men of iron-第35节

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Myles　did　not　answer。

〃No　matter；〃　added　Lord　Mackworth。　〃I　will　not　ask　thee　who　told　thee　such　a　thing。　As　for　thy　questionwell；　sin　thou　ask　it　frankly；　I　will　be　frank　with　thee。　Yea；　I　have　certain　ends　to　gain　in　having　the　Earl　of　Alban　overthrown。〃

Myles　bowed。　〃Sir；〃　said　he；　〃haply　thine　ends　are　as　much　beyond　aught　that　I　can　comprehend　as　though　I　were　a　little　child；　only　this　I　know；　that　they　must　be　very　great。　Thou　knowest　well　that　in　any　case　I　would　fight　me　this　battle　for　my　father's　sake　and　for　the　honor　of　my　house；　nevertheless；　in　return　for　all　that　it　will　so　greatly　advantage　thee；　wilt　thou　not　grant　me　a　boon　in　return　should　I　overcome　mine　enemy？〃

〃What　is　thy　boon；　Sir　Myles？〃

〃That　thou　wilt　grant　me　thy　favor　to　seek　the　Lady　Alice　de　Mowbray　for　my　wife。〃

The　Earl　of　Mackworth　started　up　from　his　seat。　〃Sir　Myles　Falworth〃he　began；　violently；　and　then　stopped　short；　drawing　his　bushy　eyebrows　together　into　a　frown　stern；　if　not　sinister。

Myles　withstood　his　look　calmly　and　impassively；　and　presently　the　Earl　turned　on　his　heel；　and　strode　to　the　open　window。　A　long　time　passed　in　silence　while　he　stood　there；　gazing　out　of　the　window　into　the　garden　beyond　with　his　back　to　the　young　man。

Suddenly　he　swung　around　again。　〃Sir　Myles；〃　said　he；　〃the　family　of　Falworth　is　as　good　as　any　in　Derbyshire。　Just　now　it　is　poor　and　fallen　in　estate；　but　if　it　is　again　placed　in　credit　and　honor；　thou；　who　art　the　son　of　the　house；　shalt　have　thy　suit　weighed　with　as　much　respect　and　consideration　as　though　thou　wert　my　peer　in　all　things；　Such　is　my　answer。　Art　thou　satisfied？〃

〃I　could　ask　no　more；〃　answered　Myles。



CHAPTER　29

That　night　Myles　lodged　at　Mackworth　House。　The　next　morning；　as　soon　as　he　had　broken　his　fast；　which　he　did　in　the　privacy　of　his　own　apartments；　the　Earl　bade　him　and　Gascoyne　to　make　ready　for　the　barge；　which　was　then　waiting　at　the　river　stairs　to　take　them　to　Scotland　Yard。

The　Earl　himself　accompanied　them；　and　as　the　heavy　snub…nosed　boat；　rowed　by　the　six　oarsmen　in　Mackworth　livery；　slid　slowly　and　heavily　up　against　the　stream；　the　Earl；　leaning　back　in　his　cushioned　seat；　pointed　out　the　various　inns　of　the　great　priests　or　nobles；　palatial　town　residences　standing　mostly　a　little　distance　back　from　the　water　behind　terraced　high…walled　gardens　and　lawns。　Yon　was　the　Bishop　of　Exeter's　Close；　yon　was　the　Bishop　of　Bath's；　that　was　York　House；　and　that　Chester　Inn。　So　passing　by　gardens　and　lawns　and　palaces；　they　came　at　last　to　Scotland　Yard　stairs；　a　broad　flight　of　marble　steps　that　led　upward　to　a　stone　platform　above；　upon　which　opened　the　gate…way　of　the　garden　beyond。

The　Scotland　Yard　of　Myles　Falworth's　day　was　one　of　the　more　pretentious　and　commodious　of　the　palaces　of　the　Strand。　It　took　its　name　from　having　been　from　ancient　times　the　London　inn　which　the　tributary　Kings　of　Scotland　occupied　when　on　their　periodical　visits　of　homage　to　England。　Now；　during　this　time　of　Scotland's　independence；　the　Prince　of　Wales　had　taken　up　his　lodging　in　the　old　palace；　and　made　it　noisy　with　the　mad；　boisterous　mirth　of　his　court。

As　the　watermen　drew　the　barge　close　to　the　landing…place　of　the　stairs；　the　Earl　stepped　ashore；　and　followed　by　Myles　and　Gascoyne；　ascended　to　the　broad　gate…way　of　the　river　wall　of　the　garden。　Three　men…at…arms　who　lounged　upon　a　bench　under　the　shade　of　the　little　pent　roof　of　a　guard…house　beside　the　wall；　arose　and　saluted　as　the　well…known　figure　of　the　Earl　mounted　the　steps。　The　Earl　nodded　a　cool　answer；　and　passing　unchallenged　through　the　gate；　led　the　way　up　a　pleached　walk；　beyond　which；　as　Myles　could　see；　there　stretched　a　little　grassy　lawn　and　a　stone…paved　terrace。　As　the　Earl　and　the　two　young　men　approached　the　end　of　the　walk；　they　were　met　by　the　sound　of　voices　and　laughter；　the　clinking　of　glasses　and　the　rattle　of　dishes。　Turning　a　corner；　they　came　suddenly　upon　a　party　of　young　gentlemen；　who　sat　at　a　late　breakfast　under　the　shade　of　a　wide…spreading　lime…tree。　They　had　evidently　just　left　the　tilt…yard；　for　two　of　the　guestssturdy；　thick…set　young　knightsyet　wore　a　part　of　their　tilting　armor。

Behind　the　merry　scene　stood　the　gray；　hoary　old　palace；　a　steep　flight　of　stone　steps；　and　a　long；　open；　stone…arched　gallery；　which　evidently　led　to　the　kitchen　beyond；　for　along　it　hurried　serving…　men；　running　up　and　down　the　tall　flight　of　steps；　and　bearing　trays　and　dishes　and　cups　and　flagons。　It　was　a　merry　sight　and　a　pleasant　one。　The　day　was　warm　and　balmy；　and　the　yellow　sunlight　fell　in　waving　uncertain　patches　of　light；　dappling　the　table…cloth；　and　twinkling　and　sparkling　upon　the　dishes；　cups；　and　flagons。

At　the　head　of　the　table　sat　a　young　man　some　three　or　four　years　older　than　Myles；　dressed　in　a　full　suit　of　rich　blue　brocaded　velvet；　embroidered　with　gold…thread　and　trimmed　with　black　fur。　His　face；　which　was　turned　towards　them　as　they　mounted　from　the　lawn　to　the　little　stone…flagged　terrace；　was　frank　and　open；　the　cheeks　smooth　and　fair；　the　eyes　dark　and　blue。　He　was　tall　and　rather　slight；　and　wore　his　thick　yellow　hair　hanging　to　his　shoulders；　where　it　was　cut　square　across；　after　the　manner　of　the　times。　Myles　did　not　need　to　be　told　that　it　was　the　Prince　of　Wales。

〃Ho；　Gaffer　Fox！〃　he　cried；　as　soon　as　he　caught　sight　of　the　Earl　of　Mackworth；　〃what　wind　blows　thee　hither　among　us　wild　mallard　drakes？　I　warrant　it　is　not　for　love　of　us；　but　only　to　fill　thine　own　larder　after　the　manner　of　Sir　Fox　among　the　drakes。　Whom　hast　thou　with　thee？　Some　gosling　thou　art　about　to　pluck？〃

A　sudden　hush　fell　upon　the　company；　and　all　faces　were　turned　towards　the　visitors。

The　Earl　bowed　with　a　soft　smile。　〃Your　Highness；〃　said　he；　smoothly；　〃is　pleased　to　be　pleasant。　Sir；　I　bring　you　the　young　knight　of　whom　I　spoke　to　you　some　time　sinceSir　Myles　Falworth。　You　may　be　pleased　to　bring　to　mind　that　you　so　condescended　as　to　promise　to　take　him　into　your　train　until　the　fitting　time　arrived　for　that　certain　matter　of　which　we　spoke。〃

〃Sir　Myles；〃　said　the　Prince　of　Wales；　with　a　frank；　pleasant　smile；　〃I　have　heard　great　reports　of　thy　skill　and　prowess　in　France；　both　from　Mackworth　and　from　others。　It　will　pleasure　me　greatly　to　have　thee　in　my　household；　more　especially；〃　he　added；　〃as　it　will　get　thee；　callow　as　thou　art；　out　of　my　Lord　Fox's　clutches。　Our　faction　cannot　do　without　the　Earl　of　Mackworth's　cunning　wits；　Sir　Myles；　ne'theless　I　would　not　like　to　put　all　my　fate　and　fortune　into　his　hands　without　bond。　I　hope　that　thou　dost　not　rest　thy　fortunes　entirely　upon　his　aid　and　countenance。〃

All　who　were　present　felt　the　discomfort　of　the　Prince's　speech；　It　was　evident　that　one　of　his　mad；　wild　humors　was　upon　him。　In　another　case　the　hare…brained　young　courtiers　around　might　have　taken　their　cue　from　him；　but　the　Earl　of　Mackworth　was　no　subject　for　their　gibes　and　witticisms。　A　constrained　silence　fell；　in　which　the　Earl　alone　maintained　a　perfect　ease　of　manner。

Myles　bowed　to　hide　his　own　embarrassment。　〃Your　Highness；〃　said　he；　evasively；　〃I　rest　my　fortune；　first　of　all；　upon　God；　His　strength　and　justice。〃

〃Thou　wilt　find　safer　dependence　there　than　upon　the　Lord　of　Mackworth；〃　said　the　Prince；　dryly。　〃But　come；〃　he　added；　with　a　sudden　change　of　voice　and　manner；　〃these　be　jests　that　border　too　closely　upon　bitter　earnest　for　a　merry　breakfast。　It　is　ill　to　idle　with　edged　tools。　Wilt　thou　not　stay　and　break　thy　fast　with　us；　my　Lord？〃

〃Pardon　me；　your　Highness；〃　said　the　Earl；　bowing；　and　smiling　the　same　smooth　smile　his　lips　had　worn　from　the　firstsuch　a　smile　as　Myles　had　never　thought　to　have　seen　upon　his　haughty　face；　〃I　crave　your　good　leave　to　decline。　I　must　return　home　presently；　for　even　now；　haply；　your　uncle；　his　Grace　of　Winchester；　is　awaiting　my　coming　upon　the　business　you　wot　of。　Haply　your　Highness　will　find　more　joyance　in　a　lusty　young　knight　like　Sir　Myles　than　in　an　old　fox　like　myself。　So　I　leave　him　with　you；　in　your　good　care。〃

Such　was　Myles's　introduction　to　the　wild　young　madcap　Prince　of　Wales；　afterwards　the　famous　Henry　V；　the　conqueror　of　France。

For　a　month　or　more　thereafter　he　was　a　member　of　the　princely　household；　and；　after　a　little　while；　a　trusted　and　honored　member。　Perhaps　it　was　the　calm　sturdy　strength；　the　courage　of　the　young　knight；　that　first　appealed　to　the　Prince's　royal　heart；　perhaps　afterwards　it　was　the　more　sterling　qualities　that　underlaid　that　courage　that　drew　him　to　the　young　man；　certain　it　was　that　in　two　weeks　Myles　was　the　acknowledged　favorite。　He　made　no　protestation　of　virtue；　he　always　accompanied　the　Prince　in　those　madcap　ventures　to　London；　where　he　beheld　all　manner　of　wild　revelry；　he　never　held　himself　aloof　from　his　gay　comrades；　but　he　looked　upon　all　their　mad　sports　with　the　same　calm　gaze　that　had　carried　him　without　taint　through　the　courts　of　Burgundy　and　the　Dauphin。　The　gay；　roistering　young　lords　and　gentlemen　dubbed　him　Saint　Myles；　and　jested　with　him　about　hair…cloth　shirts　and　flagellations；　but　witticism　and　jest　alike　failed　to　move　Myles's　patient　virtue；　he　went　his　own　gait　in　the　habits　of　his　life；　and　in　so　goin