sir nigel-第14部分

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and　craftiest　man　of　war　in　Europe。　　Once　only；　as　he　entered
Farnham；　an　old　broken　man…at…arms　ran　out　in　his　rags　and
clutched　at　his　horse　as　a　dog　gambols　round　his　master。　　Chandos
threw　him　a　kind　word　and　a　gold　coin　as　he　passed　on　to　the
castle。

In　the　meanwhile　young　Nigel　and　the　Lady　Ermyntrude；　left　alone
with　their　difficulties；　looked　blankly　in　each　other's　faces。

〃The　cellar　is　well　nigh　empty；〃　said　Nigel。　　〃There　are　two
firkins　of　small　beer　and　a　tun　of　canary。　　How　can　we　set　such
drink　before　the　King　and　his　court？〃

〃We　must　have　some　wine　of　Bordeaux。　　With　that　and　the　mottled
cow's　calf　and　the　fowls　and　a　goose；　we　can　set　forth　a
sufficient　repast　if　he　stays　only　for　the　one　night。　　How　many
will　be　with　him？〃

〃A　dozen；　at　the　least。〃

The　old　dame　wrung　her　hands　in　despair。　　〃Nay；　take　it　not　to
heart；　dear　lady！〃　said　Nigel。　　〃We　have　but　to　say　the　word　and
the　King　would　stop　at　Waverley；　where　he　and　his　court　would　find
all　that　they　could　wish。〃

〃Never！〃　cried　the　Lady　Ermyntrude。　　〃It　would　be　shame　and
disgrace　to　us　forever　if　the　King　were　to　pass　our　door　when　he
has　graciously　said　that　he　was　fain　to　enter　in。　　Nay；　I　will　do
it。　　Never　did　I　think　that　I　would　be　forced　to　this；　but　I　know
that　he　would　wish　it；　and　I　will　do　it。〃

She　went　to　the　old　iron　coffer；　and　taking　a　small　key　from　her
girdle　she　unlocked　it。　　The　rusty　hinges；　screaming　shrilly　as
she　threw　back　the　lid；　proclaimed　how　seldom　it　was　that　she　had
penetrated　into　the　sacred　recesses　of　her　treasure…chest。　　At　the
top　were　some　relics　of　old　finery：　a　silken　cloak　spangled　with
golden　stars；　a　coif　of　silver　filigree；　a　roll　of　Venetian　lace。
Beneath　were　little　packets　tied　in　silk　which　the　old　lady
handled　with　tender　care：　a　man's　hunting…glove；　a　child's　shoe；　a
love…knot　done　in　faded　green　ribbon；　some　letters　in　rude　rough
script；　and　a　vernicle　of　Saint　Thomas。　　Then　from　the　very　bottom
of　the　box　she　drew　three　objects；　swathed　in　silken　cloth；　which
she　uncovered　and　laid　upon　the　table。　　The　one　was　a　bracelet　of
rough　gold　studded　with　uncut　rubies；　the　second　was　a　gold
salver；　and　the　third　was　a　high　goblet　of　the　same　metal。

〃You　have　heard　me　speak　of　these；　Nigel；　but　never　before　have
you　seen　them；　for　indeed　I　have　not　opened　the　hutch　for　fear
that　we　might　be　tempted　in　our　great　need　to　turn　them　into
money。　　I　have　kept　them　out　of　my　sight　and　even　out　of　my
thoughts。　　But　now　it　is　the　honor　of　the　house　which　calls；　and
even　these　must　go。　　This　goblet　was　that　which　my　husband；　Sir
Nele　Loring；　won　after　the　intaking　of　Belgrade　when　he　and　his
comrades　held　the　lists　from　matins　to　vespers　against　the　flower
of　the　French　chivalry。　　The　salver　was　given　him　by　the　Earl　of
Pembroke　in　memory　of　his　valor　upon　the　field　of　Falkirk。〃

〃And　the　bracelet；　dear　lady？〃

〃You　will　not　laugh；　Nigel？〃

〃Nay；　why　should　I　laugh？〃

〃The　bracelet　was　the　prize　for　the　Queen　of　Beauty　which　was
given　to　me　before　all　the　high…born　ladies　of　England　by　Sir　Nele
Loring　a　month　before　our　marriage　…　the　Queen　of　Beauty；　Nigel　…
I；　old　and　twisted；　as　you　see　me。　　Five　strong　men　went　down
before　his　lance　ere　he　won　that　trinket　for　me。　　And　now　in　my
last　years　…　〃

〃　Nay；　dear　and　honored　lady；　we　will　not　part　with　it。〃

〃Yes；　Nigel；　he　would　have　it　so。　　I　can　hear　his　whisper　in　my
ear。　　Honor　to　him　was　everything　…　the　rest　nothing。　　Take　it
from　me；　Nigel；　ere　my　heart　weakens。　　Tomorrow　you　will　ride　with
it　to　Guildford；　you　will　see　Thorold　the　goldsmith；　and　you　will
raise　enough　money　to　pay　for　all　that　we　shall　need　for　the
King's　coming。〃　　She　turned　her　face　away　to　hide　the　quivering　of
her　wrinkled　features；　and　the　crash　of　the　iron　lid　covered　the
sob　which　burst　from　her　overwrought　soul。




VII。　　HOW　NIGEL　WENT　MARKETING　TO　GUILDFORD


It　was　on　a　bright　June　morning　that　young　Nigel；　with　youth　and
springtime　to　make　his　heart　light；　rode　upon　his　errand　from
Tilford　to　Guildford　town。　　Beneath　him　was　his　great　yellow
warhorse；　caracoling　and　curveting　as　be　went；　as　blithe　and　free
of　spirit　as　his　master。　　In　all　England　one　would　scarce　have
found　upon　that　morning　so　high…mettled　and　so　debonair　a　pair。
The　sandy　road　wound　through　groves　of　fir；　where　the　breeze　came
soft　and　fragrant　with　resinous　gums；　or　over　heathery　downs；
which　rolled　away　to　north　and　to　south；　vast　and　untenanted；　for
on　the　uplands　the　soil　was　poor　and　water　scarce。　　Over
Crooksbury　Common　he　passed；　and　then　across　the　great　Heath　of
Puttenham；　following　a　sandy　path　which　wound　amid　the　bracken　and
the　heather；　for　he　meant　to　strike　the　Pilgrims'　Way　where　it
turned　eastward　from　Farnham　and　from　Seale。　　As　he　rode　he
continually　felt　his　saddle…bag　with　his　hand；　for　in　it；　securely
strapped；　he　had　placed　the　precious　treasures　of　the　Lady
Ermyntrude。　　As　he　saw　the　grand　tawny　neck　tossing　before　him；
and　felt　the　easy　heave　of　the　great　horse　and　heard　the　muffled
drumming　of　his　hoofs；　he　could　have　sung　and　shouted　with　the　joy
of　living。

Behind　him；　upon　the　little　brown　pony　which　had　been　Nigel's
former　mount；　rode　Samkin　Aylward　the　bowman；　who　had　taken　upon
himself　the　duties　of　personal　attendant　and　body…guard。　　His
great　shoulders　and　breadth　of　frame　seemed　dangerously　top…heavy
upon　the　tiny　steed；　but　he　ambled　along；　whistling　a　merry　lilt
and　as　lighthearted　as　his　master。　　There　was　no　countryman　who
had　not　a　nod　and　no　woman　who　had　not　a　smile　for　the　jovial
bowman；　who　rode　for　the　most　part　with　his　face　over　his
shoulder；　staring　at　the　last　petticoat　which　had　passed　him。
Once　only　he　met　with　a　harsher　greeting。　　It　was　from　a　tall；
white…headed；　red…faced　man　whom　they　met　upon　the　moor。

〃Good…morrow；　dear　father！〃　cried　Aylward。　　〃How　is　it　with　you　at
Crooksbury？　　And　how　are　the　new　black　cow　and　the　ewes　from　Alton
and　Mary　the　dairymaid　and　all　your　gear？〃

〃It　ill　becomes　you　to　ask；　you　ne'er…do…weel；〃　said　the　old　man。
〃You　have　angered　the　monks　of　Waverley；　whose　tenant　I　am；　and
they　would　drive　me　out　of　my　farm。　　Yet　there　are　three　more
years　to　run；　and　do　what　they　may　I　will　bide　till　then。　　But
little　did　I　think　that　I　should　lose　my　homestead　through　you；
Samkin；　and　big　as　you　are　I　would　knock　the　dust　out　of　that
green　jerkin。　　with　a　good　hazel　switch　if　I　had　you　at
Crooksbury。〃

〃Then　you　shall　do　it　to…morrow　morning；　good　father；　for　I　will
come　and　see　you　then。　　But　indeed　I　did　not　do　more　at　Waverley
than　you　would　have　done　yourself。　　Look　me　in　the　eye；　old
hothead；　and　tell　me　if　you　would　have　stood　by　while　the　last
Loring　…　look　at　him　as　he　rides　with　his　head　in　the　air　and　his
soul　in　the　clouds　…　was　shot　down　before　your　very　eyes　at　the
bidding　of　that　fat　monk！　　If　you　would；　then　I　disown　you　as　my
father。〃

〃Nay；　Samkin；　if　it　was　like　that；　then　perhaps　what　you　did　was
not　so　far　amiss。　　But　it　is　hard　to　lose　the　old　farm　when　my
heart　is　buried　deep　in　the　good　brown　soil。〃

〃Tut；　man！　　there　are　three　years　to　run；　and　what　may　not　happen
in　three　years？　　Before　that　time　I　shall　have　gone　to　the　wars；
and　when　I　have　opened　a　French　strong　box　or　two　you　can　buy　the
good　brown　soil　and　snap　your　fingers　at　Abbot　John　and　his
bailiffs。　　Am　I　not　as　proper　a　man　as　Tom　Withstaff　of　Churt？
And　yet　he　came　back　after　six　months　with　his　pockets　full　of
rose　nobles　and　a　French　wench　on　either　arm。〃

〃God　preserve　us　from　the　wenches；　Samkin！　　But　indeed　I　think
that　if　there　is　money　to　be　gathered　you　are　as　likely　to　get
your　fist　full　as　any　man　who　goes　to　the　war。　　But　hasten；　lad；
hasten！　　Already　your　young　master　is　over　the　brow。〃

Thus　admonished；　the　archer　waved　his　gauntleted　hand　to　his
father；　and　digging　his　heels　into　the　sides　of　his　little　pony
soon　drew　up　with　the　Squire。　　Nigel　glanced　over　his　shoulder　and
slackened　speed　until　the　pony's　head　was　up　to　his　saddle。

〃Have　I　not　heard；　archer；〃　said　he；　〃that　an　outlaw　has　been
loose　in　these　parts？〃

〃It　is　true；　fair　sir。　　He　was　villain　to　Sir　Peter　Mandeville；
but　he　broke　his　bonds　and　fled　into　the　forests。　　Men　call　him
the　‘Wild　Man　of　Puttenham。'〃

〃How　comes　it　that　he　has　not　been　hunted　down？　　If　the　man　be　a
draw…latch　and　a　robber　it　would　be　an　honorable　deed　to　clear　the
country　of　such　an　evil。〃

〃Twice　the　sergeants…at…arms　from　Guildford　have　come　out　against
him；　but　the　fox　has　many　earths；　and　it　would　puzzle　you　to　get
him　out　of　them。〃

〃By　Saint　Paul！　　were　my　errand　not　a　pressing　one　I　would　be
tempted　to　turn　aside　and　seek　him。　　Where　lives　he；　then？〃

〃There　is　a　great　morass　beyond　Puttenham；　and　across　it　there　are
caves　in　which　he　and　his　people　lurk。〃

〃His　people？　　He　hath　a　band？〃

〃There　are　several　with　him。〃

〃It　sounds　a　most　honorable　enterprise；〃　said　Nigel。　　〃When　the
King　hath　come　and　gone　we　will　spare　a　day　for　the　outlaws　of
Puttenham。　　I　fear　there　is　little　chance　for　us　to　see　them　on
this　journey。〃

〃They　prey　upon　the　pilgrims　who　pass　along　the　Winchester　Road；
and　they　are　well　loved　by　the　folk　in　these　parts；　for　they　rob
none　of　them　and　have　an　open　hand　for　all　who　will　help　them。〃

〃It　is　right　easy　to　have　an　open　hand　with　the　money　that　you
have　stolen；〃　said　Nigel；　〃but　I　fear　that　they　will　not　try　to
rob　two　men　with　swords　at　their　girdles　like　you　and　me；　so　we
shall　have　no　profit　from　them。〃

They　had　passed　over　the　wild　moors　and　had　come　down　now　into　the
main　road　by　which　the　pilgrims　from　the　west　of　England　made
their　way　to　the　national　shrine　at　Canterbury。　　It　passed　from
Winchester；　and　up　the　beautiful　valley　of　the　Itchen　until　it
reached　Farnham；　where　it　forked　into　two　branches；　one　of　which
ran　along　the　Hog's　Back；　while　the　second　wound　to　the　south　and
came　out　at　Saint　Catherine's　Hill　where　stands　the　Pilgrim
shrine；　a　gray　old　ruin　now；　but　once　so　august；　so　crowded　and　so
affluent。　　It　was　this　second　branch　upon　which　Nigel　and　Aylward
found　themselves　as　they　rode　to　Guildford。

No　one；　as　it　chanced；　was　going　the　same　way　as　themse