sir nigel-第25节

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flint；　and　the　Italian　shrank　from　their　inexorable　eyes。　　He
looked　swiftly　round；　but　armed　men　choked　every　entrance。　　The
shadow　of　death　had　fallen　athwart　his　soul。

〃This　letter；〃　said　the　King；　〃was　given　by　de　Chargny　to　one　Dom
Beauvais；　a　priest　of　St。　Omer；　to　carry　into　Calais。　　The　said
priest；　smelling　a　reward；　brought　it　to　one　who　is　my　faithful
servant；　and　so　it　came　to　me。　　Straightway　I　sent　for　this　man
that　he　should　come　to　me。　　Meanwhile　the　priest　has　returned　so
that　de　Chargny　may　think　that　his　message　is　indeed　delivered。〃

〃I　know　nothing　of　it；〃　said　the　Italian　doggedly；　licking　his　dry
lips。

A　dark　flush　mounted　to　the　King's　forehead；　and　his　eyes　were
gorged　with　his　wrath。　　〃No　more　of　this；　for　God's　dignity！〃　he
cried。　　〃Had　we　this　fellow　at　the　Tower；　a　few　turns　of　the　rack
would　tear　a　confession　from　his　craven　soul。　　But　why　should　we
need　his　word　for　his　own　guilt？　　You　have　seen；　my　lords；　you
have　heard！　　How　say　you；　fair　son？　　Is　the　man　guilty？〃

〃Sire；　he　is　guilty。〃

〃And　you；　John？　　And　you；　Walter？　　And　you；　Hubert？　　And　you；　my
Lord　Bishop？　　You　are　all　of　one　mind；　then。　　He　is　guilty　of　the
betrayal　of　his　trust。　　And　the　punishment？〃

〃It　can　only　be　death；〃　said　the　Prince；　and　each　in　turn　the
others　nodded　their　agreement。

〃Aymery　of　Pavia；　you　have　heard　your　doom；〃　said　Edward；　leaning
his　chin　upon　his　hand　and　glooming　at　the　cowering　Italian。
〃Step　forward；　you　archer　at　the　door；　you　with　the　black　beard。
Draw　your　sword！　　Nay；　you　white…faced　rogue；　I　would　not　dishonor
this　roof…tree　by　your　blood。　　It　is　your　heels；　not　your　head；
that　we　want。　　Hack　off　these　golden　spurs　of　knighthood　with　your
sword；　archer！　　'Twas　I　who　gave　them；　and　I　who　take　them　back。
Ha！　　they　fly　across　the　hall；　and　with　them　every　bond　betwixt
you　and　the　worshipful　order　whose　sign　and　badge　they　are！　　Now
lead　him　out　on　the　heath　afar　from　the　house　where　his　carrion
can　best　lie；　and　hew　his　scheming　head　from　his　body　as　a　warning
to　all　such　traitors！〃

The　Italian；　who　had　slipped　from　his　chair　to　his　knees；　uttered
a　cry　of　despair；　as　an　archer　seized　him　by　either　shoulder。
Writhing　out　of　their　grip；　he　threw　himself　upon　the　floor　and
clutched　at　the　King's　feet。

〃Spare　me；　my　most　dread　lord；　spare　me；　I　beseech　you！　　In　the
name　of　Christ's　passion；　I　implore　your　grace　and　pardon！
Bethink　you；　my　good　and　dear　lord；　how　many　years　I　have　served
under　your　banners　and　how　many　services　I　have　rendered。　　Was　it
not　I　who　found　the　ford　upon　the　Seine　two　days　before　the　great
battle？　　Was　it　not　I　also　who　marshaled　the　attack　at　the
intaking　of　Calais？　　I　have　a　wife　and　four　children　in　Italy；
great　King；　and　it　was　the　thought　of　them　which　led　me　to　fall
from　my　duty；　for　this　money　would　have　allowed　me　to　leave　the
wars　and　to　see　them　once　again。　　Mercy；　my　liege；　mercy；　I
implore！〃

The　English　are　a　rough　race；　but　not　a　cruel　one。　　The　King　sat
with　a　face　of　doom；　but　the　others　looked　askance　and　fidgeted　in
their　seats。

〃Indeed；　my　fair　liege；〃　said　Chandos；　〃I　pray　you　that　you　will
abate　somewhat　of　your　anger。〃

Edward　shook　his　head　curtly。　　〃Be　silent；　John。　　It　shall　be　as　I
have　said。〃

〃I　pray　you；　my　dear　and　honored　liege；　not　to　act　with　overmuch
haste　in　the　matter；〃　said　Manny。　　〃Bind　him　and　hold　him　until
the　morning；　for　other　counsels　may　prevail。〃

〃Nay；　I　have　spoken。　　Lead　him　out！〃

But　the　trembling　man　clung　to　the　King's　knees　in　such　a　fashion
that　the　archers　could　not　disengage　his　convulsive　grip。　　〃Listen
to　me　a　moment；　I　implore　you！　　Give　me　but　one　minute　to　plead
with　you；　and　then　do　what　you　will。〃

The　King　leaned　back　in　his　chair。　　〃Speak　and　have　done；〃　said
he。

〃You　must　spare　me；　my　noble　liege。　　For　your　own　sake　I　say　that
you　must　spare　me；　for　I　can　set　you　in　the　way　of　such　a　knightly
adventure　as　will　gladden　your　heart。　　Bethink　you；　sire；　that
this　de　Chargny　and　his　comrades　know　nothing　of　their　plans
having　gone　awry。　　If　I　do　but　send　them　a　message　they　will
surely　come　to　the　postern　gate。　　Then；　if　we　have　placed　our
bushment　with　skill　we　shall　have　such　a　capture　and　such　a　ransom
as　will　fill　your　coffers。　　He　and　his　comrades　should　be　worth　a
good　hundred　thousand　crowns。〃

Edward　spurned　the　Italian　away　from　him　with　his　foot　until　he
sprawled　among　the　rushes；　but　even　as　he　lay　there　like　a　wounded
snake　his　dark　eyes　never　left　the　King's　face。

〃You　double　traitor！　　You　would　sell　Calais　to　de　Chargny；　and
then　in　turn　you　would　sell　de　Chargny　to　me。　　How　dare　you
suppose　that　I　or　any　noble　knight　had　such　a　huckster's　soul　as
to　think　only　of　ransoms　where　honor　is　to　be　won？　　Could　I　or　any
true　man　be　so　caitiff　and　so　thrall？　　You　have　sealed　your　own
doom。　　Lead　him　out！〃

〃One　instant；　I　pray　you；　my　fair　and　most　sweet　lord；〃　cried　the
Prince。　　〃Assuage　your　wrath　yet　a　little　while；　for　this　man's
rede　deserves　perhaps　more　thought　than　we　have　given　it。　　He　has
turned　your　noble　soul　sick　with　his　talk　of　ransoms；　but　look　at
it；　I　pray　you；　from　the　side　of　honor；　and　where　could　we　find
such　hope　of　worshipfully　winning　worship？　　I　pray　you　to　let　me
put　my　body　in　this　adventure；　for　it　is　one　from　which；　if
rightly　handled；　much　advancement　is　to　be　gained。〃

Edward　looked　with　sparkling　eyes　at　the　noble　youth　at　his　side。
〃Never　was　hound　more　keen　on　the　track　of　a　stricken　hart　than
you　on　the　hope　of　honor；　fair　son；〃　said　he。　　〃How　do　you
conceive　the　matter　in　your　mind？〃

〃De　Chargny　and　his　men　will　be　such　as　are　worth　going　far　to
meet；　for　he　will　have　the　pick　of　France　under　his　banner　that
night。　　If　we　did　as　this　man　says　and　awaited　him　with　the　same
number　of　lances；　then　I　cannot　think　that　there　is　any　spot　in
Christendom　where　one　would　rather　be　than　in　Calais　that　night。〃

〃By　the　rood；　fair　son；　you　are　right！〃　cried　the　King；　his　face
shining　with　the　thought。　　〃Now　which　of　you；　John　Chandos　or
Walter　Manny；　will　take　the　thing　in　charge？〃　　He　looked
mischievously　from　one　to　the　other　like　a　master　who　dangles　a
bone　betwixt　two　fierce　old　hounds。　　All　they　had　to　say　was　in
their　burning；　longing　eyes。　　〃Nay；　John；　you　must　not　take　it
amiss；　but　it　is　Walter's　turn；　and　he　shall　have　it。〃

〃Shall　we　not　all　go　under　your　banner；　sire；　or　that　of　the
Prince？〃

〃Nay；　it　is　not　fitting　that　the　royal　banners　of　England　should
be　advanced　in　so　small　an　adventure。　　And　yet；　if　you　have　space
in　your　ranks　for　two　more　cavaliers；　both　the　Prince　and　I　would
ride　with　you　that　night。〃

The　young　man　stooped　and　kissed　his　father's　hand。

〃Take　this　man　in　your　charge；　Walter；　and　do　with　him　as　you
will。　　Guard　well　lest　he　betray　us　once　again。　　Take　him　from　my
sight；　for　his　breath　poisons　the　room。　　And　now；　Nigel；　if　that
worthy　graybeard　of　thine　would　fain　twang　his　harp　or　sing　to　us
…　but　what　in　God's　name　would　you　have？〃

He　had　turned；　to　find　his　young　host　upon　his　knee　and　his　flaxen
head　bent　in　entreaty。

〃What　is　it；　man？　　What　do　you　crave？〃

〃A　boon；　fair　liege！〃

〃Well；　well；　am　I　to　have　no　peace　to…night；　with　a　traitor
kneeling　to　me　in　front；　and　a　true　man　on　his　knees　behind？　　Out
with　it；　Nigel。　　What　would　you　have？〃

〃To　come　with　you　to　Calais。〃

〃By　the　rood！　　your　request　is　fair　enough；　seeing　that　our　plot
is　hatched　beneath　your　very　roof。　　How　say　you；　Walter？　　Will　you
take　him；　armor　and　all？〃　asked　King　Edward。

〃Say　rather　will　you　take　me？〃　said　Chandos。　　〃We　two　are　rivals
in　honor；　Walter；　but　I　am　very　sure　that　you　would　not　hold　me
back。〃

〃Nay；　John；　I　will　be　proud　to　have　the　best　lance　in　Christendom
beneath　my　banner。〃

〃And　I　to　follow　so　knightly　a　leader。　　But　Nigel　Loring　is　my
Squire；　and　so　he　comes　with　us　also。〃

〃Then　that　is　settled；〃　said　the　King；　〃and　now　there　is　no　need
for　hurry；　since　there　can　be　no　move　until　the　moon　has　changed。
So　I　pray　you　to　pass　the　flagon　once　again；　and　to　drink　with　me
to　the　good　knights　of　France。　　May　they　be　of　great　heart　and
high　of　enterprise　when　we　all　meet　once　more　within　the　castle
wall　of　Calais！〃




XI。　　IN　THE　HALL　OF　THE　KNIGHT　OF　DUPLIN


The　King　had　come　and　had　gone。　　Tilford　Manor　house　stood　once
more　dark　and　silent；　but　joy　and　contentment　reigned　within　its
walls。　　In　one　night　every　trouble　had　fallen　away　like　some　dark
curtain　which　had　shut　out　the　sun。　　A　princely　sum　of　money　had
come　from　the　King's　treasurer；　given　in　such　fashion　that　there
could　be　no　refusal。　　With　a　bag　of　gold　pieces　at　his　saddle…bow
Nigel　rode　once　more　into　Guildford；　and　not　a　beggar　on　the　way
who　had　not　cause　to　bless　his　name。

There　he　had　gone　first　to　the　goldsmith　and　had　bought　back　cup
and　salver　and　bracelet；　mourning　with　the　merchant　over　the　evil
chance　that　gold　and　gold…work　had　for　certain　reasons　which　only
those　in　the　trade　could　fully　understand　gone　up　in　value　during
the　last　week；　so　that　already　fifty　gold　pieces　had　to　be　paid
more　than　the　price　which　Nigel　had　received。　　In　vain　the
faithful　Aylward　fretted　and　fumed