men of iron-第31节

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sh　thee　all　success。〃　Then　she　bowed　her　head；　and；　turning；　left　him　holding　the　necklace　in　his　hand。

Her　cousin　left　the　window　to　meet　her；　bowing　her　head　with　a　smile　to　Myles　as　she　took　her　cousin's　arm　again　and　led　her　away。　He　stood　looking　after　them　as　they　left　the　room；　and　when　they　were　gone；　he　raised　the　necklace　to　his　lips　with　a　heart　beating　tumultuously　with　a　triumphant　joy　it　had　never　felt　before。



CHAPTER　26

And　now；　at　last；　had　come　the　day　of　days　for　Myles　Falworth；　the　day　when　he　was　to　put　to　the　test　all　that　he　had　acquired　in　the　three　years　of　his　training；　the　day　that　was　to　disclose　what　promise　of　future　greatness　there　was　in　his　strong　young　body。　And　it　was　a　noble　day；　one　of　those　of　late　September；　when　the　air　seems　sweeter　and　fresher　than　at　other　times；　the　sun　bright　and　as　yellow　as　gold；　the　wind　lusty　and　strong；　before　which　the　great　white　clouds　go　sailing　majestically　across　the　bright　blueness　of　the　sky　above；　while　their　dusky　shadows　skim　across　the　brown　face　of　the　rusty　earth　beneath。

As　was　said　before；　the　lists　had　been　set　up　in　the　great　quadrangle　of　the　castle；　than　which；　level　and　smooth　as　a　floor；　no　more　fitting　place　could　be　chosen。　The　course　was　of　the　usual　size　sixty　paces　longand　separated　along　its　whole　length　by　a　barrier　about　five　feet　high。　Upon　the　west　side　of　the　course　and　about　twenty　paces　distant　from　it；　a　scaffolding　had　been　built　facing　towards　the　east　so　as　to　avoid　the　glare　of　the　afternoon　sun。　In　the　centre　was　a　raised　dais；　hung　round　with　cloth　of　blue　embroidered　with　lions　rampant。　Upon　the　dais　stood　a　cushioned　throne　for　the　King；　and　upon　the　steps　below；　ranged　in　the　order　of　their　dignity；　were　seats　for　the　Earl；　his　guests；　the　family；　the　ladies；　knights；　and　gentlemen　of　the　castle。　In　front；　the　scaffolding　was　covered　with　the　gayest　tapestries　and　brightest…colored　hangings　that　the　castle　could　afford。　And　above；　parti…colored　pennants　and　streamers；　surmounted　by　the　royal　ensign　of　England；　waved　and　fluttered　in　the　brisk　wind。

At　either　end　of　the　lists　stood　the　pavilions　of　the　knights。　That　of　Myles　was　at　the　southern　extremity　and　was　hung；　by　the　Earl's　desire；　with　cloth　of　the　Beaumont　colors　（black　and　yellow）；　while　a　wooden　shield　bearing　three　goshawks　spread　（the　crest　of　the　house）　was　nailed　to　the　roof；　and　a　long　streamer　of　black　and　yellow　trailed　out　in　the　wind　from　the　staff　above。　Myles；　partly　armed；　stood　at　the　door…way　of　the　pavilion；　watching　the　folk　gathering　at　the　scaffolding。　The　ladies　of　the　house　were　already　seated；　and　the　ushers　were　bustling　hither　and　thither；　assigning　the　others　their　places。　A　considerable　crowd　of　common　folk　and　burghers　from　the　town　had　already　gathered　at　the　barriers　opposite；　and　as　he　looked　at　the　restless　and　growing　multitude　he　felt　his　heart　beat　quickly　and　his　flesh　grow　cold　with　a　nervous　trepidation　just　such　as　the　lad　of　to…day　feels　when　he　sees　the　auditorium　filling　with　friends　and　strangers　who　are　to　listen　by…and…by　to　the　reading　of　his　prize　poem。

Suddenly　there　came　a　loud　blast　of　trumpets。　A　great　gate　at　the　farther　extremity　of　the　lists　was　thrown　open；　and　the　King　appeared；　riding　upon　a　white　horse；　preceded　by　the　King…at…arms　and　the　heralds；　attended　by　the　Earl　and　the　Comte　de　Vermoise；　and　followed　by　a　crowd　of　attendants。　Just　then　Gascoyne；　who；　with　Wilkes；　was　busied　lacing　some　of　the　armor　plates　with　new　thongs；　called　Myles；　and　he　turned　and　entered　the　pavilion。

As　the　two　squires　were　adjusting　these　last　pieces；　strapping　them　in　place　and　tying　the　thongs；　Lord　George　and　Sir　James　Lee　entered　the　pavilion。　Lord　George　took　the　young　man　by　the　hand；　and　with　a　pleasant　smile　wished　him　success　in　the　coming　encounter。

Sir　James　seemed　anxious　and　disturbed。　He　said　nothing；　and　after　Gascoyne　had　placed　the　open　bascinet　that　supports　the　tilting　helm　in　its　place；　he　came　forward　and　examined　the　armor　piece　by　piece；　carefully　and　critically；　testing　the　various　straps　and　leather　points　and　thongs　to　make　sure　of　their　strength。

〃Sir；〃　said　Gascoyne；　who　stood　by　watching　him　anxiously；　〃I　do　trust　that　I　have　done　all　meetly　and　well。〃

〃I　see　nothing　amiss；　sirrah；〃　said　the　old　knight；　half　grudgingly。　〃So　far　as　I　may　know；　he　is　ready　to　mount。〃

Just　then　a　messenger　entered；　saying　that　the　King　was　seated；　and　Lord　George　bade　Myles　make　haste　to　meet　the　challenger。

〃Francis；〃　said　Myles；　〃prithee　give　me　my　pouch　yonder。〃

Gascoyne　handed　him　the　velvet　bag；　and　he　opened　it；　and　took　out　the　necklace　that　the　Lady　Alice　had　given　him　the　day　before。

〃Tie　me　this　around　my　arm；〃　said　he。　He　looked　down；　keeping　his　eyes　studiously　fixed　on　Gascoyne's　fingers；　as　they　twined　the　thin　golden　chain　around　the　iron　plates　of　his　right　arm；　knowing　that　Lord　George's　eyes　were　upon　him；　and　blushing　fiery　red　at　the　knowledge。

Sir　James　was　at　that　moment　examining　the　great　tilting　helm；　and　Lord　George　watched　him；　smiling　amusedly。　〃And　hast　thou　then　already　chosen　thee　a　lady？〃　he　said；　presently。

〃Aye；　my　Lord；〃　answered　Myles；　simply。

〃Marry；　I　trust　we　be　so　honored　that　she　is　one　of　our　castle　folk；〃　said　the　Earl's　brother。

For　a　moment　Myles　did　not　reply；　then　he　looked　up。　〃My　Lord；〃　said　he；　〃the　favor　was　given　to　me　by　the　Lady　Alice。〃

Lord　George　looked　grave　for　the　moment；　then　he　laughed。　〃Marry；　thou　art　a　bold　archer　to　shoot　for　such　high　game。〃

Myles　did　not　answer；　and　at　that　moment　two　grooms　led　his　horse　up　to　the　door　of　the　pavilion。　Gascoyne　and　Wilkes　helped　him　to　his　saddle；　and　then；　Gascoyne　holding　his　horse　by　the　bridle…rein；　he　rode　slowly　across　the　lists　to　the　little　open　space　in　front　of　the　scaffolding　and　the　King's　seat　just　as　the　Sieur　de　la　Montaigne　approached　from　the　opposite　direction。

As　soon　as　the　two　knights　champion　had　reached　each　his　appointed　station　in　front　of　the　scaffolding；　the　Marshal　bade　the　speaker　read　the　challenge；　which；　unrolling　the　parchment；　he　began　to　do　in　a　loud；　clear　voice；　so　that　all　might　hear。　It　was　a　quaint　document；　wrapped　up　in　the　tangled　heraldic　verbiage　of　the　time。

The　pith　of　the　matter　was　that　the　Sieur　Brian　Philip　Francis　de　la　Montaigne　proclaimed　before　all　men　the　greater　chivalry　and　skill　at　arms　of　the　knights　of　France　and　of　Dauphiny；　and　likewise　the　greater　fairness　of　the　ladies　of　France　and　Dauphiny；　and　would　there　defend　those　sayings　with　his　body　without　fear　or　attaint　as　to　the　truth　of　the　same。　As　soon　as　the　speaker　had　ended；　the　Marshal　bade　him　call　the　defendant　of　the　other　side。

Then　Myles　spoke　his　part；　with　a　voice　trembling　somewhat　with　the　excitement　of　the　moment；　but　loudly　and　clearly　enough：　〃I；　Myles　Edward　Falworth；　knight；　so　created　by　the　hand　and　by　the　grace　of　his　Majesty　King　Henry　IV　of　England；　do　take　upon　me　the　gage　of　this　battle；　and　will　defend　with　my　body　the　chivalry　of　the　knights　of　England　and　the　fairness　of　the　ladies　thereof！〃

Then；　after　the　speaker　ended　his　proclamation　and　had　retired　to　his　place；　the　ceremony　of　claiming　and　redeeming　the　helmet；　to　which　all　young　knights　were　subjected　upon　first　entering　the　lists；　was　performed。

One　of　the　heralds　cried　in　a　loud　voice；　〃I；　Gilles　Hamerton；　herald　to　the　most　noble　Clarencieux　King…at…arms；　do　claim　the　helm　of　Sir　Myles　Edward　Falworth　by　this　reason；　that　he　hath　never　yet　entered　joust　or　tourney。〃

To　which　Myles　answered；　〃I　do　acknowledge　the　right　of　that　claim；　and　herewith　proffer　thee　in　ransom　for　the　same　this　purse　of　one　hundred　marks　in　gold。〃

As　he　spoke；　Gascoyne　stepped　forward　and　delivered　the　purse；　with　the　money；　to　the　Herald。　It　was　a　more　than　usually　considerable　ransom；　and　had　been　made　up　by　the　Earl　and　Lord　George　that　morning。

〃Right　nobly　hast　thou　redeemed　thy　helm；〃　said　the　Herald；　〃and　hereafter　be　thou　free　to　enter　any　jousting　whatsoever；　and　in　whatever　place。〃

So；　all　being　ended；　both　knights　bowed　to　the　King；　and　then；　escorted　each　by　his　squire；　returned　to　his　pavilion；　saluted　by　the　spectators　with　a　loud　clapping　of　hands。

Sir　James　Lee　met　Myles　in　front　of　his　tent。　Coming　up　to　the　side　of　the　horse；　the　old　man　laid　his　hand　upon　the　saddle；　looking　up　into　the　young　man's　face。

〃Thou　wilt　not　fail　in　this　venture　and　bring　shame　upon　me？〃　said　he。

〃Nay；　my　dear　master；〃　said　Myles；　〃I　will　do　my　best。〃

〃I　doubt　it　not；〃　said　the　old　man；　〃and　I　believe　me　thou　wilt　come　off　right　well。　From　what　he　did　say　this　morning；　methinks　the　Sieur　de　la　Montaigne　meaneth　only　to　break　three　lances　with　thee；　and　will　content　himself　therewith；　without　seeking　to　unhorse　thee。　Ne'theless；　be　thou　bold　and　watchful；　and　if　thou　find　that　he　endeavor　to　cast　thee；　do　thy　best　to　unhorse　him。　Remember　also　those　things　which　I　have　told　thee　ten　thousand　times　before：　hold　thy　toes　well　down　and　grip　the　stirrup　hard；　more　especially　at　the　moment　of　meeting；　bend　thy　body　forward；　and　keep　thine　elbow　close　to　thy　side。　Bear　thy　lance　point　one　foot　above　thine　adversary's　helm　until　within　two　lengths　of　meetin