　high　rank；　said　in　a　trembling　voice；　'Alas！　alas！　　Sir；　bid　these　cruel　men　go　away。　　I　have　nothing　hereno　oneonly　my　sick　daughter。'

'You　hear；'　said　Malcolm；　turning　round；　'only　his　sick　daughter。'

'Sick　daughter！old　liar！　　Here's　an　honest　tinker　makes　oath　he　has　hoards　of　gold　laid　up　for　Vaurus；　and　ten　Armagnacs　hidden　in　his　house。　　Have　at　him！　　Bring　fire！'

Blows　hailed　thick　on　the　door；　a　flaming　torch　was　handed　over　the　heads　of　the　throng；　horrible　growls　and　roars　pervaded　them。　Malcolm　and　Ralf；　furious　at　the　cheat；　stood　among　the　foremost；　making　so　much　noise　themselves　between　thundering　and　reviling；　and　calling　out；　'Where　are　the　Armagnacs？　　Down　with　the　traitors！'　that　they　were　not　aware　of　a　sudden　hush　behind　them；　till　a　buffet　from　a　heavy　hand　fell　on　Malcolm's　shoulder；　and　a　mighty　voice　cried　'Shame！　shame！　　What；　you　too！'

'There　are　traitors　hid　here；　Sir；'　said　Percy；　in　angry　self…　justification。

'And　what　an　if　there　are？　　Back；　every　one　of　you！　rogues　that　you　be！Here；　Fitzhugh；　see　those　villains　back　to　the　camp。　　Let　their　arms　be　given　up　to　the　Provost…marshal。Kites　and　crows　as　you　are！　Away；　out　with　you！'

Henry　pointed　to　the　broken　door；　and　the　cowed　and　abashed　soldiers　slunk　away　from　the　terrible　light　of　his　eyes。　　No　man　could　stand　before　the　face　of　the　King。

There　was　a　stillness。　　He　stood　leaning　on　his　sword；　his　chest　heaving　with　his　panting　breaths。　　He　was　naturally　as　fleet　as　the　swift…footed　Achilles；　but　the　winter　had　told　upon　him；　and　the　haste　with　which　he　had　rushed　to　the　rescue　left　him　breathless　and　speechless；　while　he　seemed　as　it　were　to　nail　the　two　lads　to　the　spot　by　his　steady　gaze　of　mingled　distress　and　displeasure。

Neither　could　brook　his　eye：　　Percy　hung　his　head　like　a　boy　in　a　scrape；　Malcolm　quailed　with　terror；　but　at　the　same　time　felt　a　keen　sense　of　injury　in　being　thus　treated　as　a　plunderer；　and　the　blow　under　which　his　shoulder　ached　seemed　an　indignity　to　his　royal　blood。

'Boys；'　said　Henry；　still　low　and　breathlesly；　but　all　the　more　impressively；　'what　is　to　become　of　honour　and　mercy　if　such　as　you　must　needs　become　ravening　wolves　at　scent　of　booty？'

'It　was　not　booty；　Sir；　they　said　traitors　were　hid　here；'　said　Percy；　sulkily。

'Tush！　the　old　story！　　Ever　the　plea　for　rapine　and　bloodthirstiness。　After　the　warnings　of　last　night　you　should　have　known　better；　but　you　are　all　alike　in　frenzy　for　a　sack。　　You　have　both　put　off　your　knighthood　till　you　have　learnt　not　to　become　a　shame　thereto。'

'I　take　not　knighthood　at　your　hands；　Sir；'　burst　out　Malcolm；　goaded　with　hot　resentment；　but　startled　the　next　moment　at　the　sound　of　his　own　words。

'I　cry　you　mercy；'　said　King　Henry；　in　a　cold；　short　tone。

Malcolm　turned　on　his　heel　and　walked　away；　without　waiting　to　see　how　the　poor　old　man　in　the　house　threw　himself　at　the　King's　feet　with　a　piteous　history　of　his　sick　daughter　and　her　starving　children；　nor　how　Ralf　hurried　off　headlong　to　the　lower　town　to　send　them　immediate　relief　in　bread；　wine；　and　doctors。　　The　gay；　good…　natured；　thoughtless　lad　no　mere　harboured　malice　for　the　chastisement　than　if　his　tutor　had　caught　him　idling；　but　things　went　deeper　with　Malcolm。　　True；　he　had　undergone　many　a　brutal　jest　and　cruel　practical　joke　from　his　cousins；　but　that　was　all　in　the　family；　not　like　a　blow　from　an　alien　king；　and　one　not　apologized　for；　but　followed　up　by　a　rebuke　that　seemed　to　him　unjust；　lowering　him　in　his　own　eyes　and　those　of　Esclairmonde；　and　making　him　ready　to　gnaw　himself　with　moody　vexation。

'You　here；　Malcolm！'　said　King　James；　entering　his　quarters；　'did　you　miss　me　in　the　throng？　　I　have　not　seen　you　all　day。'

'I　have　been　insulted；　Sir；'　said　Malcolm。　　'I　pray　your　license　to　depart　and　carry　my　sword　to　my　kinsmen　in　the　French　camp。'

'How　now！　　Is　it　the　way　to　treat　an　insult　to　run　away　from　it？'

'Not　when　the　world　judges　men　to　be　on　equal　terms；　my　lord。'

'What！　　Who　has　done　you　wrong；　you　silly　loon？'

'King　Henry；　Sir；　he　struck　me　with　his　fist；　and　rated　me　like　his　hound；　and　I　will　not　eat　another　morsel　of　his　bread　unless　he　would　answer　it　to　me　in　single　combat。'

'Little　enough　bread　you'd　eat　after　that　same　answer！'　ejaculated　James。　　'Oh！　　I　understand　now。　　You　were　with　young　Hotspur　and　the　rest　that　set　on　the　poor　townsmen；　and　Harry　made　small　distinction　of　persons！　　Nay；　Malcolm；　it　was　ill　in　you；　that　talked　of　so　loathing　spulzie！'

'I　wanted　no　spulzie。　　There　were　Armagnacs　hid　in　the　house；　and　the　King　would　not　hear　us。'

'He　knew　that　story　too　well。　　Were　you　asleep　or　idling　last　night；　when　he　warned　all；　on　no　plea　whatever；　to　break　into　a　house；　but；　if　the　old　tale　of　treachery　came　up；　to　set　a　guard；　and　call　one　of　the　captains？　　Did　you　hear　himeh？'

'I　can　take　chiding　from　you；　Sir；　but　neither　words　nor　blows　from　any　other　king　in　Christendom；　still　less　when　he　threatens　me　that　I　have　deferred　my　knighthood！　　As　if　I　would　have　it　from　him！'

'From　me　you　will　not　have　it　until　he　have　pardoned　Ralf　Percy；'　said　James；　dryly。　　'Malcolm；　I　had　not　thought　you　such　a　fule　body！　Under　a　captain's　banner；　what　can　be　done　but　submit　to　his　rule？　　I　should　do　so　myself；　were　Salisbury　or　March　in　command。'

'Then；　Sir；'　said　Malcolm；