sir nigel-第13节

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One　eye　was　entirely　covered　by　its　lid；　which　lay　flat　over　an
empty　socket；　but　the　other　danced　and　sparkled　with　a　most
roguish　light；　darting　here　and　there　with　a　twinkle　of　humor　and
criticism　and　intelligence；　the　whole　fire　of　his　soul　bursting
through　that　one　narrow　cranny。

His　dress　was　as　noteworthy　as　his　person。　　A　rich　purple　doublet
and　cloak　was　marked　on　the　lapels　with　a　strange　scarlet　device
shaped　like　a　wedge。　　Costly　lace　hung　round　his　shoulders；　and
amid　its　soft　folds　there　smoldered　the　dull　red　of　a　heavy　golden
chain。　　A　knight's　belt　at　his　waist　and　a　knight's　golden　spurs
twinkling　from　his　doeskin　riding…boots　proclaimed　his　rank；　and
on　the　wrist　of　his　left　gauntlet　there　sat　a　demure　little　hooded
falcon　of　a　breed　which　in　itself　was　a　mark　of　the　dignity　of　the
owner。　　Of　weapons　he　had　none；　but　a　mandolin　was　slung　by　a
black　silken　band　over　his　back；　and　the　high　brown　end　projected
above　his　shoulder。　　Such　was　the　man；　quaint；　critical；
masterful；　with　a　touch　of　what　is　formidable　behind　it；　who　now
surveyed　the　opposing　groups　of　armed　men　and　angry　monks　with　an
eye　which　commanded　their　attention。

〃Excusez！〃　said　he；　in　a　lisping　French。　　〃Excusez；　mes　amis！　　I
had　thought　to　arouse　from　prayer　or　meditation；　but　never　have　I
seen　such　a　holy　exercise　as　this　under　an　abbey's　roof；　with
swords　for　breviaries　and　archers　for　acolytes。　　I　fear　that　I
have　come　amiss；　and　yet　I　ride　on　an　errand　from　one　who　permits
no　delay。〃

The　Abbot；　and　possibly　the　sacrist　also；　had　begun　to　realize
that　events　had　gone　a　great　deal　farther　than　they　had　intended；
and　that　without　an　extreme　scandal　it　was　no　easy　matter　for　them
to　save　their　dignity　and　the　good　name　of　Waverley。　　Therefore；
in　spite　of　the　debonair；　not　to　say　disrespectful；　bearing　of　the
newcomer；　they　rejoiced　at　his　appearance　and　intervention。

〃I　am　the　Abbot　of　Waverley；　fair　son；〃　said　the　prelate。　　〃If
your　message　deal　with　a　public　matter　it　may　be　fitly　repeated　in
the　chapter…house；　if　not　I　will　give　you　audience　in　my　own
chamber；　for　it　is　clear　to　me　that　you　are　a　gentle　man　of　blood
and　coat…armor　who　would　not　lightly　break　in　upon　the　business　of
our　court　…　a　business　which；　as　you　have　remarked；　is　little
welcome　to　men　of　peace　like　myself　and　the　brethren　of　the　rule
of　Saint　Bernard。〃

〃Pardieu！　　Father　Abbot；〃　said　the　stranger。　　〃One　had　but　to
glance　at　you　and　your　men　to　see　that　the　business　was　indeed
little　to　your　taste；　and　it　may　be　even　less　so　when　I　say　that
rather　than　see　this　young　person　in　the　window；　who　hath　a　noble
bearing；　further　molested　by　these　archers；　I　will　myself
adventure　my　person　on　his　behalf。〃

The　Abbot's　smile　turned　to　a　frown　at　these　frank　words。　　〃It
would　become　you　better；　sir；　to　deliver　the　message　of　which　you
say　that　you　are　the　bearer；　than　to　uphold　a　prisoner　against　the
rightful　judgment　of　a　court。〃

The　stranger　swept　the　court　with　his　questioning　eye。　　〃The
message　is　not　for　you；　good　father　Abbot。　　It　is　for　one　whom　I
know　not。　　I　have　been　to　his　house；　and　they　have　sent　me　hither。
The　name　is　Nigel　Loring。〃

〃It　is　for　me；　fair　sir。〃

〃I　had　thought　as　much。　　I　knew　your　father；　Eustace　Loring；　and
though　he　would　have　made　two　of　you；　yet　he　has　left　his　stamp
plain　enough　upon　your　face。〃

〃You　know　not　the　truth　of　this　matter；〃　said　the　Abbot。　　〃If　you
are　a　loyal　man；　you　will　stand　aside；　for　this　young　man　hath
grievously　offended　against　the　law；　and　it　is　for　the　King's
lieges　to　give　us　their　support。〃

〃And　you　have　haled　him　up　for　judgment；〃　cried　the　stranger　with
much　amusement。　　〃It　is　as　though　a　rookery　sat　in　judgment　upon　a
falcon。　　I　warrant　that　you　have　found　it　easier　to　judge　than　to
punish。　　Let　me　tell　you；　father　Abbot；　that　this　standeth　not
aright。　　When　powers　such　as　these　were　given　to　the　like　of　you；
they　were　given　that　you　might　check　a　brawling　underling　or
correct　a　drunken　woodman；　and　not　that　you　might　drag　the　best
blood　in　England　to　your　bar　and　set　your　archers　on　him　if　he
questioned　your　findings。〃

The　Abbot　was　little　used　to　hear　such　words　of　reproof　uttered　in
so　stern　a　voice　under　his　own　abbey　roof　and　before　his　listening
monks。　　〃You　may　perchance　find　that　an　Abbey　court　has　more
powers　than　you　wot　of；　Sir　Knight；〃　said　he；　〃if　knight　indeed
you　be　who　are　so　uncourteous　and　short　in　your　speech。　　Ere　we　go
further；　I　would　ask　your　name　and　style？〃

The　stranger　laughed。　　〃It　is　easy　to　see　that　you　are　indeed　men
of　peace；〃　said　he　proudly。　　〃Had　I　shown　this　sign；〃　and　he
touched　the　token　upon　his　lapels；　〃whether　on　shield　or　pennon；
in　the　marches　of　France　or　Scotland；　there　is　not　a　cavalier　but
would　have　known　the　red　pile　of　Chandos。〃

Chandos；　John　Chandos；　the　flower　of　English　chivalry；　the　pink　of
knight…errantry；　the　hero　already　of　fifty　desperate　enterprises；
a　man　known　and　honored　from　end　to　end　of　Europe！　　Nigel　gazed　at
him　as　one　who　sees　a　vision。　　The　archers　stood　back　abashed；
while　the　monks　crowded　closer　to　stare　at　the　famous　soldier　of
the　French　wars。　　The　Abbot　abated　his　tone；　and　a　smile　came　to
his　angry　face。

〃We　are　indeed　men　of　peace；　Sir　John；　and　little　skilled　in
warlike　blazonry；〃　said　he；　〃　yet　stout　as　are　our　Abbey　walls；
they　are　not　so　thick　that　the　fame　of　your　exploits　has　not
passed　through　them　and　reached　our　ears。　　If　it　be　your　pleasure
to　take　an　interest　in　this　young　and　misguided　Squire；　it　is　not
for　us　to　thwart　your　kind　intention　or　to　withhold　such　grace　as
you　request。　　I　am　glad　indeed　that　he　hath　one　who　can　set　him　so
fair　an　example　for　a　friend。〃

〃I　thank　you　for　your　courtesy；　good　father　Abbot；〃　said　Chandos
carelessly。　　〃This　young　Squire　has；　however；　a　better　friend　than
myself；　one　who　is　kinder　to　those　he　loves　and　more　terrible　to
those　he　hates。　　It　is　from　him　I　bear　a　message。〃

〃I　pray　you；　fair　and　honored　sir；〃　said　Nigel；　〃that　you　will
tell　me　what　is　the　message　that　you　bear。〃

〃The　message；　mon　ami；　is　that　your　friend　comes　into　these　parts
and　would　have　a　night's　lodging　at　the　manor　house　of　Tilford　for
the　love　and　respect　that　he　bears　your　family。〃

〃Nay；　he　is　most　welcome；〃　said　Nigel；　〃and　yet　I　hope　that　he　is
one　who　can　relish　a　soldier's　fare　and　sleep　under　a　humble　roof；
for　indeed　we　can　but　give　our　best；　poor　as　it　is。〃

〃He　is　indeed　a　soldier　and　a　good　one；〃　Chandos　answered；
laughing；　〃　and　I　warrant　he　has　slept　in　rougher　quarters　than
Tilford　Manor…house。〃

〃I　have　few　friends；　fair　sir；〃　said　Nigel；　with　a　puzzled　face。
〃I　pray　you　give　me　this　gentleman's　name。〃

〃His　name　is　Edward。〃

〃Sir　Edward　Mortimer　of　Kent；　perchance；　or　is　it　Sir　Edward
Brocas　of　whom　the　Lady　Ermyntrude　talks？〃

〃Nay；　he　is　known　as　Edward　only；　and　if　you　ask　a　second　name　it
is　Plantagenet；　for　he　who　comes　to　seek　the　shelter　of　your　roof
is　your　liege　lord　and　mine；　the　King's　high　majesty；　Edward　of
England。〃




VI。　　IN　WHICH　LADY　ERMYNTRUDE　OPENS　THE　IRON　COFFER


AS　in　a　dream　Nigel　heard　these　stupendous　and　incredible　words。
As　in　a　dream　also　he　had　a　vision　of　a　smiling　and　conciliatory
Abbot；　of　an　obsequious　sacrist；　and　of　a　band　of　archers　who
cleared　a　path　for　him　and　for　the　King's　messenger　through　the
motley　crowd　who　had　choked　the　entrance　of　the　Abbey　court。　　A
minute　later　he　was　walking　by　the　side　of　Chandos　through　the
peaceful　cloister；　and　in　front　in　the　open　archway　of　the　great
gate　was　the　broad　yellow　road　between　its　borders　of　green
meadow…land。　　The　spring　air　was　the　sweeter　and　the　more　fragrant
for　that　chill　dread　of　dishonor　and　captivity　which　had　so
recently　frozen　his　ardent　heart。　　He　had　already　passed　the
portal　when　a　hand　plucked　at　his　sleeve　and　he　turned　to　find
himself　confronted　by　the　brown　honest　face　and　hazel　eyes　of　the
archer　who　had　interfered　in　his　behalf。

〃　Well；〃　said　Aylward；　〃what　have　you　to　say　to　me；　young　sir？〃

〃What　can　I　say；　my　good　fellow；　save　that　I　thank　you　with　all　my
heart？　　By　Saint　Paul！　　if　you　had　been　my　blood　brother　you　could
not　have　stood　by　me　more　stoutly。〃

〃Nay！　　but　this　is　not　enough。〃

Nigel　colored　with　vexation；　and　the　more　so　as　Chandos　was
listening　with　his　critical　smile　to　their　conversation。　　〃If　you
had　heard　what　was　said　in　the　court；〃　said　he；　〃you　would
understand　that　I　am　not　blessed　at　this　moment　with　much　of　this
world's　gear。　　The　black　death　and　the　monks　have　between　them
been　heavy　upon　our　estate。　　Willingly　would　I　give　you　a　handful
of　gold　for　your　assistance；　since　that　is　what　you　seem　to　crave；
but　indeed　I　have　it　not；　and　so　once　more　I　say　that　you　must　be
satisfied　with　my　thanks。〃

〃Your　gold　is　nothing　to　me；〃　said　Aylward　shortly；　〃nor　would　you
buy　my　loyalty　if　you　filled　my　wallet　with　rose　nobles；　so　long
as　you　were　not　a　man　after　my　own　heart。　　But　I　have　seen　you
back　the　yellow　horse；　and　I　have　seen　you　face　the　Abbot　of
Waverley；　and　you　are　such　a　master　as　I　would　very　gladly　serve
if　you　have　by　chance　a　place　for　such　a　man。　　I　have　seen　your
follow