the little duke-第21节

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〃You　said；　I　trust；　my　son；　that　we　follow　not　the　laws　of　Odin？〃　said　Fru　Astrida。

〃I　had　no　space　for　a　word；　grandmother；　the　Danes　took　the　vengeance　on　themselves。　　In　one　moment　they　rushed　on　Herluin　with　their　axes；　and　the　unhappy　man　was　dead。　　All　was　tumult；　every　one　struck　without　knowing　at　whom；　or　for　what。　　Some　shouted；　'Thor　Hulfe！'　some　'Dieu　aide！'　others　'Montjoie　St。　Denis！'　　Northern　blood　against　French；　that　was　all　our　guide。　　I　found　myself　at　the　foot　of　this　standard；　and　had　a　hard　combat　for　it；　but　I　bore　it　away　at　last。〃

〃And　the　Kings？〃

〃They　hurried　out　of　the　tent；　it　seems；　to　rejoin　their　men。　　Louis　mounted；　but　you　know　of　old；　my　Lord；　he　is　but　an　indifferent　horseman；　and　the　beast　carried　him　into　the　midst　of　the　Danes；　where　King　Harald　caught　his　bridle；　and　delivered　him　to　four　Knights　to　keep。　　Whether　he　dealt　secretly　with　them；　or　whether　they；　as　they　declared；　lost　sight　of　him　whilst　plundering　his　tent；　I　cannot　say；　but　when　Harald　demanded　him　of　them；　he　was　gone。〃

〃Gone！　is　this　what　you　call　having　the　King　prisoner？〃

〃You　shall　hear。　　He　rode　four　leagues；　and　met　one　of　the　baser　sort　of　Rouennais；　whom　he　bribed　to　hide　him　in　the　Isle　of　Willows。　However；　Bernard　made　close　inquiries；　found　the　fellow　had　been　seen　in　speech　with　a　French　horseman；　pounced　on　his　wife　and　children；　and　threatened　they　should　die　if　he　did　not　disclose　the　secret。　　So　the　King　was　forced　to　come　out　of　his　hiding…place；　and　is　now　fast　guarded　in　Rollo's　towera　Dane；　with　a　battle…axe　on　his　shoulder；　keeping　guard　at　every　turn　of　the　stairs。〃

〃Ha！　ha！〃　cried　Richard。　　〃I　wonder　how　he　likes　it。　　I　wonder　if　he　remembers　holding　me　up　to　the　window；　and　vowing　that　he　meant　me　only　good！〃

〃When　you　believed　him；　my　Lord；〃　said　Osmond；　slyly。

〃I　was　a　little　boy　then；〃　said　Richard；　proudly。　　〃Why；　the　very　walls　must　remind　him　of　his　oath；　and　how　Count　Bernard　said；　as　he　dealt　with　me；　so　might　Heaven　deal　with　him。〃

〃Remember　it；　my　childbeware　of　broken　vows；〃　said　Father　Lucas；　〃but　remember　it　not　in　triumph　over　a　fallen　foe。　　It　were　better　that　all　came　at　once　to　the　chapel；　to　bestow　their　thanksgivings　where　alone　they　are　due。〃



CHAPTER　X



After　nearly　a　year's　captivity；　the　King　engaged　to　pay　a　ransom；　and；　until　the　terms　could　be　arranged；　his　two　sons　were　to　be　placed　as　hostages　in　the　hands　of　the　Normans；　whilst　he　returned　to　his　own　domains。　　The　Princes　were　to　be　sent　to　Bayeux；　whither　Richard　had　returned；　under　the　charge　of　the　Centevilles；　and　was　now　allowed　to　ride　and　walk　abroad　freely；　provided　he　was　accompanied　by　a　guard。

〃I　shall　rejoice　to　have　Carloman；　and　make　him　happy；〃　said　Richard；　〃but　I　wish　Lothaire　were　not　coming。〃

〃Perhaps；〃　said　good　Father　Lucas；　〃he　comes　that　you　may　have　a　first　trial　in　your　father's　last　lesson；　and　Abbot　Martin's；　and　return　good　for　evil。〃

The　Duke's　cheek　flushed；　and　he　made　no　answer。

He　and　Alberic　betook　themselves　to　the　watch…tower；　and；　by　and　by；　saw　a　cavalcade　approaching；　with　a　curtained　vehicle　in　the　midst；　slung　between　two　horses。　　〃That　cannot　be　the　Princes；〃　said　Alberic；　〃that　must　surely　be　some　sick　lady。〃

〃I　only　hope　it　is　not　the　Queen；〃　exclaimed　Richard；　in　dismay。　〃But　no；　Lothaire　is　such　a　coward；　no　doubt　he　was　afraid　to　ride；　and　she　would　not　trust　her　darling　without　shutting　him　up　like　a　demoiselle。　　But　come　down；　Alberic；　I　will　say　nothing　unkind　of　Lothaire；　if　I　can　help　it。〃

Richard　met　the　Princes　in　the　court；　his　sunny　hair　uncovered；　and　bowing　with　such　becoming　courtesy；　that　Fru　Astrida　pressed　her　son's　arm；　and　bade　him　say　if　their　little　Duke　was　not　the　fairest　and　noblest　child　in　Christendom。

With　black　looks；　Lothaire　stepped　from　the　litter；　took　no　heed　of　the　little　Duke；　but；　roughly　calling　his　attendant；　Charlot；　to　follow　him；　he　marched　into　the　hall；　vouchsafing　neither　word　nor　look　to　any　as　he　passed；　threw　himself　into　the　highest　seat；　and　ordered　Charlot　to　bring　him　some　wine。

Meanwhile；　Richard；　looking　into　the　litter；　saw　Carloman　crouching　in　a　corner；　sobbing　with　fright。

〃Carloman！dear　Carloman！do　not　cry。　　Come　out！　　It　is　Iyour　own　Richard！　　Will　you　not　let　me　welcome　you？〃

Carloman　looked；　caught　at　the　outstretched　hand；　and　clung　to　his　neck。

〃Oh；　Richard；　send　us　back！　　Do　not　let　the　savage　Danes　kill　us！〃

〃No　one　will　hurt　you。　　There　are　no　Danes　here。　　You　are　my　guest；　my　friend；　my　brother。　　Look　up！　here　is　my　own　Fru　Astrida。〃

〃But　my　mother　said　the　Northmen　would　kill　us　for　keeping　you　captive。　　She　wept　and　raved；　and　the　cruel　men　dragged　us　away　by　force。　　Oh；　let　us　go　back！〃

〃I　cannot　do　that；〃　said　Richard；　〃for　you　are　the　King　of　Denmark's　captives；　not　mine；　but　I　will　love　you；　and　you　shall　have　all　that　is　mine；　if　you　will　only　not　cry；　dear　Carloman。　　Oh；　Fru　Astrida；　what　shall　I　do？　　You　comfort　him〃　as　the　poor　boy　clung　sobbing　to　him。

Fru　Astrida　advanced　to　take　his　hand；　speaking　in　a　soothing　voice；　but　he　shrank　and　started　with　a　fresh　cry　of　terrorher　tall　figure；　high　cap；　and　wrinkled　face；　were　to　him　witch…like；　and　as　she　knew　no　French；　he　understood　not　her　kind　words。　　However；　he　let　Richard　lead　him　into　the　hall；　where　Lothaire　sat　moodily　in　the　chair；　with　one　leg　tucked　under　him；　and　his　finger　in　his　mouth。

〃I　say；　Sir　Duke；〃　said　he；　〃is　there　nothing　to　be　had　in　this　old　den　of　yours？　　Not　a　drop　of　Bordeaux？〃

Richard　tried　to　repress　his　anger　at　this　very　uncivil　way　of　speaking；　and　answered；　that　he　thought　there　was　none；　but　there　was　plenty　of　Norman　cider。

〃As　if　I　would　taste　your　mean　peasant　drinks！　I　bade　them　bring　my　supperwhy　does　it　not　come？〃

〃Because　you　are　not　master　here；〃　trembled　on　Richard's　lips；　but　he　forced　it　back；　and　answered　that　it　would　soon　be　ready；　and　Carloman　looked　imploringly　at　his　brother；　and　said；　〃Do　not　make　them　angry；　Lothaire。〃

〃What；　crying　still；　foolish　child？〃　said　Lothaire。　　〃Do　you　not　know　that　if　they　dare　to　cross　us；　my　father　will　treat　them　as　they　deserve？　　Bring　supper；　I　say；　and　let　me　have　a　pasty　of　ortolans。〃

〃There　are　nonethey　are　not　in　season；〃　said　Richard。

〃Do　you　mean　to　give　me　nothing　I　like？　　I　tell　you　it　shall　be　the　worse　for　you。〃

〃There　is　a　pullet　roasting；〃　began　Richard。

〃I　tell　you；　I　do　not　care　for　pulletsI　will　have　ortolans。〃

〃If　I　do　not　take　order　with　that　boy；　my　name　is　not　Eric；〃　muttered　the　Baron。

〃What　must　he　not　have　made　our　poor　child　suffer！〃　returned　Fru　Astrida；　〃but　the　little　one　moves　my　heart。　　How　small　and　weakly　he　is；　but　it　is　worth　anything　to　see　our　little　Duke　so　tender　to　him。〃

〃He　is　too　brave　not　to　be　gentle；〃　said　Osmond；　and；　indeed；　the　high…spirited；　impetuous　boy　was　as　soft　and　kind　as　a　maiden；　with　that　feeble；　timid　child。　　He　coaxed　him　to　eat；　consoled　him；　and；　instead　of　laughing　at　his　fears；　kept　between　him　and　the　great　bloodhound　Hardigras；　and　drove　it　off　when　it　came　too　near。

〃Take　that　dog　away；〃　said　Lothaire；　imperiously。　　No　one　moved　to　obey　him；　and　the　dog；　in　seeking　for　scraps；　again　came　towards　him。

〃Take　it　away；〃　he　repeated；　and　struck　it　with　his　foot。　　The　dog　growled；　and　Richard　started　up　in　indignation。

〃Prince　Lothaire；〃　he　said；　〃I　care　not　what　else　you　do；　but　my　dogs　and　my　people　you　shall　not　maltreat。〃

〃I　tell　you　I　am　Prince！　　I　do　what　I　will！　　Ha！　who　laughs　there？〃　cried　the　passionate　boy；　stamping　on　the　floor。

〃It　is　not　so　easy　for　French　Princes　to　scourge　free…born　Normans　here；〃　said　the　rough　voice　of　Walter　the　huntsman：　　〃there　is　a　reckoning　for　the　stripe　my　Lord　Duke　bore　for　me。〃

〃Hush；　hush；　Walter；〃　began　Richard；　but　Lothaire　had　caught　up　a　footstool；　and　was　aiming　it　at　the　huntsman；　when　his　arm　was　caught。

Osmond；　who　knew　him　well　enough　to　be　prepared　for　such　outbreaks；　held　him　fast　by　both　hands；　in　spite　of　his　passionate　screams　and　struggles；　which　were　like　those　of　one　frantic。

Sir　Eric；　meanwhile；　thundered　forth　in　his　Norman　patois；　〃I　would　have　you　to　know；　young　Sir；　Prince　though　you　be；　you　are　our　prisoner；　and　shall　taste　of　a　dungeon；　and　bread　and　water；　unless　you　behave　yourself。〃

Either　Lothaire　did　not　hear；　or　did　not　believe；　and　fought　more　furiously　in　Osmond's　arms；　but　he　had　little　chance　with　the　stalwart　young　warrior；　and；　in　spite　of　Richard's　remonstrances；　he　was　carried　from　the　hall；　roaring　and　kicking；　and　locked　up　alone　in　an　empty　room。

〃Let　him　alone　for　the　present；〃　said　Sir　Eric；　putting　the　Duke　aside；　〃when　he　knows　his　master；　we　shall　have　peace。〃

Here　Richard　had　to　turn；　to　reassure　Carloman；　who　had　taken　refuge　in　a　dark　corner；　and　there　shook　like　an　aspen　leaf；　crying　bitterly；　and　starting　with　fright；　when　Richard　touched　him。

〃Oh；　do　not　put　me　in　the　dungeon。　　I　cannot　bear　the　dark。〃

Richard　again　tried　to　comfort　him；　but　he　did　not　seem　to　hear　or　heed。　　〃Oh！　they　said　you　would　beat　and　hurt　us　for　what　we　did　to　you！　but；　indeed；　it　was　not　I　that　burnt　your　cheek！〃

〃We　would　not　hurt　you　for　worlds；　dear　Carloman；　Lothaire　is　not　in　the　du