sir nigel-第23部分

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having　gone　awry。　　If　I　do　but　send　them　a　message　they　will
surely　come　to　the　postern　gate。　　Then；　if　we　have　placed　our
bushment　with　skill　we　shall　have　such　a　capture　and　such　a　ransom
as　will　fill　your　coffers。　　He　and　his　comrades　should　be　worth　a
good　hundred　thousand　crowns。〃

Edward　spurned　the　Italian　away　from　him　with　his　foot　until　he
sprawled　among　the　rushes；　but　even　as　he　lay　there　like　a　wounded
snake　his　dark　eyes　never　left　the　King's　face。

〃You　double　traitor！　　You　would　sell　Calais　to　de　Chargny；　and
then　in　turn　you　would　sell　de　Chargny　to　me。　　How　dare　you
suppose　that　I　or　any　noble　knight　had　such　a　huckster's　soul　as
to　think　only　of　ransoms　where　honor　is　to　be　won？　　Could　I　or　any
true　man　be　so　caitiff　and　so　thrall？　　You　have　sealed　your　own
doom。　　Lead　him　out！〃

〃One　instant；　I　pray　you；　my　fair　and　most　sweet　lord；〃　cried　the
Prince。　　〃Assuage　your　wrath　yet　a　little　while；　for　this　man's
rede　deserves　perhaps　more　thought　than　we　have　given　it。　　He　has
turned　your　noble　soul　sick　with　his　talk　of　ransoms；　but　look　at
it；　I　pray　you；　from　the　side　of　honor；　and　where　could　we　find
such　hope　of　worshipfully　winning　worship？　　I　pray　you　to　let　me
put　my　body　in　this　adventure；　for　it　is　one　from　which；　if
rightly　handled；　much　advancement　is　to　be　gained。〃

Edward　looked　with　sparkling　eyes　at　the　noble　youth　at　his　side。
〃Never　was　hound　more　keen　on　the　track　of　a　stricken　hart　than
you　on　the　hope　of　honor；　fair　son；〃　said　he。　　〃How　do　you
conceive　the　matter　in　your　mind？〃

〃De　Chargny　and　his　men　will　be　such　as　are　worth　going　far　to
meet；　for　he　will　have　the　pick　of　France　under　his　banner　that
night。　　If　we　did　as　this　man　says　and　awaited　him　with　the　same
number　of　lances；　then　I　cannot　think　that　there　is　any　spot　in
Christendom　where　one　would　rather　be　than　in　Calais　that　night。〃

〃By　the　rood；　fair　son；　you　are　right！〃　cried　the　King；　his　face
shining　with　the　thought。　　〃Now　which　of　you；　John　Chandos　or
Walter　Manny；　will　take　the　thing　in　charge？〃　　He　looked
mischievously　from　one　to　the　other　like　a　master　who　dangles　a
bone　betwixt　two　fierce　old　hounds。　　All　they　had　to　say　was　in
their　burning；　longing　eyes。　　〃Nay；　John；　you　must　not　take　it
amiss；　but　it　is　Walter's　turn；　and　he　shall　have　it。〃

〃Shall　we　not　all　go　under　your　banner；　sire；　or　that　of　the
Prince？〃

〃Nay；　it　is　not　fitting　that　the　royal　banners　of　England　should
be　advanced　in　so　small　an　adventure。　　And　yet；　if　you　have　space
in　your　ranks　for　two　more　cavaliers；　both　the　Prince　and　I　would
ride　with　you　that　night。〃

The　young　man　stooped　and　kissed　his　father's　hand。

〃Take　this　man　in　your　charge；　Walter；　and　do　with　him　as　you
will。　　Guard　well　lest　he　betray　us　once　again。　　Take　him　from　my
sight；　for　his　breath　poisons　the　room。　　And　now；　Nigel；　if　that
worthy　graybeard　of　thine　would　fain　twang　his　harp　or　sing　to　us
…　but　what　in　God's　name　would　you　have？〃

He　had　turned；　to　find　his　young　host　upon　his　knee　and　his　flaxen
head　bent　in　entreaty。

〃What　is　it；　man？　　What　do　you　crave？〃

〃A　boon；　fair　liege！〃

〃Well；　well；　am　I　to　have　no　peace　to…night；　with　a　traitor
kneeling　to　me　in　front；　and　a　true　man　on　his　knees　behind？　　Out
with　it；　Nigel。　　What　would　you　have？〃

〃To　come　with　you　to　Calais。〃

〃By　the　rood！　　your　request　is　fair　enough；　seeing　that　our　plot
is　hatched　beneath　your　very　roof。　　How　say　you；　Walter？　　Will　you
take　him；　armor　and　all？〃　asked　King　Edward。

〃Say　rather　will　you　take　me？〃　said　Chandos。　　〃We　two　are　rivals
in　honor；　Walter；　but　I　am　very　sure　that　you　would　not　hold　me
back。〃

〃Nay；　John；　I　will　be　proud　to　have　the　best　lance　in　Christendom
beneath　my　banner。〃

〃And　I　to　follow　so　knightly　a　leader。　　But　Nigel　Loring　is　my
Squire；　and　so　he　comes　with　us　also。〃

〃Then　that　is　settled；〃　said　the　King；　〃and　now　there　is　no　need
for　hurry；　since　there　can　be　no　move　until　the　moon　has　changed。
So　I　pray　you　to　pass　the　flagon　once　again；　and　to　drink　with　me
to　the　good　knights　of　France。　　May　they　be　of　great　heart　and
high　of　enterprise　when　we　all　meet　once　more　within　the　castle
wall　of　Calais！〃




XI。　　IN　THE　HALL　OF　THE　KNIGHT　OF　DUPLIN


The　King　had　come　and　had　gone。　　Tilford　Manor　house　stood　once
more　dark　and　silent；　but　joy　and　contentment　reigned　within　its
walls。　　In　one　night　every　trouble　had　fallen　away　like　some　dark
curtain　which　had　shut　out　the　sun。　　A　princely　sum　of　money　had
come　from　the　King's　treasurer；　given　in　such　fashion　that　there
could　be　no　refusal。　　With　a　bag　of　gold　pieces　at　his　saddle…bow
Nigel　rode　once　more　into　Guildford；　and　not　a　beggar　on　the　way
who　had　not　cause　to　bless　his　name。

There　he　had　gone　first　to　the　goldsmith　and　had　bought　back　cup
and　salver　and　bracelet；　mourning　with　the　merchant　over　the　evil
chance　that　gold　and　gold…work　had　for　certain　reasons　which　only
those　in　the　trade　could　fully　understand　gone　up　in　value　during
the　last　week；　so　that　already　fifty　gold　pieces　had　to　be　paid
more　than　the　price　which　Nigel　had　received。　　In　vain　the
faithful　Aylward　fretted　and　fumed　and　muttered　a　prayer　that　the
day　would　come　when　he　might　feather　a　shaft　in　the　merchant's
portly　paunch。　　The　money　had　to　be　paid。

Thence　Nigel　hurried　to　Wat　the　armorer's　and　there　he　bought　that
very　suit　for　which　he　had　yearned　so　short　a　time　before。　　Then
and　there　he　tried　it　on　in　the　booth；　Wat　and　his　boy　walking
round　him　with　spanner　and　wrench；　fixing　bolts　and　twisting
rivets。

〃How　is　that；　my　fair　sir？〃　cried　the　armorer　as　he　drew　the
bassinet　over　the　head　and　fastened　it　to　the　camail　which
extended　to　the　shoulders。　　〃I　swear　by　Tubal　Cain　that　it　fits
you　as　the　shell　fits　the　crab！　　A　finer　suit　never　came　from
Italy　or　Spain。〃

Nigel　stood　in　front　of　a　burnished　shield　which　served　as　a
mirror；　and　he　turned　this　way　and　that；　preening　himself　like　a
little　shining　bird。　　His　smooth　breastplate；　his　wondrous　joints
with　their　deft　protection　by　the　disks　at　knee　and　elbow　and
shoulder；　the　beautifully　flexible　gauntlets　and　sollerets；　the
shirt　of　mail　and　the　close…fitting　greave…plates　were　all　things
of　joy　and　of　beauty　in　his　eyes。　　He　sprang　about　the　shop　to
show　his　lightness；　and　then　running　out　he　placed　his　hand　on　the
pommel　and　vaulted　into　Pommers'　saddle；　while　Wat　and　his　boy
applauded　in　the　doorway。

Then　springing　off　and　running　into　the　shop　again　he　clanked　down
upon　his　knees　before　the　image　of　the　Virgin　upon　the　smithy
wall。　　There　from　his　heart　he　prayed　that　no　shadow　or　stain
should　come　upon　his　soul　or　his　honor　whilst　these　arms　incased
his　body；　and　that　he　might　be　strengthened　to　use　them　for　noble
and　godly　ends。　　A　strange　turn　this　to　a　religion　of　peace；　and
yet　for　many　a　century　the　sword　and　the　faith　had　upheld　each
other　and　in　a　darkened　world　the　best　ideal　of　the　soldier　had
turned　in　some　dim　groping　fashion　toward　the　light。　〃Benedictus
dominus　deus　meus　qui　docet　manus　meas　ad　Praelium　et　digitos　meos
ad　bellum！〃　　There　spoke　the　soul　of　the　knightly　soldier。

So　the　armor　was　trussed　upon　the　armorer's　mule　and　went　back
with　them　to　Tilford；　where　Nigel　put　it　on　once　more　for　the
pleasure　of　the　Lady　Ermyntrude；　who　clapped　her　skinny　hands　and
shed　tears　of　mingled　pain　and　joy　…　pain　that　she　should　lose
him；　joy　that　he　should　go　so　bravely　to　the　wars。　　As　to　her　own
future；　it　had　been　made　easy　for　her；　since　it　was　arranged　that
a　steward　should　look　to　the　Tilford　estate　whilst　she　had　at　her
disposal　a　suite　of　rooms　in　royal　Windsor；　where　with　other
venerable　dames　of　her　own　age　and　standing　she　could　spend　the
twilight　of　her　days　discussing　long…forgotten　scandals　and
whispering　sad　things　about　the　grandfathers　and　the　grandmothers
of　the　young　courtiers　all　around　them。　　There　Nigel　might　leave
her　with　an　easy　mind　when　he　turned　his　face　to　France。

But　there　was　one　more　visit　to　be　paid　and　one　more　farewell　to
be　spoken　ere　Nigel　could　leave　the　moorlands　where　he　had　dwelled
so　long。　　That　evening　he　donned　his　brightest　tunic；　dark　purple
velvet　of　Genoa；　with　trimming　of　miniver；　his　hat　with　the
snow…white　feather　curling　round　the　front；　and　his　belt　of
embossed　silver　round　his　loins。　　Mounted　on　lordly　Pommers；　with
his　hawk　upon　wrist　and　his　sword　by　his　side；　never　did　fairer
young　gallant　or　one　more　modest　in　mind　set　forth　upon　such　an
errand。　　It　was　but　the　old　Knight　of　Duplin　to　whom　he　would　say
farewell；　but　the　Knight　of　Duplin　had　two　daughters；　Edith　and
Mary；　and　Edith　was　the　fairest　maid　in　all　the　heather…country。

Sir　John　Buttesthorn；　the　Knight　of　Duplin；　was　so　called　because
he　had　been　present　at　that　strange　battle；　some　eighteen　years
before；　when　the　full　power　of　Scotland　had　been　for　a　moment
beaten　to　the　ground　by　a　handful　of　adventurers　and　mercenaries；
marching　under　the　banner　of　no　nation；　but　fighting　in　their　own
private　quarrel。　　Their　exploit　fills　no　pages　of　history；　for　it
is　to　the　interest　of　no　nation　to　record　it；　and　yet　the　rumor
and　fame　of　the　great　fight　bulked　large　in　those　times；　for　it
was　on　that　day　when　the　flower　of　Scotland　was　left　dead　upon　the
field；　that　the　world　first　understood　that　a　new　force　had　arisen
in　war；　and　that　the　English　archer；　with　his　robust　courage　and
his　skill　with　the　weapon　which　he　had　wielded　from　his　boyhood；
was　a　power　with　which　even　the　mailed　chivalry　of　Europe　had
seriously　to　reckon。

Sir　John　after　his　return　from　Scotland　had　become　the　King's　own
head　huntsman；　famous　through　all　England　for　his　knowledge　of
venery；　until　at　last；　getting　overheavy　for　his　horses；　he　had
settled　in　modest　comfort　into　the　old　house　of　Cosford　upon　the
eastern　slope　of　the　Hindhead　hill。　　Here；　as　his　face　grew　redder
and　his　beard　more　white；　he　spent　the　evening　of　his　days；　amid
hawks　and　hounds；　a　flagon　of　spiced　wine　ever　at　his　elbow；　and
his　swollen　foot　perched　upon　a　stool　before　him。　　There　it　was
that　many　an　old　comrade　broke　his　journey　as　he　passed　down　the
rude　road　which　led　from　London　to　Portsmouth；　and　thither　also
came　th