the caged lion-第43节

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　boots　and　cuirass　he　had　never　paused　all　these　hours　to　remove；　he　dropped　into　a　sleep　of　sheer　exhaustion。

James；　who　was　likewise　wearied　out　with　watching；　turned　towards　his　own　quarters；　but；　in　so　doing；　he　could　not　but　turn　aside　to　the　chapel；　where　before　the　altar　had　been　laid　all　that　was　left　of　King　Henry。　　There　he　lay；　his　hands　clasped　over　a　crucifix；　clad　in　the　same　rich　green　and　crimson　robes　in　which　he　had　ridden　to　meet　his　Queen　at　Vincennes　but　three　short　months　before；　the　golden　circlet　from　his　helmet　was　on　his　head；　but　it　could　not　give　additional　majesty　to　the　still　and　severe　sweetness　of　his　grand　and　pure　countenance；　so　youthful　in　the　lofty　power　that　high　aspirations　had　imprinted　on　it；　yet　so　intensely　calm　in　its　marble　rest；　more　than　ever　with　the　look　of　the　avenging　unpitying　angel。　To　James；　it　was　chiefly　the　face　of　the　man　whom　he　had　best　loved　and　admired；　in　spite　of　their　strange　connection；　but　to　Malcolm；　who　had　as　usual　followed　him　closely；　it　was　verily　a　look　from　the　invisible　worlda　look　of　awful　warning　and　reproof；　almost　as　if　the　pale　set　lips　were　unclosing　to　demand　of　him　where　he　was　in　the　valley　of　shadows；　through　which　the　way　lay　to　Jerusalem。　　If　Henry　had　turned　back；　and　warned　him　at　the　gate　of　the　heavenly　Sion；　surely　such　would　have　been　his　countenance；　and　Malcolm；　when；　like　James；　he　had　sprinkled　the　holy　water　on　the　white　brow；　and　crossed　himself　while　the　low　chant　of　Psalms　from　kneeling　priests　went　up　around　himclasped　his　two　hands　close　together；　and　breathed　forth　the　words；　'Oh；　I　have　wandered　far！　　O　great　King；　I　will　never　leave　the　straight　way　again！　　I　will　cast　aside　all　worldly　aims！　　O　God；　and　the　Saints；　help　me　not　to　lose　my　way　again！'

He　would　have　tarried　on　still；　in　the　fascination　of　that　wonderful　unearthly　countenance；　and　in　the　inertness　of　faculties　stunned　by　fatigue　and　excitement；　but　James　summoned　him　by　a　touch；　and　he　again　followed　him。

'O　Sir！'　he　began；　when　they　had　turned　away；　'I　repent　me　of　my　falling　away　to　the　world！　　I　give　all　up。　　Let　me　back　to　my　vows　of　old。'

'We　will　talk　of　that　another　time；'　said　James；　gravely。　　'Neither　you　nor　I；　Malcolm；　can　think　reasonably　under　such　a　blow　as　this；　and　I　forbid　you　rashly　to　bind　yourself。'

'Sir；　Sir！'　cried　Malcolm；　petulantly。　　'You　took　me　from　the　straight　way。　　You　shall　not　hinder　my　return！'

'I　hinder　no　true　purpose；'　said　King　James。　　'I　only　hinder　another　rash　and　hasty　pledge；　to　be　felt　as　a　fetter；　or　left　broken　on　your　conscience。　　Silence　now。　　When　men　are　sad　and　spent　they　cannot　speak　as　befits　them；　and　had　best　hold　their　peace。'

These　words　were　spoken　on　the　way　up　the　stair　that　led　to　the　apartments　of　the　King　of　Scots。　　On　opening　the　door　of　the　larger　room；　the　first　thing　they　saw　was　the　tall　figure　of　a　distinguished…looking　knight；　who；　as　they　entered；　flung　himself　at　King　James's　feet；　fervently　exclaiming；　'O　my　liege！　accept　my　homage！　　Never　was　vassal　so　bound　to　his　lord　by　thankfulness　for　his　life；　and　for　far　more　than　his　life！'

'Sir　Patrick　Drummond；　I　am　glad　to　see　you　better　at　ease；'　said　James。　　'Nay；　suffer　me；'　he　added；　giving　his　hand　to　raise　the　knight；　but　finding　it　grasped　and　kissed　with　passionate　devotion；　almost　overpowering　the　only　half…recovered　knight；　so　that　James　was　forced　to　use　strength　to　support　him；　and　would　at　once　have　lifted　him　up；　but　the　warm…hearted　Patrick　resisted；　almost　sobbing　out　'Nay；　Sir！　king　of　my　heart　indeed！　let　me　first　thank　you。　　I　knew　not　how　much　more　I　owed　you　than　the　poor　life　you　savedmy　father's　rescue；　and　that　of　all　that　was　most　dear。'

'Speak　of　such　things　seated；　my　good　friend；'　said　James；　trying　to　raise　him；　but　Drummond　still　did　not　second　his　efforts。

'I　have　not　given　my　parole　of　honour　as　the　captive　whose　life　is　again　due　to　you。'

'You　must　give　that　to　the　Duke　of　Bedford；　Sir　Patrick；'　said　James。　'I　know　not　if　I　am　to　be　put　into　ward　myself。　　In　any　case　you　are　safe；　by　the　good　King's　grace；　so　you　pledge　yourself　to　draw　no　sword　against　England　in　Scotland　or　France　till　ransom　be　accepted　for　you。'

'Alack！'　said　Patrick；　'I　have　neither　sword　nor　ransom。　　I　would　I　knew　what　was　to　be　done　with　the　life　you　have　given　me；　my　lord。'

'I　will　find　a　use　for　it；　never　fear；'　said　James；　sadly；　but　kindly。　　'Be　my　knight　for　the　present；　till　better　days　come　for　us　both。'

'With　my　whole　heart！'　said　Patrick；　fervently。　　'Yours　am　I　for　ever；　my　liege。'

'Then　my　first　command　is　that　you　should　rise；　and　rest；'　said　James；　assisting　the　knight　to　regain　his　feet；　and　placing　him　in　the　only　chair　in　the　room。　　'You　must　become　a　whole　man　as　soon　as　may　be。'

For　Patrick's　arm　was　in　a　sling；　and　evidently　still　painful　and　useless；　and　he　sank　back；　breathless　and　unresisting；　like　one　who　had　by　no　means　regained　perfect　health；　while　his　handsome　features　looked　worn　and　pale。　　'I　fear　me；'　said　James；　as　the　two　cousins　silently　shook　hands；　'that　you　have　moved　over　soon。You　surely　had　my　message；　Bairdsbrae？'

'Oh　yes；　my　lord；'　replied　Baird；　'but　the　lad　was　the　harder　to　hold；　and　after　the　fever　was　gone；　we　deemed　he　could　well　brook　the　journey　by　water。　　'Twas　time　I　was　here　to　guide　ye　too；　my　lord；　you　and　the　callant　baith　look　sair　forfaughten。'

'We　have　had　a　sad　time　of　it；　Nigel；'　said　James；　with　trembling　lip。

'And　if　Brewster　tells　me　right；　ye've　not　tasted　food　the　whole　day？'　said　Nigel；　laying　an　authoritative　hand　on　his　royal　pupil。　'Nay；　sit　ye　down；　here　come　the　varlets　with　the　meal　I　bade　them　have　ready。'

James　passively　yielded；　courteously　signing　to　the　others　to　share　the　food　that　was　spread　on　a　table；　and　with　the　same　scarcely　conscious　grace；　making　inquiries；　which　elicited　that　Patrick　Drummond's　hurts　had　been　caused　by　his　horse　falling　and　rolling　over　with　him；　whilst　with　Sir　John　Swinton　and　other　Scottish　knights　he　was　reconnoitring　the　line　of　the　English　march。　　He　was　too　much　injured　to　be　taken　back　to　the　far　distant　camp；　and　had　accordingly　been　intrusted　to　the　French　farmer；　with　no　attendant　but　a　young　French　horse…boy；　since　he　was　too　poor　to　keep　a　squire。　He　knew　nothing　more；　for　fever　had　run　high；　and　he　had　not　even　been　sensible　of　his　desertion　by　his　French　hosts　on　the　approach　of　the　English；　far　less　of　the　fire；　and　of　his　rescue　by　the　King　and　Malcolm；　but　for　this　he　seemed　inclined　to　compensate　to　the　utmost；　by　the　intense　eagerness　of　devotion　with　which　he　regarded　James；　who　sat　meanwhile　crushed　down　by　the　weight　of　his　own　grief。

'I　can　eat　no　more；　Baird；'　said　he；　swallowing　down　a　draught　of　wine；　and　pushing　aside　his　trencher。　　'Your　license；　gentlemen。　　I　must　be　alone。　　Take　care　of　the　lads；　Nigel。　　Malcolm　is　spent　too。　His　deft　service　was　welcome　toto　my　dearest　brother。'

And　though　he　hastily　shut　himself　into　his　own　inner　chamber；　it　was　not　till　they　had　seen　that　his　grief　was　becoming　uncontrollable。

Patrick　could　not　but　murmur；　'Dearest　brother！'

'Ay；　like　brothers　they　loved！'　said　Baird；　gravely。

'A　strange　brotherhood；'　began　Drummond。

But　Malcolm　cried；　with　much　agitation；　'Not　a　word；　Patie！　　You　know　not　what　you　say。　　Take　heed　of　profaning　the　name　of　one　who　is　gone　to　the　Sion　above。'

'You　turned　English；　our　wee　Malcolm！'　exclaimed　Drummond；　in　amaze。

'There　is　no　English；　French；　or　Scot　where　he　is　gone！'　cried　Malcolm。　　'No　Babel！　　O　Patie；　I　have　been　far　fallen！　　I　have　done　you　in　heart　a　grievous　wrong！　but　if　I　have　turned　back　in　time；　it　is　his　doing　that　lies　there。'

'His！　what；　Harry　of　Lancaster's？'　demanded　the　bewildered　Patrick。　'What　had　he　to　do　with　you？'

'He　has　been　my　only　true　friend　here！'　cried　Malcolm。　　'Oh；　if　my　hand　be　free　from　actual　spoil　and　bloodshed；　it　was　his　doing！　　Oh；　that　he　could　hear　me　bless　him　for　the　chastisement　I　took　so　bitterly！'

'Chastisement！'　demanded　Patrick。　　'The　English　King　dared　chastise　YOU！　of　Scots　blood　royal！　　'Tis　well　he　is　dead！'

'The　laddie's　well…nigh　beside　himself！'　said　Baird。　　'But　he　speaks　true。　　This　king　whom　Heaven　assolizie；　kept　a　tight　hand　over　the　youngsters；　and　falling　on　Lord　Malcolm　and　some　other　callants　making　free　with　a　house　at　Meaux；　dealt　some　blows；　of　which　my　young　lord　found　it　hard　to　stomach　his　share；　though　I　am　glad　to　see　he　is　come　to　a　better　mind。　　Ay；　'tis　pity　of　this　King　Harry！　Brave　and　leal　was　he；　never　spake　an　untrue　word；　never　turned　eye　for　fear；　nor　foot　for　weariness；　nor　hand　for　toil；　nor　nose　for　ill　savour。　　A　man；　look　you；　to　be　trusted；　never　failing　his　word　for　good　or　ill！　　Right　little　love　has　there　been　between　him　and　me；　but　I　could　weep　like　my　own　lad　in　there；　to　think　I　shall　never　see　that　knightly　presence　more；　nor　hear　those　frank　gladsome　voices　of　the　boys；　as　they　used　to　shout　up　and　down　Windsor　Forest。'

'You　too；　Sir　Nigel！　and　with　a　king　like　ours！'

'Ay；　Sir　Patrick！　and　if　he　be　such　a　king　as　Scotland　never　had　since　St。　David；　and　maybe　not　then；　I'm　free　to　own　as　much　of　it　is　due　to　King　Harry　as　to　his　own　noble　self。Did　ye　say　th