the little duke-第8节

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〃Then　so　we　will。　　Come；　begin　again；　Alberic；　and　you　shall　have　the　first　turn。〃

However；　Alberic　was　quite　as　courteous　and　respectful　to　the　Duke　when　they　were　not　at　play；　as　the　difference　of　their　rank　required；　indeed；　he　had　learnt　much　more　of　grace　and　courtliness　of　demeanour　from　his　mother；　a　Provencal　lady；　than　was　yet　to　be　found　among　the　Normans。　　The　Chaplain　of　Montemar　had　begun　to　teach　him　to　read　and　write；　and　he　liked　learning　much　better　than　Richard；　who　would　not　have　gone　on　with　Father　Lucas's　lessons　at　all；　if　Abbot　Martin　of　Jumieges　had　not　put　him　in　mind　that　it　had　been　his　father's　especial　desire。

What　Richard　most　disliked　was；　however；　the　being　obliged　to　sit　in　council。　　The　Count　of　Harcourt　did　in　truth　govern　the　dukedom；　but　nothing　could　be　done　without　the　Duke's　consent；　and　once　a　week　at　least；　there　was　held　in　the　great　hall　of　Rollo's　tower；　what　was　called　a　Parlement；　or　〃a　talkation；〃　where　Count　Bernard；　the　Archbishop；　the　Baron　de　Centeville；　the　Abbot　of　Jumieges；　and　such　other　Bishops；　Nobles；　or　Abbots；　as　might　chance　to　be　at　Rouen；　consulted　on　the　affairs　of　Normandy；　and　there　the　little　Duke　always　was　forced　to　be　present；　sitting　up　in　his　chair　of　state；　and　hearing　rather　than　listening　to；　questions　about　the　repairing　and　guarding　of　Castles；　the　asking　of　loans　from　the　vassals；　the　appeals　from　the　Barons　of　the　Exchequer；　who　were　then　Nobles　sent　through　the　duchy　to　administer　justice；　and　the　discussions　about　the　proceedings　of　his　neighbours；　King　Louis　of　France；　Count　Foulques　of　Anjou；　and　Count　Herluin　of　Montreuil；　and　how　far　the　friendship　of　Hugh　of　Paris；　and　Alan　of　Brittany　might　be　trusted。

Very　tired　of　all　this　did　Richard　grow；　especially　when　he　found　that　the　Normans　had　made　up　their　minds　not　to　attempt　a　war　against　the　wicked　Count　of　Flanders。　　He　sighed　most　wearily；　yawned　again　and　again；　and　moved　restlessly　about　in　his　chair；　but　whenever　Count　Bernard　saw　him　doing　so；　he　received　so　severe　a　look　and　sign　that　he　grew　perfectly　to　dread　the　eye　of　the　fierce　old　Dane。　Bernard　never　spoke　to　him　to　praise　him；　or　to　enter　into　any　of　his　pursuits；　he　only　treated　him　with　the　grave　distant　respect　due　to　him　as　a　Prince；　or　else　now　and　then　spoke　a　few　stern　words　to　him　of　reproof　for　this　restlessness；　or　for　some　other　childish　folly。

Used　as　Richard　was　to　be　petted　and　made　much　of　by　the　whole　house　of　Centeville；　he　resented　this　considerably　in　secret；　disliked　and　feared　the　old　Count；　and　more　than　once　told　Alberic　de　Montemar；　that　as　soon　as　he　was　fourteen；　when　he　would　be　declared　of　age；　he　should　send　Count　Bernard　to　take　care　of　his　own　Castle　of　Harcourt；　instead　of　letting　him　sit　gloomy　and　grim　in　the　Castle　hall　in　the　evening；　spoiling　all　their　sport。

Winter　had　set　in；　and　Osmond　used　daily　to　take　the　little　Duke　and　Alberic　to　the　nearest　sheet　of　ice；　for　the　Normans　still　prided　themselves　on　excelling　in　skating；　though　they　had　long　since　left　the　frost…bound　streams　and　lakes　of　Norway。

One　day；　as　they　were　returning　from　the　ice；　they　were　surprised；　even　before　they　entered　the　Castle　court；　by　hearing　the　trampling　of　horses'　feet；　and　a　sound　of　voices。

〃What　may　this　mean？〃　said　Osmond。　　〃There　must　surely　be　a　great　arrival　of　the　vassals。　　The　Duke　of　Brittany；　perhaps。〃

〃Oh；〃　said　Richard；　piteously；　〃we　have　had　one　council　already　this　week。　　I　hope　another　is　not　coming！〃

〃It　must　import　something　extraordinary；〃　proceeded　Osmond。　　〃It　is　a　mischance　that　the　Count　of　Harcourt　is　not　at　Rouen　just　now。〃

Richard　thought　this　no　mischance　at　all；　and　just　then；　Alberic；　who　had　run　on　a　little　before；　came　back　exclaiming；　〃They　are　French。　It　is　the　Frank　tongue；　not　the　Norman；　that　they　speak。〃

〃So　please　you；　my　Lord；〃　said　Osmond；　stopping　short；　〃we　go　not　rashly　into　the　midst　of　them。　　I　would　I　knew　what　were　best　to　do。〃

Osmond　rubbed　his　forehead　and　stood　considering；　while　the　two　boys　looked　at　him　anxiously。　　In　a　few　seconds；　before　he　had　come　to　any　conclusion；　there　came　forth　from　the　gate　a　Norman　Squire；　accompanied　by　two　strangers。

〃My　Lord　Duke；〃　said　he　to　Richard；　in　French；　〃Sir　Eric　has　sent　me　to　bring　you　tidings　that　the　King　of　France　has　arrived　to　receive　your　homage。〃

〃The　King！〃　exclaimed　Osmond。

〃Ay！〃　proceeded　the　Norman；　in　his　own　tongue；　〃Louis　himself；　and　with　a　train　looking　bent　on　mischief。　　I　wish　it　may　portend　good　to　my　Lord　here。　　You　see　I　am　accompanied。　　I　believe　from　my　heart　that　Louis　meant　to　prevent　you　from　receiving　a　warning；　and　taking　the　boy　out　of　his　clutches。〃

〃Ha！　what？〃　said　Richard；　anxiously。　　〃Why　is　the　King　come？　　What　must　I　do？〃

〃Go　on　now；　since　there　is　no　help　for　it；〃　said　Osmond。

〃Greet　the　king　as　becomes　you；　bend　the　knee；　and　pay　him　homage。〃

Richard　repeated　over　to　himself　the　form　of　homage　that　he　might　be　perfect　in　it；　and　walked　on　into　the　court；　Alberic；　Osmond；　and　the　rest　falling　back　as　he　entered。　　The　court　was　crowded　with　horses　and　men；　and　it　was　only　by　calling　out　loudly；　〃The　Duke；　the　Duke；〃　that　Osmond　could　get　space　enough　made　for　them　to　pass。　　In　a　few　moments　Richard　had　mounted　the　steps　and　stood　in　the　great　hall。

In　the　chair　of　state；　at　the　upper　end　of　the　room；　sat　a　small　spare　man；　of　about　eight　or　nine…and…twenty；　pale；　and　of　a　light　complexion；　with　a　rich　dress　of　blue　and　gold。　　Sir　Eric　and　several　other　persons　stood　respectfully　round　him；　and　he　was　conversing　with　the　Archbishop；　who；　as　well　as　Sir　Eric；　cast　several　anxious　glances　at　the　little　Duke　as　he　advanced　up　the　hall。　　He　came　up　to　the　King；　put　his　knee　to　the　ground；　and　was　just　beginning；　〃Louis；　King　of　France；　I〃　when　he　found　himself　suddenly　lifted　from　the　ground　in　the　King's　arms；　and　kissed　on　both　cheeks。　　Then　setting　him　on　his　knee；　the　King　exclaimed；　〃And　is　this　the　son　of　my　brave　and　noble　friend；　Duke　William？　　Ah！　　I　should　have　known　it　from　his　likeness。　　Let　me　embrace　you　again；　dear　child；　for　your　father's　sake。〃

Richard　was　rather　overwhelmed；　but　he　thought　the　King　very　kind；　especially　when　Louis　began　to　admire　his　height　and　free…spirited　bearing；　and　to　lament　that　his　own　sons；　Lothaire　and　Carloman；　were　so　much　smaller　and　more　backward。　　He　caressed　Richard　again　and　again；　praised　every　word　he　saidFru　Astrida　was　nothing　to　him；　and　Richard　began　to　say　to　himself　how　strange　and　unkind　it　was　of　Bernard　de　Harcourt　to　like　to　find　fault　with　him；　when；　on　the　contrary；　he　deserved　all　this　praise　from　the　King　himself。



CHAPTER　V



Duke　Richard　of　Normandy　slept　in　the　room　which　had　been　his　father's；　Alberic　de　Montemar；　as　his　page；　slept　at　his　feet；　and　Osmond　de　Centeville　had　a　bed　on　the　floor；　across　the　door；　where　he　lay　with　his　sword　close　at　hand；　as　his　young　Lord's　guard　and　protector。

All　had　been　asleep　for　some　little　time；　when　Osmond　was　startled　by　a　slight　movement　of　the　door；　which　could　not　be　pushed　open　without　awakening　him。　　In　an　instant　he　had　grasped　his　sword；　while　he　pressed　his　shoulder　to　the　door　to　keep　it　closed；　but　it　was　his　father's　voice　that　answered　him　with　a　few　whispered　words　in　the　Norse　tongue；　〃It　is　I；　open。〃　　He　made　way　instantly；　and　old　Sir　Eric　entered；　treading　cautiously　with　bare　feet；　and　sat　down　on　the　bed　motioning　him　to　do　the　same；　so　that　they　might　be　able　to　speak　lower。　　〃Right；　Osmond；〃　he　said。　　〃It　is　well　to　be　on　the　alert；　for　peril　enough　is　around　himThe　Frank　means　mischief！　　I　know　from　a　sure　hand　that　Arnulf　of　Flanders　was　in　council　with　him　just　before　he　came　hither；　with　his　false　tongue；　wiling　and　coaxing　the　poor　child！〃

〃Ungrateful　traitor！〃　murmured　Osmond。　　〃Do　you　guess　his　purpose？〃

〃Yes；　surely；　to　carry　the　boy　off　with　him；　and　so　he　trusts　doubtless　to　cut　off　all　the　race　of　Rollo！　　I　know　his　purpose　is　to　bear　off　the　Duke；　as　a　ward　of　the　Crown　forsooth。　　Did　you　not　hear　him　luring　the　child　with　his　promises　of　friendship　with　the　Princes？　　I　could　not　understand　all　his　French　words；　but　I　saw　it　plain　enough。〃

〃You　will　never　allow　it？〃

〃If　he　does；　it　must　be　across　our　dead　bodies；　but　taken　as　we　are　by　surprise；　our　resistance　will　little　avail。　　The　Castle　is　full　of　French；　the　hall　and　court　swarm　with　them。　　Even　if　we　could　draw　our　Normans　together；　we　should　not　be　more　than　a　dozen　men；　and　what　could　we　do　but　die？　　That　we　are　ready　for；　if　it　may　not　be　otherwise；　rather　than　let　our　charge　be　thus　borne　off　without　a　pledge　for　his　safety；　and　without　the　knowledge　of　the　states。〃

〃The　king　could　not　have　come　at　a　worse　time；〃　said　Osmond。

〃No；　just　when　Bernard　the　Dane　is　absent。　　If　he　only　knew　what　has　befallen；　he　could　raise　the　country；　and　come　to　the　rescue。〃

〃Could　we　not　send　some　one　to　bear　the　tidings　to…night？〃

〃I　know　not；〃　said　Sir　Eric；　musingly。　　〃The　French　have　taken　the　keeping　of　the　doors；　indeed　they　are　so　thick　through　the　Castle　that　I　can　hardly　reach　one　of　our　men；　nor　could　I　spare　one　hand　that　may　avail　to　guard　the　boy　to…morrow。〃

〃Sir　Eric；〃　a　bare　little　foot　was　heard