the little duke-第10节

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〃To　the　stairs；　Osmond；〃　said　Sir　Eric。　　〃On　that　narrow　step　one　man　may　keep　them　at　bay　a　long　time。　　You　can　speak　their　jargon　too；　and　hold　parley　with　them。〃

〃Perhaps　they　will　think　I　am　gone；〃　whispered　Richard；　〃if　they　cannot　find　me；　and　go　away。〃

Osmond　and　two　of　the　Normans　were；　as　he　spoke；　taking　their　stand　on　the　narrow　spiral　stair；　where　there　was　just　room　for　one　man　on　the　step。　　Osmond　was　the　lowest；　the　other　two　above　him；　and　it　would　have　been　very　hard　for　an　enemy　to　force　his　way　past　them。

Osmond　could　plainly　hear　the　sounds　of　the　steps　and　voices　of　the　French　as　they　consulted　together；　and　sought　for　the　Duke。　　A　man　at　length　was　heard　clanking　up　these　very　stairs；　till　winding　round；　he　suddenly　found　himself　close　upon　young　de　Centeville。

〃Ha！　　Norman！〃　he　cried；　starting　back　in　amazement；　〃what　are　you　doing　here？〃

〃My　duty；〃　answered　Osmond；　shortly。　　〃I　am　here　to　guard　this　stair；〃　and　his　drawn　sword　expressed　the　same　intention。

The　Frenchman　drew　back；　and　presently　a　whispering　below　was　heard；　and　soon　after　a　voice　came　up　the　stairs；　saying；　〃Normangood　Norman〃

〃What　would　you　say？〃　replied　Osmond；　and　the　head　of　another　Frank　appeared。　　〃What　means　all　this；　my　friend？〃　was　the　address。　　〃Our　King　comes　as　a　guest　to　you；　and　you　received　him　last　evening　as　loyal　vassals。　　Wherefore　have　you　now　drawn　out　of　the　way；　and　striven　to　bear　off　your　young　Duke　into　secret　places？　　Truly　it　looks　not　well　that　you　should　thus　strive　to　keep　him　apart；　and　therefore　the　King　requires　to　see　him　instantly。〃

〃Sir　Frenchman；〃　replied　Osmond；　〃your　King　claims　the　Duke　as　his　ward。　　How　that　may　be　my　father　knows　not；　but　as　he　was　committed　to　his　charge　by　the　states　of　Normandy；　he　holds　himself　bound　to　keep　him　in　his　own　hands　until　further　orders　from　them。〃

〃That　means；　insolent　Norman；　that　you　intend　to　shut　the　boy　up　and　keep　him　in　your　own　rebel　hands。　　You　had　best　yieldit　will　be　the　better　for　you　and　for　him。　　The　child　is　the　King's　ward；　and　he　shall　not　be　left　to　be　nurtured　in　rebellion　by　northern　pirates。〃

At　this　moment　a　cry　from　without　arose；　so　loud　as　almost　to　drown　the　voices　of　the　speakers　on　the　turret　stair；　a　cry　welcome　to　the　ears　of　Osmond；　repeated　by　a　multitude　of　voices；　〃Haro！　　Haro！　our　little　Duke！〃

It　was　well　known　as　a　Norman　shout。　　So　just　and　so　ready　to　redress　all　grievances　had　the　old　Duke　Rollo　been；　that　his　very　name　was　an　appeal　against　injustice；　and　whenever　wrong　was　done；　the　Norman　outcry　against　the　injury　was　always　〃Ha　Rollo！〃　or　as　it　had　become　shortened；　〃Haro。〃　　And　now　Osmond　knew　that　those　whose　affection　had　been　won　by　the　uprightness　of　Rollo；　were　gathering　to　protect　his　helpless　grandchild。

The　cry　was　likewise　heard　by　the　little　garrison　in　the　turret　chamber；　bringing　hope　and　joy。　　Richard　thought　himself　already　rescued；　and　springing　from　Fru　Astrida；　danced　about　in　ecstasy；　only　longing　to　see　the　faithful　Normans；　whose　voices　he　heard　ringing　out　again　and　again；　in　calls　for　their　little　Duke；　and　outcries　against　the　Franks。　　The　windows　were；　however；　so　high；　that　nothing　could　be　seen　from　them　but　the　sky；　and；　like　Richard；　the　old　Baron　de　Centeville　was　almost　beside　himself　with　anxiety　to　know　what　force　was　gathered　together；　and　what　measures　were　being　taken。　　He　opened　the　door；　called　to　his　son；　and　asked　if　he　could　tell　what　was　passing；　but　Osmond　knew　as　littlehe　could　see　nothing　but　the　black；　cobwebbed；　dusty　steps　winding　above　his　head；　while　the　clamours　outside；　waxing　fiercer　and　louder；　drowned　all　the　sounds　which　might　otherwise　have　come　up　to　him　from　the　French　within　the　Castle。　　At　last；　however；　Osmond　called　out　to　his　father；　in　Norse；　〃There　is　a　Frank　Baron　come　to　entreat；　and　this　time　very　humbly；　that　the　Duke　may　come　to　the　King。〃

〃Tell　him；〃　replied　Sir　Eric；　〃that　save　with　consent　of　the　council　of　Normandy；　the　child　leaves　not　my　hands。〃

〃He　says；〃　called　back　Osmond；　after　a　moment；　〃that　you　shall　guard　him　yourself；　with　as　many　as　you　choose　to　bring　with　you。　　He　declares　on　the　faith　of　a　free　Baron；　that　the　King　has　no　thought　of　illhe　wants　to　show　him　to　the　Rouennais　without；　who　are　calling　for　him；　and　threaten　to　tear　down　the　tower　rather　than　not　see　their　little　Duke。　　Shall　I　bid　him　send　a　hostage？〃

〃Answer　him；〃　returned　the　Baron；　〃that　the　Duke　leaves　not　this　chamber　unless　a　pledge　is　put　into　our　hands　for　his　safety。　　There　was　an　oily…tongued　Count；　who　sat　next　the　King　at　supperlet　him　come　hither；　and　then　perchance　I　may　trust　the　Duke　among　them。〃

Osmond　gave　the　desired　reply；　which　was　carried　to　the　King。　Meantime　the　uproar　outside　grew　louder　than　ever；　and　there　were　new　sounds；　a　horn　was　winded；　and　there　was　a　shout　of　〃Dieu　aide！〃　the　Norman　war…cry；　joined　with　〃Notre　Dame　de　Harcourt！〃

〃There；　there！〃　cried　Sir　Eric；　with　a　long　breath；　as　if　relieved　of　half　his　anxieties；　〃the　boy　has　sped　well。　　Bernard　is　here　at　last！　Now　his　head　and　hand　are　there；　I　doubt　no　longer。〃

〃Here　comes　the　Count；〃　said　Osmond；　opening　the　door；　and　admitting　a　stout；　burly　man；　who　seemed　sorely　out　of　breath　with　the　ascent　of　the　steep；　broken　stair；　and　very　little　pleased　to　find　himself　in　such　a　situation。　　The　Baron　de　Centeville　augured　well　from　the　speed　with　which　he　had　been　sent；　thinking　it　proved　great　perplexity　and　distress　on　the　part　of　Louis。　　Without　waiting　to　hear　his　hostage　speak；　he　pointed　to　a　chest　on　which　he　had　been　sitting；　and　bade　two　of　his　men…at…arms　stand　on　each　side　of　the　Count；　saying　at　the　same　time　to　Fru　Astrida；　〃Now；　mother；　if　aught　of　evil　befalls　the　child；　you　know　your　part。　　Come；　Lord　Richard。〃

Richard　moved　forward。　　Sir　Eric　held　his　hand。　　Osmond　kept　close　behind　him；　and　with　as　many　of　the　men…at…arms　as　could　be　spared　from　guarding　Fru　Astrida　and　her　hostage；　he　descended　the　stairs；　not　by　any　means　sorry　to　go；　for　he　was　weary　of　being　besieged　in　that　turret　chamber；　whence　he　could　see　nothing；　and　with　those　friendly　cries　in　his　ears；　he　could　not　be　afraid。

He　was　conducted　to　the　large　council…room　which　was　above　the　hall。　There；　the　King　was　walking　up　and　down　anxiously；　looking　paler　than　his　wont；　and　no　wonder；　for　the　uproar　sounded　tremendous　thereand　now　and　then　a　stone　dashed　against　the　sides　of　the　deep　window。

Nearly　at　the　same　moment　as　Richard　entered　by　one　door；　Count　Bernard　de　Harcourt　came　in　from　the　other；　and　there　was　a　slight　lull　in　the　tumult。

〃What　means　this；　my　Lords？〃　exclaimed　the　King。　　〃Here　am　I　come　in　all　good　will；　in　memory　of　my　warm　friendship　with　Duke　William；　to　take　on　me　the　care　of　his　orphan；　and　hold　council　with　you　for　avenging　his　death；　and　is　this　the　greeting　you　afford　me？　　You　steal　away　the　child；　and　stir　up　the　rascaille　of　Rouen　against　me。　Is　this　the　reception　for　your　King？〃

〃Sir　King；〃　replied　Bernard；　〃what　your　intentions　may　be；　I　know　not。　　All　I　do　know　is；　that　the　burghers　of　Rouen　are　fiercely　incensed　against　youso　much　so；　that　they　were　almost　ready　to　tear　me　to　pieces　for　being　absent　at　this　juncture。　　They　say　that　you　are　keeping　the　child　prisoner　in　his　own　Castle　and　that　they　will　have　him　restored　if　they　tear　it　down　to　the　foundations。〃

〃You　are　a　true　man；　a　loyal　manyou　understand　my　good　intentions；〃　said　Louis；　trembling；　for　the　Normans　were　extremely　dreaded。　　〃You　would　not　bring　the　shame　of　rebellion　on　your　town　and　people。　Advise　meI　will　do　just　as　you　counsel　mehow　shall　I　appease　them？〃

〃Take　the　child；　lead　him　to　the　window；　swear　that　you　mean　him　no　evil；　that　you　will　not　take　him　from　us；〃　said　Bernard。　　〃Swear　it　on　the　faith　of　a　King。〃

〃As　a　Kingas　a　Christian；　it　is　true！〃　said　Louis。　　〃Here；　my　boy！　Wherefore　shrink　from　me？　　What　have　I　done；　that　you　should　fear　me？　You　have　been　listening　to　evil　tales　of　me；　my　child。　　Come　hither。〃

At　a　sign　from　the　Count　de　Harcourt；　Sir　Eric　led　Richard　forward；　and　put　his　hand　into　the　King's。　　Louis　took　him　to　the　window；　lifted　him　upon　the　sill；　and　stood　there　with　his　arm　round　him；　upon　which　the　shout；　〃Long　live　Richard；　our　little　Duke！〃　arose　again。　　Meantime；　the　two　Centevilles　looked　in　wonder　at　the　old　Harcourt；　who　shook　his　head　and　muttered　in　his　own　tongue；　〃I　will　do　all　I　may；　but　our　force　is　small；　and　the　King　has　the　best　of　it。　　We　must　not　yet　bring　a　war　on　ourselves。〃

〃Hark！　he　is　going　to　speak；〃　said　Osmond。

〃Fair　Sirs！excellent　burgesses！〃　began　the　King；　as　the　cries　lulled　a　little。　｛11｝　　〃I　rejoice　to　see　the　love　ye　bear　to　our　young　Prince！　　I　would　all　my　subjects　were　equally　loyal！　　But　wherefore　dread　me；　as　if　I　were　come　to　injure　him？　　I；　who　came　but　to　take　counsel　how　to　avenge　the　death　of　his　father；　who　brought　me　back　from　England　when　I　was　a　friendless　exile。　　Know　ye　not　how　deep　is　the　debt　of　gratitude　I　owe　to　Duke　William？　　He　it　was　who　made　me　Kingit　was　he　who　gained　me　the　love　of　the　King　of　Germany；　he　stood　godfather　for　my　sonto　him　I　owe　all　my　wealth　and　state；　and　all　my　care　is　to　render　guerdon　for　it　to　his　child；　since；　ala