the path of the king-第11节

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is；　and　there　is　none　prouder　in　Hainault。　He　will　husband　her　well；　but　she　will　be　a　clever　woman　if　she　tethers　to　her　side　a　man　of　my　bearing。　He　will　be　for　the　high　road　and　the　battle…front。〃

〃A　puissant　and　peaceable　knight；　I　have　heard　tell；〃　said　the　Cluniac。

〃Puissant　beyond　doubt；　and　peaceable　when　his　will　is　served。　He　will　play　boldly　for　great　things　and　will　win　them。　Ah；　monk！　What　knows　a　childless　religious　of　a　mother's　certainty？　'Twas　not　for　nothing　that　I　found　Willebald　and　changed　the　cobbles　of　King's　Lynn　for　this　fat　country。　It　is　gold　that　brings　power；　and　the　stiffest　royal　neck　must　bend　to　him　who　has　the　deep　coffers。　It　is　gold　and　his　high　hand　that　will　set　my　Philip　by　the　side　of　kings。　Lord　Jesus；　what　a　fortune　I　have　made　for　him！　There　is　coined　money　at　the　goldsmiths'　and　in　my　cellars；　and　the　ships　at　the　ports；　and　a　hundred　busy　looms；　and　lands　in　Hainault　and　Artois；　and　fair　houses　in　Bruges　and　Ghent。　Boats　on　the　Rhine　and　many　pack　trains　between　Antwerp　and　Venice　are　his；　and　a　wealth　of　preciousness　lies　in　his　name　with　the　Italian　merchants。　Likewise　there　is　this　dwelling　of　mine；　with　plenishing　which　few　kings　could　buy。　My　sands　sink　in　the　glass；　but　as　I　lie　a…bed　I　hear　the　bustle　of　wains　and　horses　in　the　streets；　and　the　talk　of　shipfolk；　and　the　clatter　of　my　serving　men　beneath；　and　I　know　that　daily；　hourly；　more　riches　flow　hither　to　furnish　my　son's　kingdom。〃

The　monk's　eyes　sparkled　at　this　vision　of　wealth；　and　he　remembered　his　errand。

〃A　most　noble　heritage。　But　if　the　Sire　God　in　His　inscrutable　providence　should　call　your　son　to　His　holy　side；　what　provision　have　you　made　for　so　mighty　a　fortune？　Does　your　daughter　then　share？〃

The　face　on　the　pillows　became　suddenly　wicked　and　very　old。　The　eyes　were　lit　with　hate。

〃Not　a　bezant　of　which　I　have　the　bequeathing。　She　has　something　from　Willebald；　and　her　dull　husband　makes　a　livelihood。　'Twill　suffice　for　the　female　brats；　of　whom　she　has　brought　three　into　the　world　to　cumber　it。。。。　By　the　Gospels；　she　will　lie　on　the　bed　she　has　made。　I　did　not　scheme　and　toil　to　make　gold　for　such　leaden　souls。〃

〃But　if　your　most　worthy　son　should　die　ere　he　has　begot　children；　have　you　made　no　disposition？〃　The　monk's　voice　was　pointed　with　anxiety；　for　was　not　certainty　on　this　point　the　object　of　his　journey？　The　woman　perceived　it　and　laughed　maliciously。

〃I　have　made　dispositions。　Such　a　chapel　will　be　builded　in　the　New　Kirk　as　Rome　cannot　equal。　Likewise　there　will　be　benefactions　for　the　poor　and　a　great　endowment　for　the　monks　at　St。　Sauveur。　If　my　seed　is　not　to　continue　on　earth　I　will　make　favour　in　Paradise。〃

〃And　we　of　Cluny；　madam？〃　The　voice　trembled　in　spite　of　its　training。

〃Nay　I　have　not　forgotten　Cluny。　Its　Abbot　shall　have　the　gold　flagons　from　Jerusalem　and　some　wherewithal　in　money。　But　what　is　this　talk？　Philip　will　not　die；　and　like　his　mother　he　loves　Holy　Church　and　will　befriend　her　in　all　her　works。。。。　Listen；　father；　it　is　long　past　the　hour　when　men　cease　from　labour；　and　yet　my　provident　folk　are　busy。　Hark　to　the　bustle　below。　That　will　be　the　convoy　from　the　Vermandois。　Jesu；　what　a　night！〃

。　　。　　。　　。　　。　　。　　。　　。　　。　　。　　。　　。　　。　　。　　。　　。　　。　　。　　。　　。　　。

Flurries　of　snow　beat　on　windows；　and　draughts　stirred　the　hot　ashes　in　the　braziers　and　sent　the　smoke　from　them　in　odd　spirals　about　the　chamber。　It　had　become　perishing　cold；　and　the　monkey　among　the　bedclothes　whimpered　and　snuggled　closer　into　his　nest。　There　seemed　to　be　a　great　stir　about　the　house…door。　Loud　voices　were　heard　in　gusts；　and　a　sound　like　a　woman's　cry。　The　head　on　the　pillow　was　raised　to　listen。

〃A　murrain　on　those　folk。　There　has　been　bungling　among　the　pack…riders。　That　new　man　Derek　is　an　oaf　of　oafs。〃

She　rang　her　silver　bell　sharply　and　waited　on　the　ready　footsteps。　But　none　came。　There　was　silence　now　below；　an　ominous　silence。

〃God's　curse　upon　this　household；〃　the　woman　cried。　The　monkey　whimpered　again；　and　she　took　it　by　the　scruff　and　tossed　it　to　the　floor。　〃Peace；　ape；　or　I　will　have　you　strangled。　Bestir　yourself；　father；　and　call　Anton。　There　is　a　blight　of　deafness　in　this　place。〃

The　room　had　suddenly　lost　its　comfort　and　become　cold　and　desolate。　The　lamps　were　burning　low　and　the　coloured　hangings　were　in　deep　shadow。　The　storm　was　knocking　fiercely　at　the　lattice。

The　monk　rose　with　a　shiver　to　do　her　bidding；　but　he　was　forestalled。　Steps　sounded　on　the　stairs　and　the　steward　entered。　The　woman　in　the　bed　had　opened　her　mouth　to　upbraid；　when　something　in　his　dim　figure　struck　her　silent。

The　old　man　stumbled　forward　and　fell　on　his　knees　beside　her。

〃Madam；　dear　madam；〃　he　stammered；　〃ill　news　has　come　to　this　house。。。。　There　is　a　post　in　from　Avesnes。。。。　The　young　master　。。。　〃

〃Philip；〃　and　the　woman's　voice　rose　to　a　scream。　〃What　of　my　son？〃

〃The　lord　has　taken　away　what　He　gave。　He　is　dead；　slain　in　a　scuffle　with　highway　robbers。。。。　Oh；　the　noble　young　lord！　The　fair　young　knight！　Woe　upon　this　stricken　house！〃

The　woman　lay　very　still；　white　the　old　man　on　his　knees　drifted　into　broken　prayers。　Then　he　observed　her　silence；　scrambled　to　his　feet　in　a　panic；　and　lit　two　candles　from　the　nearest　brazier。　She　lay　back　on　the　pillows　in　a　deathly　faintness；　her　face　drained　of　blood。　Only　her　tortured　eyes　showed　that　life　was　still　in　her。

Her　voice　came　at　last；　no　louder　than　a　whisper。　It　was　soft　now；　but　more　terrible　than　the　old　harshness。

〃I　follow　Philip；〃　it　said。　〃Sic　transit　gloria。。。。　Call　me　Arnulf　the　goldsmith　and　Robert　the　scrivener。　。　。　。　Quick；　man；　quick。　I　have　much　to　do　ere　I　die。〃

As　the　steward　hurried　out；　the　Cluniac；　remembering　his　office；　sought　to　offer　comfort；　but　in　his　bland　worldling's　voice　the　consolations　sounded　hollow。　She　lay　motionless；　while　he　quoted　the　Scriptures。　Encouraged　by　her　docility；　he　spoke　of　the　certain　reward　promised　by　Heaven　to　the　rich　who　remembered　the　Church　at　their　death。　He　touched　upon　the　high　duties　of　his　Order　and　the　handicap　of　its　poverty。　He　bade　her　remember　her　debt　to　the　Abbot　of　Cluny。

She　seemed　about　to　speak　and　he　bent　eagerly　to　catch　her　words。

〃Peace；　you　babbler；〃　she　said。　〃I　am　done　with　your　God。　When　I　meet　Him　I　will　outface　Him。　He　has　broken　His　compact　and　betrayed　me。　My　riches　go　to　the　Burgrave　for　the　comfort　of　this　city　where　they　were　won。　Let　your　broken　rush　of　a　Church　wither　and　rot！〃

Scared　out　of　all　composure　by　this　blasphemy；　the　Cluniac　fell　to　crossing　himself　and　mumbling　invocations。　The　diplomat　had　vanished　and　only　the　frightened　monk　remained。　He　would　fain　have　left　the　room　had　he　dared；　but　the　spell　of　her　masterful　spirit　held　him。　After　that　she　spoke　nothing。　。　。　。

。　　。　　。　　。　　。　　。　　。　　。　　。　　。　　。　　。　　。　　。　　。　　。　　。　　。　　。　　。　　。

Again　there　was　a　noise　on　the　stairs　and　she　moved　a　little；　as　if　mustering　her　failing　strength　for　the　ultimate　business。　But　it　was　not　Arnulf　the　gold　smith。　It　was　Anton；　and　he　shook　like　a　man　on　his　way　to　the　gallows。

〃Madam；　dear　madam；〃　he　stammered；　again　on　his　knees。　〃There　is　another　message。　One　has　come　from　the　Bredestreet　with　word　of　your　lady　daughter。　An　hour　ago　she　has　borne　a　child。　。　。A　lusty　son；　madam。〃

The　reply　from　the　bed　was　laughter。

It　began　low　and　hoarse　like　a　fit　of　coughing；　and　rose　to　the　high　cackling　mirth　of　extreme　age。　At　the　sound　both　Anton　and　the　monk　took　to　praying。　Presently　it　stopped；　and　her　voice　came　full　and　strong　as　it　had　been　of　old。

〃Mea　culpa；〃　it　said；　〃mea　maxima　culpa。　I　judged　the　Sire　God　over　hastily。　He　is　merry　and　has　wrought　a　jest　on　me。　He　has　kept　His　celestial　promise　in　His　own　fashion。　He　takes　my　brave　Philip　and　gives　me　instead　a　suckling。。。。　So　be　it。　The　infant　has　my　blood；　and　the　race　of　Forester　John　will　not　die。　Arnulf　will　have　an　easy　task。

He　need　but　set　the　name　of　this　new…born　in　Philip's　place。　What　manner　of　child　is　he；　Anton？　Lusty；　you　say；　and　well…formed？　I　would　my　arms　could　have　held　him。。。。　But　I　must　be　about　my　business　of　dying。　I　will　take　the　news　to　Philip。〃

Hope　had　risen　again　in　the　Cluniac's　breast。　It　seemed　that　here　was　a　penitent。　He　approached　the　bed　with　a　raised　crucifix；　and　stumbled　over　the　whimpering　monkey。　The　woman's　eyes　saw　him　and　a　last　flicker　woke　in　them。

〃Begone；　man；〃　she　cried。　〃I　have　done　with　the　world。　Anton；　rid　me　of　both　these　apes。　And　fetch　the　priest　of　St。　Martin's；　for　I　would　confess　and　be　shriven。　Yon　curate　is　no　doubt　a　fool；　but　he　serves　my　jesting　God。〃



CHAPTER　4。　EYES　OF　YOUTH

On　the　morning　of　Shrove　Tuesday；　in　the　year　of　our　Lord　1249；　Sir　Aimery　　of　Beaumanoir；　the　envoy　of　the　most　Christian　king；　Louis　of　France；　　arrived　in　the　port　of　Acre；　having　made　the　voyage　from　Cyprus　with　a　　fair　wind　in　a　day　and　a　night　in　a　ship　of　Genoa　flying　the　red　and　gold　　banner　of　the　Temple。　Weary　of　the　palms　and　sun…baked　streets　of　Limasol　　and　the　eternal　wrangling　of　the　Crusading　hosts；　he　looked　with　favour　at　　the　noble　Palestine　harbour；　and　the　gilt　steeples　and　carven　houses　of　　the　fair　city。　From　the　quay　he　rode　to　the　palace　of　the　Templars　a