sir nigel-第77节

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saddle…bags　and　gathering　the　armor　of　those　who　had　fallen；　or
searching　for　their　own　scattered　arrows。

Suddenly；　however；　as　the　Prince　was　turning　toward　the　bush　which
he　had　chosen　for　his　headquarters；　there　broke　out　from　behind
him　an　extraordinary　uproar　and　a　group　of　knights　and　squires
came　pouring　toward　him；　all　arguing；　swearing　and　abusing　each
other　in　French　and　English　at　the　tops　of　their　voices。　　In　the
midst　of　them　limped　a　stout　little　man　in　gold…spangled　armor；
who　appeared　to　be　the　object　of　the　contention；　for　one　would
drag　him　one　way　and　one　another；　as　though　they　would　pull　him
limb　from　limb。　　〃Nay；　fair　sirs；　gently；　gently；　I　pray　you！〃　he
pleaded。　　〃There　is　enough　for　all；　and　no　need　to　treat　me　so
rudely。〃　　But　ever　the　hubbub　broke　out　again；　and　swords　gleamed
as　the　angry　disputants　glared　furiously　at　each　other。　　The
Prince's　eyes　fell　upon　the　small　prisoner；　and　he　staggered　back
with　a　gasp　of　astonishment。

〃King　John！〃　he　cried。

A　shout　of　joy　rose　from　the　warriors　around　him。　　〃The　King　of
France！　　The　King　of　France　a　prisoner！〃　they　cried　in　an　ecstasy。

〃Nay；　nay；　fair　sirs；　let　him　not　hear　that　we　rejoice！　　Let　no
word　bring　pain　to　his　soul！〃　　Running　forward　the　Prince　clasped
the　French　King　by　the　two　hands。

〃Most　welcome；　sire！〃　he　cried。　　〃Indeed　it　is　good　for　us　that　so
gallant　a　knight　should　stay　with　us　for　some　short　time；　since
the　chance　of　war　has　so　ordered　it。　　Wine　there！　　Bring　wine　for
the　King！〃

But　John　was　flushed　and　angry。　　His　helmet　had　been　roughly　torn
off；　and　blood　was　smeared　upon　his　cheek。　　His　noisy　captors
stood　around　him　in　a　circle；　eying　him　hungrily　like　dogs　who
have　been　beaten　from　their　quarry。　　There　were　Gascons　and
English；　knights；　squires　and　archers；　all　pushing　and　straining。

〃I　pray　you；　fair　Prince；　to　get　rid　of　these　rude　fellows；〃　said
King　John；　〃for　indeed　they　have　plagued　me　sorely。　　By　Saint
Denis！　my　arm　has　been　well…nigh　pulled　from　its　socket。〃

〃What　wish　you　then？〃　asked　the　Prince；　turning　angrily　upon　the
noisy　swarm　of　his　followers。

〃We　took　him；　fair　lord。　　He　is　ours！〃　cried　a　score　of　voices。
They　closed　in；　all　yelping　together　like　a　pack　of　wolves。　　〃It
was　I；　fair　lord！〃　…　〃　Nay；　it　was　I！〃　…　〃　You　lie；　you　rascal；　it
was　I！〃　　Again　their　fierce　eyes　glared　and　their　blood…stained
hands　sought　the　hilts　of　their　weapons。

〃Nay；　this　must　be　settled　here　and　now！〃　said　the　Prince。　　〃I
crave　your　patience；　fair　and　honored　sir；　for　a　few　brief
minutes；　since　indeed　much　ill…will　may　spring　from　this　if　it　be
not　set　at　rest。　　Who　is　this　tall　knight　who　can　scarce　keep　his
hands　from　the　King's　shoulder？〃

〃It　is　Denis　de　Morbecque；　my　lord；　a　knight　of　St。　Omer；　who　is
in　our　service；　being　an　outlaw　from　France。〃

〃I　call　him　to　mind。　　How　then；　Sir　Denis？　　What　say　you　in　this
matter？〃

〃He　gave　himself　to　me；　fair　lord。　　He　had　fallen　in　the　press；
and　I　came　upon　him　and　seized　him。　　I　told　him　that　I　was　a
knight　from　Artois；　and　he　gave　me　his　glove。　　See　here；　I　bear　it
in　my　hand。〃

〃It　is　true；　fair　lord！　　It　is　true！〃　cried　a　dozen　French　voices。

〃Nay；　sir；　judge　not　too　soon！〃　shouted　an　English　squire；　pushing
his　way　to　the　front。　　〃It　was　I　who　had　him　at　my　mercy；　and　he
is　my　prisoner；　for　he　spoke　to　this　man　only　because　he　could
tell　by　his　tongue　that　he　was　his　own　countryman。　　I　took　him；
and　here　are　a　score　to　prove　it。〃

〃It　is　true；　fair　lord。　　We　saw　it　and　it　was　even　so；〃　cried　a
chorus　of　Englishmen。

At　all　times　there　was　growling　and　snapping　betwixt　the　English
and　their　allies　of　France。　　The　Prince　saw　how　easily　this　might
set　a　light　to　such　a　flame　as　could　not　readily　be　quenched。　　It
must　be　stamped　out　now　ere　it　had　time　to　mount。

〃Fair　and　honored　lord；〃　he　said　to　the　King；　〃again　I　pray　you
for　a　moment　of　patience。　　It　is　your　word　and　only　yours　which
can　tell　us　what　is　just　and　right。　　To　whom　were　you　graciously
pleased　to　commit　your　royal　person？〃

King　John　looked　up　from　the　flagon　which　had　been　brought　to　him
and　wiped　his　lips　with　the　dawnings　of　a　smile　upon　his　ruddy
face。

〃It　was　not　this　Englishman；〃　he　said；　and　a　cheer　burst　from　the
Gascons；　〃nor　was　it　this　bastard　Frenchman；〃　he　added。　　〃To
neither　of　them　did　I　surrender。〃

There　was　a　hush　of　surprise。

〃To　whom　then；　sir？〃　asked　the　Prince。

The　King　looked　slowly　round。　　〃There　was　a　devil　of　a　yellow
horse；〃　said　he。　　〃My　poor　palfrey　went　over　like　a　skittle…pin
before　a　ball。　　Of　the　rider　I　know　nothing　save　that　he　bore　red
roses　on　a　silver　shield。　　Ah！　by　Saint　Denis；　there　is　the　man
himself；　and　there　his　thrice…accursed　horse！〃

His　head　swimming；　and　moving　as　if　in　a　dream；　Nigel　found
himself　the　center　of　the　circle　of　armed　and　angry　men。

The　Prince　laid　his　hand　upon　his　shoulder。　　〃It　is　the　little
cock　of　Tilford　Bridge；〃　said　he。　　〃On　my　father's　soul；　I　have
ever　said　that　you　would　win　your　way。　　Did　you　receive　the　King's
surrender？〃

〃Nay；　fair　lord；　I　did　not　receive　it。〃

〃Did　you　hear　him　give　it？〃

〃I　heard；　sir；　but　I　did　not　know　that　it　was　the　King。　　My　master
Lord　Chandos　had　gone　on；　and　I　followed　after。〃

〃And　left　him　lying。　　Then　the　surrender　was　not　complete；　and　by
the　laws　of　war　the　ransom　goes　to　Denis　de　Morbecque；　if　his
story　be　true。〃

〃It　is　true；〃　said　the　King。　　〃He　was　the　second。〃

〃Then　the　ransom　is　yours；　Denis。　　But　for　my　part　I　swear　by　my
father's　soul　that　I　had　rather　have　the　honor　this　Squire　has
gathered　than　all　the　richest　ransoms　of　France。〃

At　these　words　spoken　before　that　circle　of　noble　warriors　Nigel's
heart　gave　one　great　throb；　and　he　dropped　upon　his　knee　before
the　Prince。　　〃Fair　lord；　how　can　I　thank　you？〃　he　murmured。
〃These　words　at　least　are　more　than　any　ransom。〃

〃Rise　up！〃　said　the　smiling　Prince；　and　he　smote　with　his　sword
upon　his　shoulder。　　〃England　has　lost　a　brave　Squire；　and　has
gained　a　gallant　knight。　　Nay；　linger　not；　I　pray！　　Rise　up；　Sir
Nigel！〃




XXVII。　　HOW　THE　THIRD　MESSENGER　CAME　TO　COSFORD


Two　months　have　passed；　and　the　long　slopes　of　Hindhead　are　russet
with　the　faded　ferns　…　the　fuzzy　brown　pelt　which　wraps　the
chilling　earth。　　With　whoop　and　scream　the　wild　November　wind
sweeps　over　the　great　rolling　downs；　tossing　the　branches　of　the
Cosford　beeches；　and　rattling　at　the　rude　latticed　windows。　　The
stout　old　knight　of　Duplin；　grown　even　a　little　stouter；　with
whiter　beard　to　fringe　an　ever　redder　face；　sits　as　of　yore　at　the
head　of　his　own　board。　　A　well…heaped　platter　flanked　by　a　foaming
tankard　stands　before　him。　　At　his　right　sits　the　Lady　Mary；　her
dark；　plain；　queenly　face　marked　deep　with　those　years　of　weary
waiting；　but　bearing　the　gentle　grace　and　dignity　which　only
sorrow　and　restraint　can　give。　　On　his　left　is　Matthew；　the　old
priest。　　Long　ago　the　golden…haired　beauty　had　passed　from　Cosford
to　Fernhurst；　where　the　young　and　beautiful　Lady　Edith　Brocas　is
the　belle　of　all　Sussex；　a　sunbeam　of　smiles　and　merriment；　save
perhaps　when　her　thoughts　for　an　instant　fly　back　to　that　dread
night　when　she　was　plucked　from　under　the　very　talons　of　the　foul
hawk　of　Shalford。

The　old　knight　looked　up　as　a　fresh　gust　of　wind　with　a　dash　of
rain　beat　against　the　window　behind　him。　　〃By　Saint　Hubert；　it　is
a　wild　night！〃　said　he。　　〃I　had　hoped　to…morrow　to　have　a　flight
at　a　heron　of　the　pool　or　a　mallard　in　the　brook。　　How　fares　it
with　little　Katherine　the　peregrine；　Mary？〃

〃I　have　joined　the　wing；　father；　and　I　have　imped　the　feathers；
but　I　fear　it　will　be　Christmas　ere　she　can　fly　again。〃

〃This　is　a　hard　saying；〃　said　Sir　John；　〃for　indeed　I　have　seen　no
bolder　better　bird。　　Her　wing　was　broken　by　a　heron's　beak　last
Sabbath　sennight；　holy　father；　and　Mary　has　the　mending　of　it。〃

〃I　trust；　my　son；　that　you　had　heard　mass　ere　you　turned　to
worldly　pleasure　upon　God's　holy　day；〃　Father　Matthew　answered。

〃Tut；　tut！〃　said　the　old　knight；　laughing。　　〃Shall　I　make
confession　at　the　head　of　my　own　table？　　I　can　worship　the　good
God　amongst　his　own　works；　the　woods　and　the　fields；　better　than
in　yon　pile　of　stone　and　wood。　　But　I　call　to　mind　a　charm　for　a
wounded　hawk　which　was　taught　me　by　the　fowler　of　Gaston　de　Foix。
How　did　it　run？　　‘The　lion　of　the　Tribe　of　Judah；　the　root　of
David；　has　conquered。'　　Yes；　those　were　the　words　to　be　said　three
times　as　you　walk　round　the　perch　where　the　bird　is　mewed。〃

The　old　priest　shook　his　head。　　〃Nay；　these　charms　are　tricks　of
the　Devil；〃　said　he。　　〃Holy　Church　lends　them　no　countenance；　for
they　are　neither　good　nor　fair。　　But　how　is　it　now　with　your
tapestry；　Lady　Mary？　　When　last　I　was　beneath　this　roof　you　had
half　done　in　five　fair　colors　the　story　of　Theseus　and　Ariadne。〃

〃It　is　half　done　still；　holy　father。〃

〃How　is　this；　my　daughter？　　Have　you　then　so　many　calls？〃

〃Nay；　holy　father；　her　thoughts　are　otherwhere；〃　Sir　John
answered。　　〃She　will　sit　an　hour　at　a　time；　the　needle　in　her　hand
and　her　soul　a　hundred　leagues　from　Cosford　House。　　Ever　since　the
Prince's　battle　…　〃

〃Good　father；　I　beg　you　…　〃

〃Nay