sir nigel-第29节

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that　his　crooked　back　sped　him　ill　in　his　wooing。〃

〃Alas；　Sir　John！　　It　is　his　mind　that　is　more　crooked　than　his
back。　　He　is　a　perilous　man　with　women；　for　the　Devil　hath　given
him　such　a　tongue　and　such　an　eye　that　he　charms　them　even　as　the
basilisk。　　Marriage　may　be　in　their　mind；　but　never　in　his；　so
that　I　could　count　a　dozen　and　more　whom　he　has　led　to　their
undoing。　　It　is　his　pride　and　his　boast　over　the　whole
countryside。〃

〃Well；　well；　and　what　is　this　to　me　or　mine？〃

〃Even　now；　Sir　John；　as　I　rode　my　mule　up　the　road　I　met　this　man
speeding　toward　his　home。　　A　woman　rode　by　his　side；　and　though
her　face　was　hooded　I　heard　her　laugh　as　she　passed　me。　　That
laugh　I　have　heard　before；　and　it　was　under　this　very　roof；　from
the　lips　of　Mistress　Edith。〃

The　Knight's　knife　dropped　from　his　hand。　　But　the　debate　had　been
such　that　neither　Mary　nor　Nigel　could　fail　to　have　heard　it。　　Mid
the　rough　laughter　and　clatter　of　voices　from　below　the　little
group　at　the　high　table　had　a　privacy　of　their　own。

〃Fear　not；　father；〃　said　the　girl　…　〃indeed；　the　good　Father
Athanasius　hath　fallen　into　error；　and　Edith　will　be　with　us　anon。
I　have　heard　her　speak　of　this　man　many　times　of　late；　and　always
with　bitter　words。〃

〃It　is　true；　sir；〃　cried　Nigel　eagerly。　　〃It　was　only　this　very
evening　as　we　rode　over　Thursley　Moor　that　Mistress　Edith　told　me
that　she　counted　him　not　a　fly；　and　that　she　would　be　glad　if　he
were　beaten　for　his　evil　deeds。〃

But　the　wise　priest　shook　his　silvery　locks。　　〃Nay；　there　is　ever
danger　when　a　woman　speaks　like　that。　　Hot　hate　is　twin　brother　to
hot　love。　　Why　should　she　speak　so　if　there　were　not　some　bond
between　them？〃

〃And　yet；〃　said　Nigel；　〃what　can　have　changed　her　thoughts　m　three
short　hours？　　She　was　here　in　the　hall　with　us　since　I　came。　　By
Saint　Paul；　I　will　not　believe　it！〃

Mary's　face　darkened。　　〃I　call　to　mind；〃　said　she；　〃that　a　note
was　brought　her　by　Hannekin　the　stable　varlet　when　you　were
talking　to　us；　fair　sir；　of　the　terms　of　the　chase。　　She　read　it
and　went　forth。〃

Sir　John　sprang　to　his　feet；　but　sank　into　his　chair　again　with　a
groan。　　〃Would　that　I　were　dead；〃　he　cried；　〃ere　I　saw　dishonor
come　upon　my　house；　and　am　so　tied　with　this　accursed　foot　that　I
can　neither　examine　if　it　be　true；　nor　yet　avenge　it！　　If　my　son
Oliver　were　here；　then　all　would　be　well。　　Send　me　this　stable
varlet　that　I　may　question　him。〃

〃I　pray　you；　fair　and　honored　sir；〃　said　Nigel；　〃that　you　will
take　me　for　your　son　this　night；　that　I　may　handle　this　matter　in
the　way　which　seems　best。　　On　jeopardy　of　my　honor　I　will　do　all
that　a　man　may。〃

〃Nigel；　I　thank　you。　　There　is　no　man　in　Christendom　to　whom　I
would　sooner　turn。〃

〃But　I　would　lean　your　mind　in　one　matter；　fair　sir。　　This　man；
Paul　de　la　Fosse；　owns　broad　acres；　as　I　understand；　and　comes　of
noble　blood。　　There　is　no　reason　if　things　be　as　we　fear　that　he
should　not　marry　your　daughter？〃

〃Nay；　she　could　not　wish　for　better。〃

〃It　is　well。　　And　first　I　would　question　this　Hannekin；　but　it
shall　be　done　in　such　a　fashion　that　none　shall　know；　for　indeed
it　is　not　a　matter　for　the　gossip　of　servants。　　But　if　you　will
show　me　the　man；　Mistress　Mary；　I　will　take　him　out　to　tend　my　own
horse；　and　so　I　shall　learn　all　that　he　has　to　tell。〃

Nigel　was　absent　for　some　time；　and　when　he　returned　the　shadow
upon　his　face　brought　little　hope　to　the　anxious　hearts　at　the
high　table。　　〃I　have　locked　him　in　the　stable　loft；　lest　he　talk
too　much；〃　said　he；　〃for　my　questions　must　have　shown　him　whence
the　wind　blew。　　It　was　indeed　from　this　man　that　the　note　came；
and　he　had　brought　with　him　a　spare　horse　for　the　lady。〃

The　old　Knight　groaned；　and　his　face　sank　upon　his　hands。

〃Nay；　father　they　watch　you！〃　whispered　Mary。　　〃For　the　honor　of
our　house　let　us　keep　a　bold　face　to　all。〃　　Then；　raising　her
young　clear　voice；　so　that　it　sounded　through　the　room：　〃If　you
ride　eastward；　Nigel；　I　would　fain　go　with　you；　that　my　sister　may
not　come　back　alone。〃

〃We　will　ride　together；　Mary；〃　said　Nigel；　rising；　then　in　a　lower
voice：　〃But　we　cannot　go　alone；　and　if　we　take　a　servant　all　is
known。　　I　pray　you　to　stay　at　home　and　leave　the　matter　with　me。〃

〃Nay；　Nigel；　she　may　sorely　need　a　woman's　aid；　and　what　woman
should　it　be　save　her　own　sister？　　I　can　take　my　tire…woman　with
us。〃

〃Nay；　I　shall　ride　with　you　myself　if　your　impatience　can　keep
within　the　powers　of　my　mule；〃　said　the　old　priest。

〃But　it　is　not　your　road；　father？〃

〃The　only　road　of　a　true　priest　is　that　which　leads　to　the　good　of
others。　　Come；　my　children；　and　we　will　go　together。〃

And　so　it　was　that　stout　Sir　John　Buttesthorn；　the　aged　Knight　of
Duplin；　was　left　alone　at　his　own　high　table；　pretending　to　eat；
pretending　to　drink；　fidgeting　in　his　seat；　trying　hard　to　seem
unconcerned　with　his　mind　and　body　in　a　fever；　while　below　him　his
varlets　and　handmaids　laughed　and　jested；　clattering　their　cups
and　clearing　their　trenchers；　all　unconscious　of　the　dark　shadow
which　threw　its　gloom　over　the　lonely　man　upon　the　dais　above。

Meantime　the　Lady　Mary　upon　the　white　jennet　which　her　sister　had
ridden　on　the　same　evening；　Nigel　on　his　war…horse；　and　the　priest
on　the　mule；　clattered　down　the　rude　winding　road　which　led　to
London。　　The　country　on　either　side　was　a　wilderness　of　heather
moors　and　of　morasses　from　which　came　the　strange　crying　of
night…fowl。　　A　half…moon　shone　in　the　sky　between　the　rifts　of
hurrying　clouds。　　The　lady　rode　in　silence；　absorbed　in　the
thought　of　the　task　before　them；　the　danger　and　the　shame。

Nigel　chatted　in　a　low　tone　with　the　priest。　　From　him　he　learned
more　of　the　evil　name　of　this　man　whom　they　followed。　　His　house
at　Shalford　was　a　den　of　profligacy　and　vice。　　No　woman　could
cross　that　threshold　and　depart　unstained。　　In　some　strange
fashion；　inexplicable　and　yet　common；　the　man；　with　all　his　evil
soul　and　his　twisted　body；　had　yet　some　strange　fascination　for
women；　some　mastery　over　them　which　compelled　them　to　his　will。
Again　and　again　he　had　brought　ruin　to　a　household；　again　and
again　his　adroit　tongue　and　his　cunning　wit　had　in　some　fashion
saved　him　from　the　punishment　of　his　deeds。　　His　family　was　great
in　the　county；　and　his　kinsmen　held　favor　with　the　King；　so　that
his　neighbors　feared　to　push　things　too　far　against　him。　　Such　was
the　man；　malignant　and　ravenous；　who　had　stooped　like　some　foul
night…hawk　and　borne　away　to　his　evil　nest　the　golden　beauty　of
Cosford。　　Nigel　said　little　as　he　listened；　but　he　raised　his
hunting…dagger　to　his　tightened　lips；　and　thrice　he　kissed　the
cross　of　its　handle。

They　had　passed　over　the　moors　and　through　the　village　of　Milford
and　the　little　township　of　Godalming；　until　their　path　turned
southward　over　the　Pease　marsh　and　crossed　the　meadows　of
Shalford。　　There　on　the　dark　hillside　glowed　the　red　points　of
light　which　marked　the　windows　of　the　house　which　they　sought。　　A
somber　arched　avenue　of　oak…trees　led　up　to　it；　and　then　they　were
in　the　moon…silvered　clearing　in　front。

》From　the　shadow　of　the　arched　door　there　sprang　two　rough
serving…men；　bearded　and　gruff；　great　cudgels　in　their　hands；　to
ask　them　who　they　were　and　what　their　errand。　　The　Lady　Mary　had
slipped　from　her　horse　and　was　advancing　to　the　door；　but　they
rudely　barred　her　way。

〃Nay；　nay；　our　master　needs　no　more！〃　cried　one；　with　a　hoarse
laugh。　　〃Stand　back；　mistress；　whoever　you　be！　　The　house　is　shut；
and　our　lord　sees　no　guests　to…night。〃

〃Fellow；〃　said　Nigel；　speaking　low　and　clear；　〃stand　back　from　us！
Our　errand　is　with　your　master。〃

〃Bethink　you；　my　children；〃　cried　the　old　priest；　〃would　it　not　be
best　perchance；　that　I　go　in　to　him　and　see　whether　the　voice　of
the　Church　may　not　soften　this　hard　heart？　　I　fear　bloodshed　if
you　enter。〃

〃Nay；　father；　I　pray　you　to　stay　here　for　the　nonce；〃　said　Nigel。
〃And　you；　Mary；　do　you　bide　with　the　good　priest；　for　we　know　not
what　may　be　within。〃

Again　he　turned　to　the　door；　and　again　the　two　men　barred　his
passage。

〃Stand　back；　I　say；　back　for　your　lives！〃　said　Nigel。　　〃By　Saint
Paul！　　I　should　think　it　shame　to　soil　my　sword　with　such　as　you；
but　my　soul　is　set；　and　no　man　shall　bar　my　path　this　night。〃

The　men　shrank　from　the　deadly　menace　of　that　gentle　voice。

〃Hold！〃　said　one　of　them；　peering　through　the　darkness；　〃is　it　not
Squire　Loring　of　Tilford？　　〃

〃That　is　indeed　my　name。〃

〃Had　you　spoken　it　I　for　one　would　not　have　stopped　your　way。　　Put
down　your　staff；　Wat；　for　this　is　no　stranger；　but　the　Squire　of
Tilford。〃

〃As　well　for　him；〃　grumbled　the　other；　lowering　his　cudgel　with　an
inward　prayer　of　thanksgiving。　　〃Had　it　been　otherwise　I　should
have　had　blood　upon　my　soul　tonight。　　But　our　master　said　nothing
of　neighbors　when　he　ordered　us　to　hold　the　door。　　I　will　enter
and　ask　him　what　is　his　will。〃

But　already　Nigel　was　past　them　and　had　pushed　open　the　outer
door。　　Swift　as　he　was；　the　Lady　Mary　was　at　his　very　heels；　and
the　two　passed　together　into　the　hall　beyond。

It　was　a　great　room；　draped　and　curtained　with　black　shadows；　with
one　vivid　circle　of　light　in　the　ce