sir nigel-第22部分

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into　the　red　glare　of　the　well…lit　hall。

〃I　am　Sir　Aymery　of　Pavia；〃　he　whispered。　　〃For　God's　sake；　tell
me！　is　the　King　within？〃

〃He　is　at　table；　fair　sir；　and　he　bids　you　to　enter。〃

〃One　moment；　young　man；　one　moment；　and　a　secret　word　in　your　ear。
Wot　you　why　it　is　that　the　King　has　sent　for　me？〃

Nigel　read　terror　in　the　dark　cunning　eyes　which　glanced　in
sidelong　fashion　into　his。　　〃Nay；　I　know　not。〃

〃I　would　I　knew　…　I　would　I　was　sure　ere　I　sought　his　presence。〃

〃You　have　but　to　cross　the　threshold；　fair　sir；　and　doubtless　you
will　learn　from　the　King's　own　lips。〃

Sir　Aymery　seemed　to　gather　himself　as　one　who　braces　for　a　spring
into　ice…cold　water。　　Then　he　crossed　with　a　quick　stride　from　the
darkness　into　the　light。　　The　King　stood　up　and　held　out　his　hand
with　a　smile　upon　his　long　handsome　face；　and　yet　it　seemed　to　the
Italian　that　it　was　the　lips　which　smiled　but　not　the　eyes。

〃Welcome！〃　cried　Edward。　　〃Welcome　to　our　worthy　and　faithful
Seneschal　of　Calais！　　Come；　sit　here　before　me　at　the　board；　for　I
have　sent　for　you　that　I　may　hear　your　news　from　over　the　sea；　and
thank　you　for　the　care　that　you　have　taken　of　that　which　is　as
dear　to　me　as　wife　or　child。　　Set　a　place　for　Sir　Aymery　there；
and　give　him　food　and　drink；　for　he　has　ridden　fast　and　far　in　our
service　to…day。〃

Throughout　the　long　feast　which　the　skill　of　the　Lady　Ermyntrude
had　arranged；　Edward　chatted　lightly　with　the　Italian　as　well　as
with　the　barons　near　him。　　Finally；　when　the　last　dish　was　removed
and　the　gravy…soaked　rounds　of　coarse　bread　which　served　as　plates
had　been　cast　to　the　dogs；　the　wine…flagons　were　passed　round；　and
old　Weathercote　the　minstrel　entered　timidly　with　his　harp　in　the
hope　that　he　might　be　allowed　to　play　before　the　King's　majesty。
But　Edward　had　other；　sport　afoot。

〃I　pray　you；　Nigel；　to　send　out　the　servants；　so　that　we　may　be
alone。　　I　would　have　two　men…at…arms　at　every　door　lest　we　be
disturbed　in　our　debate；　for　it　is　a　matter　of　privacy。　　And　now；
Sir　Aymery；　these　noble　lords　as　well　as　I；　your　master；　would
fain　hear　from　your　own　lips　how　all　goes　forward　in　France。〃

The　Italian's　face　was　calm；　but　he　looked　restlessly　from　one　to
another　along　the　line　of　his　listeners。

〃So　far　as　I　know；　my　liege；　all　is　quiet　on　the　French　marches；〃
said　he。

〃You　have　not　heard　then　that　they　have　mustered　or　gathered　to　a
head　with　the　intention　of　breaking　the　truce　and　making　some
attempt　upon　our　dominions？〃

〃Nay；　sire；　I　have　heard　nothing　of　it。〃

〃You　set　my　mind　much　at　ease；　Aymery；〃　said　the　King；　〃for　if
nothing　has　come　to　your　ears；　then　surely　it　cannot　be。　　It　was
said　that　the　wild　Knight　de　Chargny　had　come　down　to　St。　Omer
with　his　eyes　upon　my　precious　jewel　and　his　mailed　hands　ready　to
grasp　it。〃

〃Nay；　sire；　let　him　come。　　He　will　find　the　jewel　safe　in　its
strong　box；　with　a　goodly　guard　over　it。〃

〃You　are　the　guard　over　my　jewel；　Aymery。〃

〃Yes；　sire；　I　am　the　guard。〃

〃And　you　are　a　faithful　guard　and　one　whom　I　can　trust；　are　you
not？　　You　would　not　barter　away　that　which　is　so　dear　to　me　when　I
have　chosen　you　out　of　all　my　army　to　hold　it　for　me？〃

〃Nay；　sire；　what　reasons　can　there　be　for　such　questions？　　They
touch　my　honor　very　nearly。　　You　know　that　I　would　part　with
Calais　only　when　I　parted　with　my　soul。〃

〃Then　you　know　nothing　of　de　Chargny's　attempt？〃

〃Nothing　sire。〃

〃Liar　and　villain！〃　yelled　the　King；　springing　to　his　feet　and
dashing　his　fist　upon　the　table　until　the　glasses　rattled　again。
〃Seize　him；　archers！　　Seize　him　this　instant！　　Stand　close　by
either　elbow；　lest　he　do　himself　a　mischief！　　Now　do　you　dare　to
tell　me　to　my　face；　you　perjured　Lombard；　that　you　know　nothing　of
de　Chargny　and　his　plans？〃

〃As　God　is　my　witness　I　know　nothing　of　him！〃　　The　man's　lips　were
white；　and　he　spoke　in　a　thin；　sighing；　reedy　voice；　his　eyes
wincing　away　from　the　fell　gaze　of　the　angry　King。

Edward　laughed　bitterly；　and　drew　a　paper　from　his　breast。　　〃You
are　the　judges　in　this　case；　you；　my　fair　son；　and　you；　Chandos；
and　you；　Manny；　and　you；　Sir　Hubert；　and　you　also；　my　Lord　Bishop。
By　my　sovereign　power　I　make　you　a　court　that　you　may　deal　justice
upon　this　man；　for　by　God's　eyes　I　will　not　stir　from　this　room
until　I　have　sifted　the　matter　to　the　bottom。　　And　first　I　would
read　you　this　letter。　　It　is　superscribed　to　Sir　Aymery　of　Pavia；
nomme　Le　Lombard；　Chateau　de　Calais。　　Is　not　that　your　name　and
style；　you　rogue？〃

〃It　is　my　name；　sire；　but　no　such　letter　has　come　to　me。〃

〃Else　had　your　villainy　never　been　disclosed。　　It　is　signed
‘Isidore　de　Chargny'。　　What　says　my　enemy　de　Chargny　to　my　trusted
servant？　　Listen！　　‘We　could　not　come　with　the　last　moon；　for　we
have　not　gathered　sufficient　strength；　nor　have　we　been　able　to
collect　the　twenty　thousand　crowns　which　are　your　price。　　But　with
the　next　turn　of　the　moon　in　the　darkest　hour　we　will　come　and　you
will　be　paid　your　money　at　the　small　postern　gate　with　the
rowan…bush　beside　it。'　　Well；　rogue；　what　say　you　now？〃

〃It　is　a　forgery！〃　gasped　the　Italian。

〃I　pray　you　that　you　will　let　me　see　it；　sire；〃　said　Chandos。　　〃De
Chargny　was　my　prisoner；　and　so　many　letters　passed　ere　his　ransom
was　paid　that　his　script　is　well…known　to　me。　　Yes；　yes；　I　will
swear　that　this　is　indeed　his。　　If　my　salvation　were　at　stake　I
could　swear　it。〃

〃If　it　were　indeed　written　by　de　Chargny　it　was　to　dishonor　me；〃
cried　Sir　Aymery。

〃Nay；　nay！〃　said　the　young　Prince。　　〃We　all　know　de　Chargny　and
have　fought　against　him。　　Many　faults　he　has；　a　boaster　and　a
brawler；　but　a　braver　man　and　one　of　greater　heart　and　higher　of
enterprise　does　not　ride　beneath　the　lilies　of　France。　　Such　a　man
would　never　stoop　to　write　a　letter　for　the　sake　of　putting
dishonor　upon　one　of　knightly　rank。　　I；　for　one；　will　never
believe　it。〃

A　gruff　murmur　from　the　others　showed　that　they　were　of　one　mind
with　the　Prince。　　The　light　of　the　torches　from　the　walls　beat
upon　the　line　of　stern　faces　at　the　high　table。　　They　had　sat　like
flint；　and　the　Italian　shrank　from　their　inexorable　eyes。　　He
looked　swiftly　round；　but　armed　men　choked　every　entrance。　　The
shadow　of　death　had　fallen　athwart　his　soul。

〃This　letter；〃　said　the　King；　〃was　given　by　de　Chargny　to　one　Dom
Beauvais；　a　priest　of　St。　Omer；　to　carry　into　Calais。　　The　said
priest；　smelling　a　reward；　brought　it　to　one　who　is　my　faithful
servant；　and　so　it　came　to　me。　　Straightway　I　sent　for　this　man
that　he　should　come　to　me。　　Meanwhile　the　priest　has　returned　so
that　de　Chargny　may　think　that　his　message　is　indeed　delivered。〃

〃I　know　nothing　of　it；〃　said　the　Italian　doggedly；　licking　his　dry
lips。

A　dark　flush　mounted　to　the　King's　forehead；　and　his　eyes　were
gorged　with　his　wrath。　　〃No　more　of　this；　for　God's　dignity！〃　he
cried。　　〃Had　we　this　fellow　at　the　Tower；　a　few　turns　of　the　rack
would　tear　a　confession　from　his　craven　soul。　　But　why　should　we
need　his　word　for　his　own　guilt？　　You　have　seen；　my　lords；　you
have　heard！　　How　say　you；　fair　son？　　Is　the　man　guilty？〃

〃Sire；　he　is　guilty。〃

〃And　you；　John？　　And　you；　Walter？　　And　you；　Hubert？　　And　you；　my
Lord　Bishop？　　You　are　all　of　one　mind；　then。　　He　is　guilty　of　the
betrayal　of　his　trust。　　And　the　punishment？〃

〃It　can　only　be　death；〃　said　the　Prince；　and　each　in　turn　the
others　nodded　their　agreement。

〃Aymery　of　Pavia；　you　have　heard　your　doom；〃　said　Edward；　leaning
his　chin　upon　his　hand　and　glooming　at　the　cowering　Italian。
〃Step　forward；　you　archer　at　the　door；　you　with　the　black　beard。
Draw　your　sword！　　Nay；　you　white…faced　rogue；　I　would　not　dishonor
this　roof…tree　by　your　blood。　　It　is　your　heels；　not　your　head；
that　we　want。　　Hack　off　these　golden　spurs　of　knighthood　with　your
sword；　archer！　　'Twas　I　who　gave　them；　and　I　who　take　them　back。
Ha！　　they　fly　across　the　hall；　and　with　them　every　bond　betwixt
you　and　the　worshipful　order　whose　sign　and　badge　they　are！　　Now
lead　him　out　on　the　heath　afar　from　the　house　where　his　carrion
can　best　lie；　and　hew　his　scheming　head　from　his　body　as　a　warning
to　all　such　traitors！〃

The　Italian；　who　had　slipped　from　his　chair　to　his　knees；　uttered
a　cry　of　despair；　as　an　archer　seized　him　by　either　shoulder。
Writhing　out　of　their　grip；　he　threw　himself　upon　the　floor　and
clutched　at　the　King's　feet。

〃Spare　me；　my　most　dread　lord；　spare　me；　I　beseech　you！　　In　the
name　of　Christ's　passion；　I　implore　your　grace　and　pardon！
Bethink　you；　my　good　and　dear　lord；　how　many　years　I　have　served
under　your　banners　and　how　many　services　I　have　rendered。　　Was　it
not　I　who　found　the　ford　upon　the　Seine　two　days　before　the　great
battle？　　Was　it　not　I　also　who　marshaled　the　attack　at　the
intaking　of　Calais？　　I　have　a　wife　and　four　children　in　Italy；
great　King；　and　it　was　the　thought　of　them　which　led　me　to　fall
from　my　duty；　for　this　money　would　have　allowed　me　to　leave　the
wars　and　to　see　them　once　again。　　Mercy；　my　liege；　mercy；　I
implore！〃

The　English　are　a　rough　race；　but　not　a　cruel　one。　　The　King　sat
with　a　face　of　doom；　but　the　others　looked　askance　and　fidgeted　in
their　seats。

〃Indeed；　my　fair　liege；〃　said　Chandos；　〃I　pray　you　that　you　will
abate　somewhat　of　your　anger。〃

Edward　shook　his　head　curtly。　　〃Be　silent；　John。　　It　shall　be　as　I
have　said。〃

〃I　pray　you；　my　dear　and　honored　liege；　not　to　act　with　overmuch
haste　in　the　matter；〃　said　Manny。　　〃Bind　him　and　hold　him　until
the　morning；　for　other　counsels　may　prevail。〃

〃Nay；　I　have　spoken。　　Lead　him　out！〃

But　the　trembling　man　clung　to　the　King's　knees　in　such　a　fashion
that　the　archers　could　not　disengage　his　convulsive　grip。　　〃Listen
to　me　a　moment；　I　implore　you！　　Give　me　but　one　minute　to　plead
with　you；　and　then　do　what　you　will。〃

The　King　leaned　back　in　his　chair。　　〃Speak　and　have　done；〃　said
he。

〃You　must　spare　me；　my　noble　liege。　　For　your　own　sake　I　say　that
you　must　spare　me；　for　I　can　set　you　in　the　way　of　such　a　knightly
adventure　as　will　gladden　your　heart。　　Bethink　you；　sire；　that
this　de　Chargny　and　his　comrades　know　nothing　of　their　plans
having　gone　awry。　　If　I　do　but　send　them　a　message　they　will
surely　come　to　the　po