sir nigel-第64节

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broken　his　neck　ere　he　came　here。　　Not　an　hour　ago　he　left　his
message　and　now　hath　ridden　on　to　warn　the　garrison　of　Malestroit。
A　truce　has　been　proclaimed　for　a　year　betwixt　the　French　King　and
the　English；　and　he　who　breaks　it　forfeits　life　and　estate。〃

〃A　truce！〃　　Here　was　an　end　to　all　their　fine　dreams。　　They　looked
blankly　at　each　other　all　round　the　table；　whilst　Croquart　brought
his　great　fist　down　upon　the　board　until　the　glasses　rattled
again。　　Knolles　sat　with　clenched　hands　as　if　he　were　a　figure　of
stone；　while　Nigel's　heart　turned　cold　and　heavy　within　him。　　A
truce！　　Where　then　was　his　third　deed；　and　how　might　he　return
without　it？

Even　as　they　sat　in　moody　silence　there　was　the　call　of　a　bugle
from　somewhere　out　in　the　darkness。

Sir　Richard　looked　up　with　surprise。　　〃We　are　not　wont　to　be
summoned　after　once　the　portcullis　is　up；〃　said　he。　　〃Truce　or　no
truce；　we　must　let　no　man　within　our　walls　until　we　have　proved
him。　　Croquart；　see　to　it！〃

The　huge　German　left　the　room。　　The　company　were　still　seated　in
despondent　silence　when　he　returned。

〃Sir　Richard；〃　said　he；　〃the　brave　knight　Robert　of　Beaumanoir　and
his　Squire　William　de　Montaubon　are　without　the　gate；　and　would
fain　have　speech　with　you。〃

Bambro'　started　in　his　chair。　　What　could　the　fierce　leader　of　the
Bretons；　a　man　who　was　red　to　the　elbow　with　English　blood；　have
to　say　to　them？　　On　what　errand　had　he　left　his　castle　of　Josselin
to　pay　this　visit　to　his　deadly　enemies？

〃Are　they　armed？〃　he　asked。

〃They　are　unarmed。〃

〃Then　admit　them　and　bring　them　hither；　but　double　the　guards　and
take　all　heed　against　surprise。〃

Places　were　set　at　the　farther　end　of　the　table　for　these　most
unexpected　guests。　　Presently　the　door　was　swung　open；　and
Croquart　with　all　form　and　courtesy　announced　the　two　Bretons；　who
entered　with　the　proud　and　lofty　air　of　gallant　warriors　and
high…bred　gentlemen。

Beaumanoir　was　a　tall　dark　man　with　raven　hair　and　long　swarthy
beard。　　He　was　strong　and　straight　as　a　young　oak；　with　fiery
black　eyes；　and　no　flaw　in　his　comely　features　save　that　his　front
teeth　had　been　dashed　from　their　sockets。　　His　Squire；　William　of
Montaubon；　was　also　tall；　with　a　thin　hatchet　face；　and　two　small
gray　eyes　set　very　close　upon　either　side　of　a　long　fierce　nose。
In　Beaumanoir's　expression　one　read　only　gallantry　and　frankness；
in　Montaubon's　there　was　gallantry　also；　but　it　was　mixed　with　the
cruelty　and　cunning　of　the　wolf。　　They　bowed　as　they　entered；　and
the　little　English　seneschal　advanced　with　outstretched　hand　to
meet　them。

〃Welcome；　Robert；　so　long　as　you　are　beneath　this　roof；〃　said　he。
〃Perhaps　the　time　may　come　in　another　place　when　we　may　speak　to
each　other　in　another　fashion。〃

〃So　I　hope；　Richard；〃　said　Beaumanoir；　〃but　indeed　we　of　Josselin
bear　you　in　high　esteem　and　are　much　beholden　to　you　and　to　your
men　for　all　that　you　have　done　for　us。　　We　could　not　wish　better
neighbors　nor　any　from　whom　more　honor　is　to　be　gained。　　I　learn
that　Sir　Robert　Knolles　and　others　have　joined　you；　and　we　are
heavy…hearted　to　think　that　the　orders　of　our　Kings　should　debar
us　from　attempting　a　venture。〃　　He　and　his　squire　sat　down　at　the
places　set　for　them；　and　filling　their　glasses　drank　to　the
company。

〃What　you　say　is　true；　Robert；〃　said　Bambro'；　〃and　before　you　came
we　were　discussing　the　matter　among　ourselves　and　grieving　that　it
should　be　so。　　When　heard　you　of　the　truce？〃

〃Yester…evening　a　messenger　rode　from　Nantes。〃

〃Our　news　came　to…night　from　Hennebon。　　The　King's　own　seal　was　on
the　order。　　So　I　fear　that　for　a　year　at　least　you　will　bide　at
Josselin　and　we　at　Ploermel；　and　kill　time　as　we　may。　　Perchance
we　may　hunt　the　wolf　together　in　the　great　forest；　or　fly　our
hawks　on　the　banks　of　the　Duc。〃

〃Doubtless　we　shall　do　all　this；　Richard；〃　said　Beaumanoir；　〃but
by　Saint　Cadoc　it　is　in　my　mind　that　with　good…will　upon　both
sides　we　may　please　ourselves　and　yet　stand　excused　before　our
Kings。〃

Knights　and　squires　leaned　forward　in　their　chairs；　their　eager
eyes；　fixed　upon　him。　　He　broke　into　a　gap…toothed　smile　as　he
looked　round　at　the　circle；　the　wizened　seneschal；　the　blond
giant；　Nigel's　fresh　young　face；　the　grim　features　of　Knolles；　and
the　yellow　hawk…like　Calverly；　all　burning　with　the　same　desire。

〃I　see　that　I　need　not　doubt　the　good…will；〃　said　he；　〃and　of　that
I　was　very　certain　before　I　came　upon　this　errand。　　Bethink　you
then　that　this　order　applies　to　war　but　not　to　challenges；
spear…runnings；　knightly　exchanges　or　the　like。　　King　Edward　is
too　good　a　knight；　and　so　is　King　John；　that　either　of　them　should
stand　in　the　way　of　a　gentleman　who　desires　to　advance　himself　or
to　venture　his　body　for　the　exaltation　of　his　lady。　　Is　this　not
so？〃

A　murmur　of　eager　assent　rose　from　the　table。

〃If　you　as　the　garrison　of　Ploermel　march　upon　the　garrison　of
Josselin；　then　it　is　very　plain　that　we　have　broken　the　truce　and
upon　our　heads　be　it。　　But　if　there　be　a　private　bickering　betwixt
me；　for　example；　and　this　young　squire　whose　eyes　show　that　he　is
very　eager　for　honor；　and　if　thereafter　others　on　each　side　join
in　and　fight　upon　the　quarrel；　it　is　in　no　sense　war；　but　rather
our　own　private　business　which　no　king　can　alter。〃

〃Indeed；　Robert；〃　said　Bambro'；　〃　all　that　you　say　is　very　good
and　fair。〃

Beaumanoir　leaned　forward　toward　Nigel；　his　brimming　glass　in　his
hand。　　〃Your　name；　squire？〃　said　he。

〃My　name　is　Nigel　Loring。〃

〃I　see　that　you　are　young　and　eager；　so　I　choose　you　as　I　would
fain　have　been　chosen　when　I　was　of　your　age。〃

〃I　thank　you；　fair　sir；〃　said　Nigel。　　〃It　is　great　honor　that　one
so　famous　as　yourself　should　condescend　to　do　some　small　deed　upon
me。〃

〃But　we　must　have　cause　for　quarrel；　Nigel。　　Now　here　I　drink　to
the　ladies　of　Brittany；　who　of　all　ladies　upon　this　earth　are　the
most　fair　and　the　most　virtuous；　so　that　the　least　worthy…amongst
them　is　far　above　the　best　of　England。　　What　say　you　to　that；
young　sir？〃

Nigel　dipped　his　finger　in　his　glass　and　leaning　over　he　placed
its　wet　impress　on　the　Breton's　hand。　　〃This　in　your　face！〃　said
he。

Beaumanoir　swept　off　the　red　drop　of　moisture　and　smiled　his
approval。　　〃It　could　not　have　been　better　done；〃　said　he。　　〃Why
spoil　my　velvet　paltock　as　many　a　hot…headed　fool　would　have　done。
It　is　in　my　mind；　young　sir；　that　you　will　go　far。　　And　now；　who
follows　up　this　quarrel？〃

A　growl　ran　round　the　table。

Beaumanoir　ran　his　eye　round　and　shook　his　head。　　〃Alas！〃　said　he；
〃there　are　but　twenty　of　you　here；　and　I　have　thirty　at　Josselin
who　are　so　eager　to　advance　themselves　that　if　I　return　without
hope　for　all　of　them　there　will　be　sore　hearts　amongst　them。　　I
pray　you；　Richard；　since　we　have　been　at　these　pains　to　arrange
matters；　that　you　in　turn　will　do　what　you　may。　　Can　you　not　find
ten　more　men？〃

〃But　not　of　gentle　blood。〃

〃Nay；　it　matters　not；　if　they　will　only　fight。〃

〃Of　that　there　can　be　no　doubt；　for　the　castle　is　full　of　archers
and　men…at…arms　who　would　gladly　play　a　part　in　the　matter。〃

〃Then　choose　ten；〃　said　Beaumanoir。

But　for　the　first　time　the　wolf…like　squire　opened　his　thin　lips。
〃Surely；　my　lord；　you　will　not　allow　archers；〃　said　he。

〃I　fear　not　any　man。〃

〃Nay；　fair　sir；　consider　that　this　is　a　trial　of　weapons　betwixt
us　where　man　faces　man。　　You　have　seen　these　English　archers；　and
you　know　how　fast　and　bow　strong　are　their　shafts。　　Bethink　you
that　if　ten　of　them　were　against　us　it　is　likely　that　half　of　us
would　be　down　before　ever　we　came　to　handstrokes。〃

〃By　Saint　Cadoc；　William；　I　think　that　you　are　right；〃　cried　the
Breton。　　〃If　we　are　to　have　such　a　fight　as　will　remain　in　the
memories　of　men；　you　will　bring　no　archers　and　we　no　crossbows。
Let　it　be　steel　upon　steel。　　How　say　you　then？〃

〃Surely　we　can　bring　ten　men…at…arms　to　make　up　the　thirty　that
you　desire；　Robert。　　It　is　agreed　then　that　we　fight　on　no　quarrel
of　England　and　France；　but　over　this　matter　of　the　ladies　in　which
you　and　Squire　Loring　have　fallen　out。　　And　now　the　time？〃

〃At　once。〃

〃Surely　at　once；　or　perchance　a　second　messenger　may　come　and　this
also　be　forbidden。　　We　will　be　ready　with　to…morrow's　sunrise。〃

〃Nay；　a　day　later；〃　cried　the　Breton　Squire。　　〃Bethink　you；　my
lord；　that　the　three　lances　of　Radenac　would　take　time　to　come
over。〃

〃They　are　not　of　our　garrison；　and　they　shall　not　have　a　place。〃

〃But；　fair　sir；　of　all　the　lances　of　Brittany　…　〃

〃Nay；　William；　I　will　not　have　it　an　hour　later。　　Tomorrow　it
shall　be；　Richard。〃

〃And　where？〃

〃I　marked　a　fitting　place　even　as　I　rode　here　this　evening。　　If
you　cross　the　river　and　take　the　bridle…path　through　the　fields
which　leads　to　Josselin　you　come　midway　upon　a　mighty　oak　standing
at　the　corner　of　a　fair　and　level　meadow。　　There　let　us　meet　at
midday　to…morrow。〃

〃Agreed！〃　cried　Bambro'。　　〃But　I　pray　you　not　to　rise；　Robert！
The　night　is　still　young　and　the　spices　and　hippocras　will　soon　be
served。　　Bide　with　us；　I　pray　you；　for　if　you　would　fain　hear　the
latest　songs　from　England；　these　gentlemen　have　doubtless　brought
them。　　To　some　of　us　perchance　it　is