sir nigel-第63部分

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this　is　the　fairest　sight　of　my　lifetime！〃　he　cried。　　〃And　you；
old　leather…face！　　Nay；　Simon；　I　would　put　my　arms　round　your
dried　herring　of　a　body；　if　I　could　but　reach　you。　　Here　is
Pommers　too；　and　I　read　in　his　eye　that　he　knows　me　well　and　is　as
ready　to　put　his　teeth　into　me　as　when　he　stood　in　my　father's
stall。〃

It　was　like　a　whiff　of　the　heather…perfumed　breezes　of　Hankley　to
see　his　homely　face　once　more。　　Nigel　laughed　with　sheer　joy　as　he
looked　at　him。

〃It　was　an　ill　day　when　the　King's　service　called　you　from　my
side；〃　said　he；　〃and　by　Saint　Paul！　　I　am　right　glad　to　set　eyes
upon　you　once　more！　　I　see　well　that　you　are　in　no　wise　altered；
but　the　same　Aylward　that　I　have　ever　known。　　But　who　is　this
varlet　with　the　great　bundle　who　waits　upon　your　movements？〃

〃It　is　no　less　than　a　feather…bed；　fair　sir；　which　he　bears　upon
his　back；　for　I　would　fain　bring　it　to　Tilford；　and　yet　it　is
overlarge　for　me　when　I　take　my　place　with　my　fellows　in　the
ranks。　　But　indeed　this　war　has　been　a　most　excellent　one；　and　I
have　already　sent　half　a　wagonload　of　my　gear　back　to　Bordeaux　to
await　my　homecoming。　　Yet　I　have　my　fears　when　I　think　of　all　the
rascal　foot…archers　who　are　waiting　there；　for　some　folk　have　no
grace　or　honesty　in　their　souls；　and　cannot　keep　their　hands　from
that　which　belongs　to　another。　　But　if　I　may　throw　my　leg　over
yonder　spare　horse　I　will　come　on　with　you；　fair　sir；　for　indeed
it　would　be　joy　to　my　heart　to　know　that　I　was　riding　under　your
banner　once　again。〃

So　Aylward；　having　given　instructions　to　the　bearer　of　his
feather…bed；　rode　away　in　spite　of　shrill　protests　from　his　French
companions；　who　speedily　consoled　themselves　with　those　of　his
comrades　who　seemed　to　have　most　to　give。　　Nigel's　party　was　soon
clear　of　the　column　of　archers　and　riding　hard　in　the　direction　of
the　Prince's　army。　　They　passed　by　a　narrow　and　winding　track；
through　the　great　wood　of　Nouaille；　and　found　before　them　a　marshy
valley　down　which　ran　a　sluggish　stream。　　Along　its　farther　bank
hundreds　of　horses　were　being　watered；　and　beyond　was　a　dense
block　of　wagons。　　Through　these　the　comrades　passed；　and　then
topped　a　small　mound　from　which　the　whole　strange　scene　lay　spread
before　them。

Down　the　valley　the　slow　stream　meandered　with　marshy　meadows　on
either　side。　　A　mile　or　two　lower　a　huge　drove　of　horses　were　to
be　seen　assembled　upon　the　bank。　　They　were　the　steeds　of　the
French　cavalry；　and　the　blue　haze　of　a　hundred　fires　showed　where
King　John's　men　were　camping。　　In　front　of　the　mound　upon　which
they　stood　the　English　line　was　drawn；　but　there　were　few　fires；
for　indeed；　save　their　horses；　there　was　little　for　them　to　cook。
Their　right　rested　upon　the　river；　and　their　array　stretched
across　a　mile　of　ground　until　the　left　was　in　touch　with　a　tangled
forest　which　guarded　it　from　flank　attack。　　In　front　was　a　long
thick　hedge　and　much　broken　ground；　with　a　single　deeply　rutted
country　road　cutting　through　it　in　the　middle。　　Under　the　hedge
and　along　the　Whole　front　of　the　position　lay　swarms　of　archers
upon　the　grass；　the　greater　number　slumbering　peacefully　with
sprawling　limbs　in　the　warm　rays　of　the　September　sun。　　Behind
were　the　quarters　of　the　various　knights；　and　from　end　to　end　flew
the　banners　and　pennons　marked　with　the　devices　of　the　chivalry　of
England　and　Guienne。

With　a　glow　in　his　heart　Nigel　saw　those　badges　of　famous　captains
and　leaders　and　knew　that　now　at　last　he　also　might　show　his
coat…armor　in　such　noble　company。　　There　was　the　flag　of　jean
Grailly；　the　Captal　de　Buch；　five　silver　shells　on　a　black　cross；
which　marked　the　presence　of　the　most　famous　soldier　of　Gascony；
while　beside　it　waved　the　red　lion　of　the　noble　Knight　of
Hainault；　Sir　Eustace　d'Ambreticourt。　　These　two　coats　Nigel　knew；
as　did　every　warrior　in　Europe；　but　a　dense　grove　of　pennoned
lances　surrounded　them；　bearing　charges　which　were　strange　to　him；
from　which　he　understood　that　these　belonged　to　the　Guienne
division　of　the　army。　　Farther　down　the　line　the　famous　English
ensigns　floated　on　the　wind；　the　scarlet　and　gold　of　Warwick；　the
silver　star　of　Oxford；　the　golden　cross　of　Suffolk；　the　blue　and
gold　of　Willoughby；　and　the　gold…fretted　scarlet　of　Audley。　　In
the　very　center　of　them；　all　was　one　which　caused　all　others　to
pass　from　his　mind；　for　close　to　the　royal　banner　of　England；
crossed　with　the　label　of　the　Prince；　there　waved　the　war…worn
flag　with　the　red　wedge　upon　the　golden　field　which　marked　the
quarters　of　the　noble　Chandos。

At　the　sight　Nigel　set　spurs　to　his　horse；　and　a　few　minutes　later
had　reached　the　spot。　　Chandos；　gaunt　from　hunger　and　want　of
sleep；　but　with　the　old　fire　lurking　in　his　eye；　was　standing　by
the　Prince's　tent；　gazing　down　at　what　could　be　seen　of　the　French
array；　and　heavy　with　thought。　　Nigel　sprang　from　his　horse　and
was　within　touch　of　his　master　when　the　silken　hanging　of　the
royal　tent　was　torn　violently　aside　and　Edward　rushed　out。

He　was　without　his　armor　and　clad　in　a　sober　suit　of　black；　but
the　high　dignity　of　his　bearing　and　the　imperious　anger　which
flushed　his　face　proclaimed　the　leader　and　the　Prince。　　At　his
heels　was　a　little　white…haired　ecclesiastic　in　a　flowing　gown　of
scarlet　sendal；　expostulating　and　arguing　in　a　torrent　of　words。

〃Not　another　word；　my　Lord　Cardinal；〃　cried　the　angry　prince。　　〃I
have　listened　to　you　overlong；　and　by　God's　dignity！　that　which
you　say　is　neither　good　nor　fair　in　my　ears。　　Hark　you；　John；　I
would　have　your　counsel。　　What　think　you　is　the　message　which　my
Lord　Cardinal　of　Perigord　has　carried　from　the　King　of　France？　　He
says　that　of　his　clemency　he　will　let　my　army　pass　back　to
Bordeaux　if　we　will　restore　to　him　all　that　we　have　taken；　remit
all　ransoms；　and　surrender　my　own　person　with　that　of　a　hundred
nobles　of　England　and　Guienne　to　be　held　as　prisoners。　　What　think
you；　John？〃

Chandos　smiled。　　〃Things　are　not　done　in　that　fashion；〃　said　he。

〃But　my　Lord　Chandos；〃　cried　the　Cardinal；　〃I　have　made　it　clear
to　the　Prince　that　indeed　it　is　a　scandal　to　all　Christendom　and　a
cause　of　mocking　to　the　heathen；　that　two　great　sons　of　the　Church
should　turn　their　swords　thus　upon　each　other。〃

〃Then　bid　the　King　of　France　keep　clear　of　us；〃　said　the　Prince。

〃Fair　son；　you　are　aware　that　you　are　in　the　heart　of　his　country
and　that　it　standeth　not　aright　that　he　should　suffer　you　to　go
forth　as　you　came。　　You　have　but　a　small　army；　three　thousand
bowmen　and　five　thousand　men…at…arms　at　the　most；　who　seem　in　evil
case　for　want　of　food　and　rest。　　The　King　has　thirty　thousand　men
at　his　back；　of　which　twenty　thousand　are　expert　men…at…arms。　　It
is　fitting　therefore　that　you　make　such　terms　as　you　may；　lest
worse　befall。〃

〃Give　my　greetings　to　the　King　of　France　and　tell　him　that　England
will　never　pay　ransom　for　me。　　But　it　seems　to　me；　my　Lord
Cardinal；　that　you　have　our　numbers　and　condition　very　ready　upon
your　tongue；　and　I　would　fain　know　how　the　eye　of　a　Churchman　can
read　a　line　of　battle　so　easily。　　I　have　seen　that　these　knights
of　your　household　have　walked　freely　to　and　fro　within　our　camp；
and　I　much　fear　that　when　I　welcomed　you　as　envoys　I　have　in　truth
given　my　protection　to　spies。　　How　say　you；　my　Lord　Cardinal？〃

〃Fair　Prince；　I　know　not　how　you　can　find　it　in　your　heart　or
conscience　to　say　such　evil　words。〃

〃There　is　this　red…bearded　nephew　of　thine；　Robert　de　Duras。　　See
where　he　stands　yonder；　counting　and　prying。　　Hark　hither；　young
sir！　　I　have　been　saying　to　your　uncle　the　Cardinal　that　it　is　in
my　mind　that　you　and　your　comrades　have　carried　news　of　our
dispositions　to　the　French　King。　　How　say　you？〃

The　knight　turned　pale　and　sank　his　eyes。　　〃My　lord；〃　he　murmured；
〃it　may　be　that　I　have　answered　some　questions。〃

〃And　how　will　such　answers　accord　with　your　honor；　seeing　that　we
have　trusted　you　since　you　came　in　the　train　of　the　Cardinal？〃

〃My　lord；　it　is　true　that　I　am　in　the　train　of　the　Cardinal；　and
yet　I　am　liege　man　of　King　John　and　a　knight　of　France；　so　I　pray
you　to　assuage　your　wrath　against　me。〃

The　Prince　ground　his　teeth　and　his　piercing　eyes　blazed　upon　the
youth。　　〃By　my　father's　soul！　　I　can　scarce　forbear　to　strike　you
to　the　earth！　　But　this　I　promise　you；　that　if　you　show　that　sign
of　the　Red　Griffin　in　the　field　and　if　you　be　taken　alive　in
to…morrow's　battle；　your　head　shall　most　assuredly　be　shorn　from
your　shoulders。〃

〃Fair　son；　indeed　you　speak　wildly；〃　cried　the　Cardinal。　　〃I
pledge　you　my　word　that　neither　my　nephew　Robert　nor　any　of　my
train　will　take　part　in　the　battle。　　And　now　I　leave　you；　sire；
and　may　God　assoil　your　soul；　for　indeed　in　all　this　world　no　men
stand　in　greater　peril　than　you　and　those　who　are　around　you；　and
I　rede　you　that　you　spend　the　night　in　such　ghostly　exercises　as
may　best　prepare　you　for　that　which　may　befall。〃　　So　saying　the
Cardinal　bowed；　and　with　his　household　walking　behind　him　set　off
for　the　spot　where　they　had　left　their'　horses；　whence　they　rode
to　the　neighboring　Abbey。

The　angry　Prince　turned　upon　his　heel　and　entered　his　tent　once
more；　whilst　Chandos；　glancing　round；　held　out　a　warm　welcoming
hand　to　Nigel。

〃I　have　heard　much　of　your　noble　deeds；〃　said　he。　　〃Already　your
name　rises　as　a　squire　errant。　　I　stood　no　higher；　nor　so　high；　at
your　age。〃

Nigel　flushed　with　pride　and　pleasure。　　〃Indeed；　my　dear　lord；　it
is　very　little　that　I　have　done。　　But　now　that　I　am　back　at　your
side　I　hope　that　in　truth　I　shall　learn　to　bear　myself　in　worthy
fashion；　for　where　else　should　I　win　honor　if　it　be　not　under　your
banner。〃

〃Truly；　Nigel；　you　have　come　at　a　very　good　time　for　advancement。
I　cannot　see　how　we　can　leave　this　spot　without　a　great　battle
which　will　live　in　men's　minds　forever。　　In　all　our　fights　in
France　I　cannot　call　to　mind　any　in　which　they　have　been　so　strong
or　we　so　weak　as　now；　so　that　there　will　be　the　more　honor　to　be
gained。　　I　would　that　we　had　two　thousand　more　archers。　　But　I
doubt　not　that　we　shall　give　them　much　trouble　ere　they　drive　us
out　from　amidst　these　hedges。　　Have　you　seen　the　French？〃

〃Nay；　fair　sir；　I　have　but　this　mo