men of iron-第37节

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ld　man。　A　blind　man；　ha！　What　is　the　meaning　of　this？〃

〃Majesty；〃　said　the　Earl；　〃I　have　taken　this　chance　to　bring　to　thy　merciful　consideration　one　who　hath　most　wofully　and　unjustly　suffered　from　thine　anger。　Yonder　stands　the　young　knight　of　whom　we　spake；　this　is　his　father；　Gilbert　Reginald；　whilom　Lord　Falworth；　who　craves　mercy　and　justice　at　thy　hands。〃

〃Falworth；〃　said　the　King；　placing　his　hand　to　his　head。　〃The　name　is　not　strange　to　mine　ears；　but　I　cannot　place　it。　My　head　hath　troubled　me　sorely　to…day；　and　I　cannot　remember。〃

At　this　point　the　Earl　of　Alban　came　quietly　and　deliberately　forward。　〃Sire；〃　said　he；　〃pardon　my　boldness　in　so　venturing　to　address　you；　but　haply　I　may　bring　the　name　more　clearly　to　your　mind。　He　is；　as　my　Lord　of　Mackworth　said；　the　whilom　Baron　Falworth；　the　outlawed；　attainted　traitor；　so　declared　for　the　harboring　of　Sir　John　Dale；　who　was　one　of　those　who　sought　your　Majesty's　life　at　Windsor　eleven　years　ago。　Sire；　he　is　mine　enemy　as　well；　and　is　brought　hither　by　my　proclaimed　enemies。　Should　aught　occur　to　my　harm；　I　rest　my　case　in　your　gracious　hands。〃

The　dusty　red　flamed　into　the　King's　pale；　sickly　face　in　answer；　and　he　rose　hastily　from　his　seat。

〃Aye；〃　said　he；　〃I　remember　me　nowI　remember　me　the　man　and　the　name！　Who　hath　dared　bring　him　here　before　us？〃　All　the　dull　heaviness　of　sickness　was　gone　for　the　moment；　and　King　Henry　was　the　King　Henry　of　ten　years　ago　as　he　rolled　his　eyes　balefully　from　one　to　another　of　the　courtiers　who　stood　silently　around。

The　Earl　of　Mackworth　shot　a　covert　glance　at　the　Bishop　of　Winchester；　who　came　forward　in　answer。

〃Your　Majesty；〃　said　he；　〃here　am　I；　your　brother；　who　beseech　you　as　your　brother　not　to　judge　over…hastily　in　this　matter。　It　is　true　that　this　man　has　been　adjudged　a　traitor；　but　he　has　been　so　adjudged　without　a　hearing。　I　beseech　thee　to　listen　patiently　to　whatsoever　he　may　have　to　say。

The　King　fixed　the　Bishop　with　a　look　of　the　bitterest；　deepest　anger；　holding　his　nether　lip　tightly　under　his　teetha　trick　he　had　when　strongly　moved　with　angerand　the　Bishop's　eyes　fell　under　the　look。　Meantime　the　Earl　of　Alban　stood　calm　and　silent。　No　doubt　he　saw　that　the　King's　anger　was　likely　to　befriend　him　more　than　any　words　that　he　himself　could　say；　and　he　perilled　his　case　with　no　more　speech　which　could　only　prove　superfluous。

At　last　the　King　turned　a　face　red　and　swollen　with　anger　to　the　blind　Lord；　who　still　kneeled　before　him。

〃What　hast　thou　to　say？〃　he　said；　in　a　deep　and　sullen　voice。

〃Gracious　and　merciful　Lord；〃　said　the　blind　nobleman；　〃I　come　to　thee；　the　fountain…head　of　justice；　craving　justice。　Sire；　I　do　now　and　here　deny　my　treason；　which　denial　I　could　not　before　make；　being　blind　and　helpless；　and　mine　enemies　strong　and　malignant。　But　now；　sire；　Heaven　hath　sent　me　help；　and　therefore　I　do　acclaim　before　thee　that　my　accuser；　William　Bushy　Brookhurst；　Earl　of　Alban；　is　a　foul　and　an　attainted　liar　in　all　that　he　hath　accused　me　of。　To　uphold　which　allegation；　and　to　defend　me；　who　am　blinded　by　his　unknightliness；　I　do　offer　a　champion　to　prove　all　that　I　say　with　his　body　in　combat。〃

The　Earl　of　Mackworth　darted　a　quick　look　at　Myles；　who　came　forward　the　moment　his　father　had　ended；　and　kneeled　beside　him。　The　King　offered　no　interruption　to　his　speech；　but　he　bent　a　look　heavy　with　anger　upon　the　young　man。

〃My　gracious　Lord　and　King；〃　said　Myles；　〃I；　the　son　of　the　accused；　do　offer　myself　as　his　champion　in　this　cause；　beseeching　thee　of　thy　grace　leave　to　prove　the　truth　of　the　same；　being　a　belted　knight　by　thy　grace　and　of　thy　creation　and　the　peer　of　any　who　weareth　spurs。〃　Thereupon；　rising；　he　drew　his　iron　gauntlet　from　his　girdle；　and　flung　it　clashing　down　upon　the　floor；　and　with　his　heart　swelling　within　him　with　anger　and　indignation　and　pity　of　his　blind　father；　he　cried；　in　a　loud　voice；　〃I　do　accuse　thee；　William　of　Alban；　that　thou　liest　vilely　as　aforesaid；　and　here　cast　down　my　gage；　daring　thee　to　take　it　up。

The　Earl　of　Alban　made　as　though　he　would　accept　the　challenge；　but　the　King　stopped　him　hastily。

〃Stop！〃　he　cried；　harshly。　〃Touch　not　the　gage！　Let　it　lielet　it　lie；　I　tell　thee；　my　Lord！　Now　then；〃　said　he；　turning　to　the　others；　〃tell　me　what　meaneth　all　this　coil？　Who　brought　this　man　hither？〃

He　looked　from　one　to　another　of　those　who　stood　silently　around；　but　no　one　answered。

〃I　see；〃　said　he；　〃ye　all　have　had　to　do　with　it。　It　is　as　my　Lord　of　Alban　sayeth；　ye　are　his　enemies；　and　ye　are　my　enemies　as　well。　In　this　I　do　smell　a　vile　plot。　I　cannot　undo　what　I　have　done；　and　since　I　have　made　this　young　man　a　knight　with　mine　own　hands；　I　cannot　deny　that　he　is　fit　to　challenge　my　Lord　of　Alban。　Ne'theless；　the　High　Court　of　Chivalry　shall　adjudge　this　case。　Meantime；〃　said　he；　turning　to　the　Earl　Marshal；　who　was　present；　〃I　give　thee　this　attainted　Lord　in　charge。　Convey　him　presently　to　the　Tower；　and　let　him　abide　our　pleasure　there。　Also；　thou　mayst　take　up　yon　gage；　and　keep　it　till　it　is　redeemed　according　to　our　pleasure。〃

He　stood　thoughtfully　for　a　moment；　and　then　raising　his　eyes；　looked　fixedly　at　the　Earl　of　Mackworth。　〃I　know；〃　he　said；　〃that　I　be　a　right　sick　man；　and　there　be　some　who　are　already　plotting　to　overthrow　those　who　have　held　up　my　hand　with　their　own　strength　for　all　these　years。〃　Then　speaking　more　directly：　〃My　Lord　Earl　of　Mackworth；　I　see　your　hand　in　this　before　all　others。　It　was　thou　who　so　played　upon　me　as　to　get　me　to　knight　this　young　man；　and　thus　make　him　worthy　to　challenge　my　Lord　of　Alban。　It　was　thy　doings　that　brought　him　here　to…day；　backed　by　mine　own　sons　and　my　brother　and　by　these　noblemen。〃　Then　turning　suddenly　to　the　Earl　of　Alban：　〃Come；　my　Lord；〃　said　he；　〃I　am　aweary　with　all　this　coil。　Lend　me　thine　arm　to　leave　this　place。〃　So　it　was　that　he　left　the　room；　leaning　upon　the　Earl　of　Alban's　arm；　and　followed　by　the　two　or　three　of　the　Alban　faction　who　were　present。

〃Your　Royal　Highness；〃　said　the　Earl　Marshal；　〃I　must　e'en　do　the　King's　bidding；　and　take　this　gentleman　into　arrest。〃

〃Do　thy　duty；〃　said　the　Prince。　〃We　knew　it　must　come　to　this。　Meanwhile　he　is　to　be　a　prisoner　of　honor；　and　see　that　he　be　well　lodged　and　cared　for。　Thou　wilt　find　my　barge　at　the　stairs　to　convey　him　down　the　river；　and　I　myself　will　come　this　afternoon　to　visit　him。〃



CHAPTER　31

It　was　not　until　the　end　of　July　that　the　High　Court　of　Chivalry　rendered　its　judgment。　There　were　many　unusual　points　in　the　case；　some　of　which　bore　heavily　against　Lord　Falworth；　some　of　which　were　in　his　favor。　He　was　very　ably　defended　by　the　lawyers　whom　the　Earl　of　Mackworth　had　engaged　upon　his　side；　nevertheless；　under　ordinary　circumstances；　the　judgment；　no　doubt；　would　have　been　quickly　rendered　against　him。　As　it　was；　however；　the　circumstances　were　not　ordinary；　and　it　was　rendered　in　his　favor。　The　Court　besought　the　King　to　grant　the　ordeal　by　battle；　to　accept　Lord　Falworth's　champion；　and　to　appoint　the　time　and　place　for　the　meeting。

The　decision　must　have　been　a　most　bitter；　galling　one　for　the　sick　King。　He　was　naturally　of　a　generous；　forgiving　nature；　but　Lord　Falworth　in　his　time　of　power　had　been　an　unrelenting　and　fearless　opponent；　and　his　Majesty　who；　like　most　generous　men；　could　on　occasions　be　very　cruel　and　intolerant；　had　never　forgiven　him。　He　had　steadily　thrown　the　might　of　his　influence　with　the　Court　against　the　Falworths'　case；　but　that　influence　was　no　longer　all…powerful　for　good　or　ill。　He　was　failing　in　health；　and　it　could　only　be　a　matter　of　a　few　years；　probably　of　only　a　few　months；　before　his　successor　sat　upon　the　throne。

Upon　the　other　hand；　the　Prince　of　Wales's　faction　had　been　steadily；　and　of　late　rapidly；　increasing　in　power；　and　in　the　Earl　of　Mackworth；　its　virtual　head；　it　possessed　one　of　the　most　capable　politicians　and　astute　intriguers　in　Europe。　So；　as　the　outcome　of　all　the　plotting　and　counter…plotting；　scheming　and　counter…scheming；　the　case　was　decided　in　Lord　Falworth's　favor。　The　knowledge　of　the　ultimate　result　was　known　to　the　Prince　of　Wales's　circle　almost　a　week　before　it　was　finally　decided。　Indeed；　the　Earl　of　Mackworth　had　made　pretty　sure　of　that　result　before　he　had　summoned　Myles　from　France；　but　upon　the　King　it　fell　like　the　shock　of　a　sudden　blow。　All　that　day　he　kept　himself　in　moody　seclusion；　nursing　his　silent；　bitter　anger；　and　making　only　one　outbreak；　in　which　he　swore　by　the　Holy　Rood　that　should　Myles　be　worsted　in　the　encounter；　he　would　not　take　the　battle　into　his　own　hands；　but　would　suffer　him　to　be　slain；　and　furthermore；　that　should　the　Earl　show　signs　of　failing　at　any　time；　he　would　do　all　in　his　power　to　save　him。　One　of　the　courtiers　who　had　been　present；　and　who　was　secretly　inclined　to　the　Prince　of　Wales's　faction；　had　repeated　this　speech　at　Scotland　Yard；　and　the　Prince　had　said；　〃That　meaneth；　Myles；　that　thou　must　either　win　or　die。〃

〃And　so　I　would　have　it　to　be；　my　Lord；〃　Myles　had　answered。

It　was　not　until　nearly　a　fortnight　after　the　decision　of　the　Court　of　Chivalry　had　been　rendered　that　the　King　announced　the　time　and　place　of　battlethe　time　to　be　the　3d