men of iron-第31部分

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s　and　debauchery　around　him；　and　loved　it　not。

Then　one　day　a　courier　came；　bringing　a　packet。　It　was　a　letter　from　the　Earl；　bidding　Myles　return　straightway　to　England　and　to　Mackworth　House　upon　the　Strand；　nigh　to　London；　without　delay；　and　Myles　knew　that　his　time　had　come。

It　was　a　bright　day　in　April　when　he　and　Gascoyne　rode　clattering　out　through　Temple　Bar；　leaving　behind　them　quaint　old　London　town；　its　blank　stone　wall；　its　crooked；　dirty　streets；　its　high…　gabled　wooden　houses；　over　which　rose　the　sharp　spire　of　St。　Paul's；　towering　high　into　the　golden　air。　Before　them　stretched　the　straight；　broad　highway　of　the　Strand；　on　one　side　the　great　houses　and　palaces　of　princely　priests　and　powerful　nobles；　on　the　other　the　Covent　Garden；　（or　the　Convent　Garden；　as　it　was　then　called）；　and　the　rolling　country；　where　great　stone　windmills　swung　their　slow…moving　arms　in　the　damp；　soft　April　breeze；　and　away　in　the　distance　the　Scottish　Palace；　the　White　Hall；　and　Westminster。

It　was　the　first　time　that　Myles　had　seen　famous　London　town。　In　that　dim　and　distant　time　of　his　boyhood；　six　months　before；　he　would　have　been　wild　with　delight　and　enthusiasm。　Now　he　jogged　along　with　Gascoyne；　gazing　about　him　with　calm　interest　at　open　shops　and　booths　and　tall；　gabled　houses；　at　the　busy　throng　of　merchants　and　craftsmen；　jostling　and　elbowing　one　another；　at　townsfolkmen　and　damespicking　their　way　along　the　muddy　kennel　of　a　sidewalk。　He　had　seen　so　much　of　the　world　that　he　had　lost　somewhat　of　interest　in　new　things。　So　he　did　not　care　to　tarry；　but　rode；　with　a　mind　heavy　with　graver　matters；　through　the　streets　and　out　through　the　Temple　Bar　direct　for　Mackworth　House；　near　the　Savoy　Palace。

It　was　with　a　great　deal　of　interest　that　Myles　and　his　patron　regarded　one　another　when　they　met　for　the　first　time　after　that　half…year　which　the　young　soldier　had　spent　in　France。　To　Myles　it　seemed　somehow　very　strange　that　his　Lordship's　familiar　face　and　figure　should　look　so　exactly　the　same。　To　Lord　Mackworth；　perhaps；　it　seemed　even　more　strange　that　six　short　months　should　have　wrought　so　great　a　change　in　the　young　man。　The　rugged　exposure　in　camp　and　field　during　the　hard　winter　that　had　passed　had　roughened　the　smooth　bloom　of　his　boyish　complexion　and　bronzed　his　fair　skin　almost　as　much　as　a　midsummer's　sun　could　have　done。　His　beard　and　mustache　had　grown　again；　（now　heavier　and　more　mannish　from　having　been　shaved）；　and　the　white　seam　of　a　scar　over　the　right　temple　gave；　if　not　a　stern；　at　least　a　determined　look　to　the　strong；　square…jawed　young　face。　So　the　two　stood　for　a　while　regarding　one　another。　Myles　was　the　first　to　break　the　silence。

〃My　Lord；〃　said　he；　〃thou　didst　send　for　me　to　come　back　to　England；　behold；　here　am　I。〃

〃When　didst　thou　land；　Sir　Myles？〃　said　the　Earl。

〃I　and　my　squire　landed　at　Dover　upon　Tuesday　last；〃　answered　the　young　man。

The　Earl　of　Mackworth　stroked　his　beard　softly。　〃Thou　art　marvellous　changed；〃　said　he。　〃I　would　not　have　thought　it　possible。〃

Myles　smiled　somewhat　grimly。　〃I　have　seen　such　things；　my　Lord；　in　France　and　in　Paris；〃　said　he；　quietly；　〃as；　mayhap；　may　make　a　lad　a　man　before　his　time。〃

〃From　which　I　gather；〃　said　the　Earl；　〃that　many　adventures　have　befallen　thee。　Methought　thou　wouldst　find　troublesome　times　in　the　Dauphin's　camp；　else　I　would　not　have　sent　thee　to　France。〃

A　little　space　of　silence　followed；　during　which　the　Earl　sat　musingly；　half　absently；　regarding　the　tall；　erect；　powerful　young　figure　standing　before　him；　awaiting　his　pleasure　in　motionless；　patient；　almost　dogged　silence。　The　strong；　sinewy　hands　were　clasped　and　rested　upon　the　long　heavy　sword；　around　the　scabbard　of　which　the　belt　was　loosely　wrapped；　and　the　plates　of　mail　caught　and　reflected　in　flashing；　broken　pieces；　the　bright　sunlight　from　the　window　behind。

〃Sir　Myles；〃　said　the　Earl；　suddenly；　breaking　the　silence　at　last；　〃dost　thou　know　why　I　sent　for　thee　hither？〃

〃Aye；〃　said　Myles；　calmly；　〃how　can　I　else？　Thou　wouldst　not　have　called　me　from　Paris　but　for　one　thing。　Methinks　thou　hast　sent　for　me　to　fight　the　Earl　of　Alban；　and　lo！　I　am　here。〃

〃Thou　speakest　very　boldly；〃　said　the　Earl。　〃I　do　hope　that　thy　deeds　be　as　bold　as　thy　words。〃

〃That；〃　said　Myles；　〃thou　must　ask　other　men。　Methinks　no　one　may　justly　call　me　coward。〃

〃By　my　troth！〃　said　the　Earl；　smiling；　〃looking　upon　theelimbs　and　girth；　bone　and　sinewI　would　not　like　to　be　the　he　that　would　dare　accuse　thee　of　such　a　thing。　As　for　thy　surmise；　I　may　tell　thee　plain　that　thou　art　right；　and　that　it　was　to　fight　the　Earl　of　Alban　I　sent　for　thee　hither。　The　time　is　now　nearly　ripe；　and　I　will　straightway　send　for　thy　father　to　come　to　London。　Meantime　it　would　not　be　safe　either　for　thee　or　for　me　to　keep　thee　in　my　service。　I　have　spoken　to　his　Highness　the　Prince　of　Wales；　who；　with　other　of　the　Princes；　is　upon　our　side　in　this　quarrel。　He　hath　promised　to　take　thee　into　his　service　until　the　fitting　time　comes　to　bring　thee　and　thine　enemy　together；　and　to…morrow　I　shall　take　thee　to　Scotland　Yard；　where　his　Highness　is　now　lodging。〃

As　the　Earl　ended　his　speech；　Myles　bowed；　but　did　not　speak。　The　Earl　waited　for　a　little　while；　as　though　to　give　him　the　opportunity　to　answer。

〃Well；　sirrah；〃　said　he　at　last；　with　a　shade　of　impatience；　〃hast　thou　naught　to　say？　Meseems　thou　takest　all　this　with　marvellous　coolness。〃

〃Have　I　then　my　Lord's　permission　to　speak　my　mind？〃

〃Aye；〃　said　the　Earl；　〃say　thy　say。〃

〃Sir；〃　said　Myles；　〃I　have　thought　and　pondered　this　matter　much　while　abroad；　and　would　now　ask　thee　a　plain　question　in　all　honest　an　I　ha'　thy　leave。　〃

The　Earl　nodded　his　head。

〃Sir；　am　I　not　right　in　believing　that　thou　hast　certain　weighty　purposes　and　aims　of　thine　own　to　gain　an　I　win　this　battle　against　the　Earl　of　Alban？〃

〃Has　my　brother　George　been　telling　thee　aught　to　such　a　purpose？〃　said　the　Earl；　after　a　moment　or　two　of　silence。

Myles　did　not　answer。

〃No　matter；〃　added　Lord　Mackworth。　〃I　will　not　ask　thee　who　told　thee　such　a　thing。　As　for　thy　questionwell；　sin　thou　ask　it　frankly；　I　will　be　frank　with　thee。　Yea；　I　have　certain　ends　to　gain　in　having　the　Earl　of　Alban　overthrown。〃

Myles　bowed。　〃Sir；〃　said　he；　〃haply　thine　ends　are　as　much　beyond　aught　that　I　can　comprehend　as　though　I　were　a　little　child；　only　this　I　know；　that　they　must　be　very　great。　Thou　knowest　well　that　in　any　case　I　would　fight　me　this　battle　for　my　father's　sake　and　for　the　honor　of　my　house；　nevertheless；　in　return　for　all　that　it　will　so　greatly　advantage　thee；　wilt　thou　not　grant　me　a　boon　in　return　should　I　overcome　mine　enemy？〃

〃What　is　thy　boon；　Sir　Myles？〃

〃That　thou　wilt　grant　me　thy　favor　to　seek　the　Lady　Alice　de　Mowbray　for　my　wife。〃

The　Earl　of　Mackworth　started　up　from　his　seat。　〃Sir　Myles　Falworth〃he　began；　violently；　and　then　stopped　short；　drawing　his　bushy　eyebrows　together　into　a　frown　stern；　if　not　sinister。

Myles　withstood　his　look　calmly　and　impassively；　and　presently　the　Earl　turned　on　his　heel；　and　strode　to　the　open　window。　A　long　time　passed　in　silence　while　he　stood　there；　gazing　out　of　the　window　into　the　garden　beyond　with　his　back　to　the　young　man。

Suddenly　he　swung　around　again。　〃Sir　Myles；〃　said　he；　〃the　family　of　Falworth　is　as　good　as　any　in　Derbyshire。　Just　now　it　is　poor　and　fallen　in　estate；　but　if　it　is　again　placed　in　credit　and　honor；　thou；　who　art　the　son　of　the　house；　shalt　have　thy　suit　weighed　with　as　much　respect　and　consideration　as　though　thou　wert　my　peer　in　all　things；　Such　is　my　answer。　Art　thou　satisfied？〃

〃I　could　ask　no　more；〃　answered　Myles。



CHAPTER　29

That　night　Myles　lodged　at　Mackworth　House。　The　next　morning；　as　soon　as　he　had　broken　his　fast；　which　he　did　in　the　privacy　of　his　own　apartments；　the　Earl　bade　him　and　Gascoyne　to　make　ready　for　the　barge；　which　was　then　waiting　at　the　river　stairs　to　take　them　to　Scotland　Yard。

The　Earl　himself　accompanied　them；　and　as　the　heavy　snub…nosed　boat；　rowed　by　the　six　oarsmen　in　Mackworth　livery；　slid　slowly　and　heavily　up　against　the　stream；　the　Earl；　leaning　back　in　his　cushioned　seat；　pointed　out　the　various　inns　of　the　great　priests　or　nobles；　palatial　town　residences　standing　mostly　a　little　distance　back　from　the　water　behind　terraced　high…walled　gardens　and　lawns。　Yon　was　the　Bishop　of　Exeter's　Close；　yon　was　the　Bishop　of　Bath's；　that　was　York　House；　and　that　Chester　Inn。　So　passing　by　gardens　and　lawns　and　palaces；　they　came　at　last　to　Scotland　Yard　stairs；　a　broad　flight　of　marble　steps　that　led　upward　to　a　stone　platform　above；　upon　which　opened　the　gate…way　of　the　garden　beyond。

The　Scotland　Yard　of　Myles　Falworth's　day　was　one　of　the　more　pretentious　and　commodious　of　the　palaces　of　the　Strand。　It　took　its　name　from　having　been　from　ancient　times　the　London　inn　which　the　tributary　Kings　of　Scotland　occupied　when　on　their　periodical　visits　of　homage　to　England。　Now；　during　this　time　of　Scotland's　independence；　the　Prince　of　Wales　had　taken　up　his　lodging　in　the　old　palace；　and　made　it　noisy　with　the　mad；　boisterous　mirth　of　his　court。

As　the　watermen　drew　the　barge　close　to　the　landing…place　of　the　stairs；　the　Earl　stepped　ashore；　and　followed　by　Myles　and　Gascoyne；　ascended　to　the　broad　gate…way　of　the　river　wall　of　the　garden。　Three　men…at…arms　who　lounged　upon　a　bench　under　the　shade　of　the　little　pent　roof　of　a　guard…house　beside　the　wall；　arose　and　saluted　as　the　well…known　figure　of　the　Earl　mounted　the　steps。　The　Earl　nodded　a　cool　answer；　and　passing　unchallenged　through　the　gate；　led　the　way　up　a　pleached　walk；　beyond　which；　as　Myles　could　see；　there　stretched　a　little　grassy　lawn　and　a　stone…paved　terrace。　As　the　Earl　and　the　two　young　men　approached　the　end　of　the　walk；　they　were　met　by　the　sound　of　voices　and　laughter；　the　clinking　of　glasses　and　the　rattle　of　dishes。　Turning　a　corner；　they　came　suddenly　upon　a　party　of　young　gentlemen；　who　sat　at　a　late　breakfast　under　the　shade　of　a　wide…spreading　lime…tree。　They　had　evidently　just　left　the　tilt…yard；　for　two　of　the　guestssturdy；　thick…set　young　knightsyet　wore　a　part　of　their　tilting　armor。

Behind　the　merry　scene　stood　the　gray；　hoary　old