the little duke-第3节

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　of　Osmond's　feathers；　now　fairly　pulling　open　the　eyes　of　one　of　the　good…natured　sleepy　creatures；　which　only　stretched　its　legs；　and　remonstrated　with　a　sort　of　low　groan；　rather　than　a　growl。　　The　boy's　eyes　were；　all　the　time；　intently　fixed　on　Dame　Astrida；　as　if　he　would　not　lose　one　word　of　the　story　she　was　telling　him；　how　Earl　Rollo；　his　grandfather；　had　sailed　into　the　mouth　of　the　Seine；　and　how　Archbishop　Franco；　of　Rouen；　had　come　to　meet　him　and　brought　him　the　keys　of　the　town；　and　how　not　one　Neustrian　of　Rouen　had　met　with　harm　from　the　brave　Northmen。　　Then　she　told　him　of　his　grandfather's　baptism；　and　how　during　the　seven　days　that　he　wore　his　white　baptismal　robes；　he　had　made　large　gifts　to　all　the　chief　churches　in　his　dukedom　of　Normandy。

〃Oh；　but　tell　of　the　paying　homage！〃　said　Richard；　〃and　how　Sigurd　Bloodaxe　threw　down　simple　King　Charles！　　Ah！　how　would　I　have　laughed　to　see　it！〃

〃Nay；　nay；　Lord　Richard；〃　said　the　old　lady；　〃I　love　not　that　tale。　That　was　ere　the　Norman　learnt　courtesy；　and　rudeness　ought　rather　to　be　forgotten　than　remembered；　save　for　the　sake　of　amending　it。　　No；　I　will　rather　tell　you　of　our　coming　to　Centeville；　and　how　dreary　I　thought　these　smooth　meads；　and　broad　soft　gliding　streams；　compared　with　mine　own　father's　fiord　in　Norway；　shut　in　with　the　tall　black　rocks；　and　dark　pines　above　them；　and　far　away　the　snowy　mountains　rising　into　the　sky。　　Ah！　how　blue　the　waters　were　in　the　long　summer　days　when　I　sat　in　my　father's　boat　in　the　little　fiord；　and〃

Dame　Astrida　was　interrupted。　　A　bugle　note　rang　out　at　the　castle　gate；　the　dogs　started　to　their　feet；　and　uttered　a　sudden　deafening　bark；　Osmond　sprung　up；　exclaiming；　〃Hark！〃　and　trying　to　silence　the　hounds；　and　Richard　running　to　Sir　Eric；　cried；　〃Wake；　wake；　Sir　Eric；　my　father　is　come！　　Oh；　haste　to　open　the　gate；　and　admit　him。〃

〃Peace；　dogs！〃　said　Sir　Eric；　slowly　rising；　as　the　blast　of　the　horn　was　repeated。　　〃Go；　Osmond；　with　the　porter；　and　see　whether　he　who　comes　at　such　an　hour　be　friend　or　foe。　　Stay　you　here；　my　Lord；〃　he　added；　as　Richard　was　running　after　Osmond；　and　the　little　boy　obeyed；　and　stood　still；　though　quivering　all　over　with　impatience。

〃Tidings　from　the　Duke；　I　should　guess；〃　said　Fru　Astrida。　　〃It　can　scarce　be　himself　at　such　an　hour。〃

〃Oh；　it　must　be；　dear　Fru　Astrida！〃　said　Richard。　　〃He　said　he　would　come　again。　　Hark；　there　are　horses'　feet　in　the　court！　　I　am　sure　that　is　his　black　charger's　tread！　　And　I　shall　not　be　there　to　hold　his　stirrup！　　Oh！　　Sir　Eric；　let　me　go。〃

Sir　Eric；　always　a　man　of　few　words；　only　shook　his　head；　and　at　that　moment　steps　were　heard　on　the　stone　stairs。　　Again　Richard　was　about　to　spring　forward；　when　Osmond　returned；　his　face　showing；　at　a　glance；　that　something　was　amiss；　but　all　that　he　said　was；　〃Count　Bernard　of　Harcourt；　and　Sir　Rainulf　de　Ferrieres；〃　and　he　stood　aside　to　let　them　pass。

Richard　stood　still　in　the　midst　of　the　hall；　disappointed。　　Without　greeting　to　Sir　Eric；　or　to　any　within　the　hall；　the　Count　of　Harcourt　came　forward　to　Richard；　bent　his　knee　before　him；　took　his　hand；　and　said　with　a　broken　voice　and　heaving　breast；　〃Richard；　Duke　of　Normandy；　I　am　thy　liegeman　and　true　vassal；〃　then　rising　from　his　knees　while　Rainulf　de　Ferrieres　went　through　the　same　form；　the　old　man　covered　his　face　with　his　hands　and　wept　aloud。

〃Is　it　even　so？〃　said　the　Baron　de　Centeville；　and　being　answered　by　a　mournful　look　and　sigh　from　Ferrieres；　he　too　bent　before　the　boy；　and　repeated　the　words；　〃I　am　thy　liegeman　and　true　vassal；　and　swear　fealty　to　thee　for　my　castle　and　barony　of　Centeville。〃

〃Oh；　no；　no！〃　cried　Richard；　drawing　back　his　hand　in　a　sort　of　agony；　feeling　as　if　he　was　in　a　frightful　dream　from　which　he　could　not　awake。　　〃What　means　it？　　Oh！　　Fru　Astrida；　tell　me　what　means　it？　Where　is　my　father？〃

〃Alas；　my　child！〃　said　the　old　lady；　putting　her　arm　round　him；　and　drawing　him　close　to　her；　whilst　her　tears　flowed　fast；　and　Richard　stood；　reassured　by　her　embrace；　listening　with　eyes　open　wide；　and　deep　oppressed　breathing；　to　what　was　passing　between　the　four　nobles；　who　spoke　earnestly　among　themselves；　without　much　heed　of　him。

〃The　Duke　dead！〃　repeated　Sir　Eric　de　Centeville；　like　one　stunned　and　stupefied。

〃Even　so；〃　said　Rainulf；　slowly　and　sadly；　and　the　silence　was　only　broken　by　the　long…drawn　sobs　of　old　Count　Bernard。

〃But　how？　when？　where？〃　broke　forth　Sir　Eric；　presently。　　〃There　was　no　note　of　battle　when　you　went　forth。　　Oh；　why　was　not　I　at　his　side？〃

〃He　fell　not　in　battle；〃　gloomily　replied　Sir　Rainulf。

〃Ha！　could　sickness　cut　him　down　so　quickly？〃

〃It　was　not　sickness；〃　answered　Ferrieres。　　〃It　was　treachery。　　He　fell　in　the　Isle　of　Pecquigny；　by　the　hand　of　the　false　Fleming！〃

〃Lives　the　traitor　yet？〃　cried　the　Baron　de　Centeville；　grasping　his　good　sword。

〃He　lives　and　rejoices　in　his　crime；〃　said　Ferrieres；　〃safe　in　his　own　merchant　towns。〃

〃I　can　scarce　credit　you；　my　Lords！〃　said　Sir　Eric。　　〃Our　Duke　slain；　and　his　enemy　safe；　and　you　here　to　tell　the　tale！〃

〃I　would　I　were　stark　and　stiff　by　my　Lord's　side！〃　said　Count　Bernard；　〃but　for　the　sake　of　Normandy；　and　of　that　poor　child；　who　is　like　to　need　all　that　ever　were　friends　to　his　house。　　I　would　that　mine　eyes　had　been　blinded　for　ever；　ere　they　had　seen　that　sight！　　And　not　a　sword　lifted　in　his　defence！　　Tell　you　how　it　passed；　Rainulf！　　My　tongue　will　not　speak　it！〃

He　threw　himself　on　a　bench　and　covered　his　face　with　his　mantle；　while　Rainulf　de　Ferrieres　proceeded：　　〃You　know　how　in　an　evil　hour　our　good　Duke　appointed　to　meet　this　caitiff；　Count　of　Flanders；　in　the　Isle　of　Pecquigny；　the　Duke　and　Count　each　bringing　twelve　men　with　them；　all　unarmed。　　Duke　Alan　of　Brittany　was　one　on　our　side；　Count　Bernard　here　another；　old　Count　Bothon　and　myself；　we　bore　no　weaponwould　that　we　hadbut　not　so　the　false　Flemings。　　Ah　me！　　I　shall　never　forget　Duke　William's　lordly　presence　when　he　stepped　ashore；　and　doffed　his　bonnet　to　the　knave　Arnulf。〃

〃Yes；〃　interposed　Bernard。　　〃And　marked　you　not　the　words　of　the　traitor；　as　they　met？　　'My　Lord；'　quoth　he；　'you　are　my　shield　and　defence。'　｛6｝　　Would　that　I　could　cleave　his　treason…hatching　skull　with　my　battle…axe。〃

〃So；〃　continued　Rainulf；　〃they　conferred　together；　and　as　words　cost　nothing　to　Arnulf；　he　not　only　promised　all　restitution　to　the　paltry　Montreuil；　but　even　was　for　offering　to　pay　homage　to　our　Duke　for　Flanders　itself；　but　this　our　William　refused；　saying　it　were　foul　wrong　to　both　King　Louis　of　France；　and　Kaiser　Otho　of　Germany；　to　take　from　them　their　vassal。　　They　took　leave　of　each　other　in　all　courtesy；　and　we　embarked　again。　　It　was　Duke　William's　pleasure　to　go　alone　in　a　small　boat；　while　we　twelve　were　together　in　another。　Just　as　we　had　nearly　reached　our　own　bank；　there　was　a　shout　from　the　Flemings　that　their　Count　had　somewhat　further　to　say　to　the　Duke；　and　forbidding　us　to　follow　him；　the　Duke　turned　his　boat　and　went　back　again。　　No　sooner　had　he　set　foot　on　the　isle；〃　proceeded　the　Norman；　clenching　his　hands；　and　speaking　between　his　teeth；　〃than　we　saw　one　Fleming　strike　him　on　the　head　with　an　oar；　he　fell　senseless；　the　rest　threw　themselves　upon　him；　and　the　next　moment　held　up　their　bloody　daggers　in　scorn　at　us！　　You　may　well　think　how　we　shouted　and　yelled　at　them；　and　plied　our　oars　like　men　distracted；　but　all　in　vain；　they　were　already　in　their　boats；　and　ere　we　could　even　reach　the　isle；　they　were　on　the　other　side　of　the　river；　mounted　their　horses；　fled　with　coward　speed；　and　were　out　of　reach　of　a　Norman's　vengeance。〃

〃But　they　shall　not　be　so　long！〃　cried　Richard；　starting　forward；　for　to　his　childish　fancy　this　dreadful　history　was　more　like　one　of　Dame　Astrida's　legends　than　a　reality；　and　at　the　moment　his　thought　was　only　of　the　blackness　of　the　treason。　　〃Oh；　that　I　were　a　man　to　chastise　them！　　One　day　they　shall　feel〃

He　broke　off　short；　for　he　remembered　how　his　father　had　forbidden　his　denunciations　of　vengeance；　but　his　words　were　eagerly　caught　up　by　the　Barons；　who；　as　Duke　William　had　said；　were　far　from　possessing　any　temper　of　forgiveness；　thought　revenge　a　duty；　and　were　only　glad　to　see　a　warlike　spirit　in　their　new　Prince。

〃Ha！　say　you　so；　my　young　Lord？〃　exclaimed　old　Count　Bernard；　rising。　〃Yes；　and　I　see　a　sparkle　in　your　eye　that　tells　me　you　will　one　day　avenge　him　nobly！〃

Richard　drew　up　his　head；　and　his　heart　throbbed　high　as　Sir　Eric　made　answer；　〃Ay；　truly；　that　will　he！　　You　might　search　Normandy　through；　yea；　and　Norway　likewise；　ere　you　would　find　a　temper　more　bold　and　free。　　Trust　my　word；　Count　Bernard；　our　young　Duke　will　be　famed　as　widely　as　ever　were　his　forefathers！〃

〃I　believe　it　well！〃　said　Bernard。　　〃He　hath　the　port　of　his　grandfather；　Duke　Rollo；　and　much；　too；　of　his　noble　father！　　How　say　you；　Lord　Richard；　will　you　be　a　valiant　leader　of　the　Norman　race　against　our　foes？〃

〃That　I　will！〃　said　Richard；　carried　away　by　the　applause　excited　by　those　few　words　of　his。　　〃I　will　ride　at　your　head　this　very　night　if　you　will　but　go　to　chastise　the　false　Flemings。〃

〃You　shall　ride　with　us　to…morrow；　my　Lord；〃　answered　Bernard；　〃b