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第8节

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

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