men of iron-第24章

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　Yonder　is　the　postern…gate；　mayhap　thou　knowest　the　way。　But　stay！　How　camest　thou　hither？〃

Myles　told　him　of　the　spikes　he　had　driven　in　the　wall；　and　the　Earl　listened；　stroking　his　beard。　When　the　lad　had　ended；　he　fixed　a　sharp　look　upon　him。　〃But　thou　drove　not　those　spikes　alone；〃　said　he；　〃who　helped　thee　do　it？〃

〃That　I　may　not　tell；〃　said　Myles；　firmly。

〃So　be　it；〃　said　the　Earl。　〃I　will　not　ask　thee　to　tell　his　name。　Now　get　thee　gone！　And　as　for　those　spikes；　thou　mayst　e'en　knock　them　out　of　the　wall；　sin　thou　drave　them　in。　Play　no　more　pranks　an　thou　wouldst　keep　thy　skin　whole。　And　now　go；　I　say！〃

Myles　needed　no　further　bidding；　but　turned　and　left　the　Earl　without　another　word。　As　he　went　out　the　postern…gate　he　looked　over　his　shoulder；　and　saw　the　tall　figure；　in　its　long　fur…trimmed　gown；　still　standing　in　the　middle　of　the　path；　looking　after　him　from　under　the　shaggy　eyebrows。

As　he　ran　across　the　quadrangle；　his　heart　still　fluttering　in　his　breast；　he　muttered　to　himself；　〃The　old　grizzle…beard；　an　I　had　not　faced　him　a　bold　front；　mayhap　he　would　have　put　such　shame　upon　me　as　he　said。　I　wonder　why　he　stood　so　staring　after　me　as　I　left　the　garden。〃

Then　for　the　time　the　matter　slipped　from　his　mind；　saving　only　that　part　that　smacked　of　adventure。



CHAPTER　20

So　for　a　little　while　Myles　was　disposed　to　congratulate　himself　upon　having　come　off　so　well　from　his　adventure　with　the　Earl。　But　after　a　day　or　two　had　passed；　and　he　had　time　for　second　thought；　he　began　to　misdoubt　whether；　after　all；　he　might　not　have　carried　it　with　a　better　air　if　he　had　shown　more　chivalrous　boldness　in　the　presence　of　his　true　lady；　whether　it　would　not　have　redounded　more　to　his　credit　if　he　had　in　some　way　asserted　his　rights　as　the　young　dame's　knight…　errant　and　defender。　Was　it　not　ignominious　to　resign　his　rights　and　privileges　so　easily　and　tamely　at　a　signal　from　the　Earl？

〃For；　in　sooth；〃　said　he　to　Gascoyne；　as　the　two　talked　the　matter　over；　〃she　hath；　in　a　certain　way；　accepted　me　for　her　knight；　and　yet　I　stood　me　there　without　saying　so　much　as　one　single　word　in　her　behalf。〃

〃Nay；〃　said　Gascoyne；　〃I　would　not　trouble　me　on　that　score。　Methinks　that　thou　didst　come　off　wondrous　well　out　of　the　business。　I　would　not　have　thought　it　possible　that　my　Lord　could　ha'　been　so　patient　with　thee　as　he　showed　himself。　Methinks；　forsooth；　he　must　hold　thee　privily　in　right　high　esteem。〃

〃Truly；〃　said　Myles；　after　a　little　pause　of　meditative　silence；　〃I　know　not　of　any　esteem；　yet　I　do　think　he　was　passing　patient　with　me　in　this　matter。　But　ne'theless；　Francis；　that　changeth　not　my　stand　in　the　case。　Yea；　I　did　shamefully；　so　to　resign　my　lady　without　speaking　one　word；　nor　will　I　so　resign　her　even　yet。　I　have　bethought　me　much　of　this　matter　of　late；　Francis；　and　now　I　come　to　thee　to　help　me　from　my　evil　case。　I　would　have　thee　act　the　part　of　a　true　friend　to　melike　that　one　I　have　told　thee　of　in　the　story　of　the　Emperor　Justinian。　I　would　have　thee；　when　next　thou　servest　in　the　house；　to　so　contrive　that　my　Lady　Alice　shall　get　a　letter　which　I　shall　presently　write；　and　wherein　I　may　set　all　that　is　crooked　straight　again。〃

〃Heaven　forbid；〃　said　Gascoyne；　hastily；　〃that　I　should　be　such　a　fool　as　to　burn　my　fingers　in　drawing　thy　nuts　from　the　fire！　Deliver　thy　letter　thyself；　good　fellow！〃

So　spoke　Gascoyne；　yet　after　all　he　ended；　as　he　usually　did；　by　yielding　to　Myles's　superior　will　and　persistence。　So　the　letter　was　written　and　one　day　the　good…natured　Gascoyne　carried　it　with　him　to　the　house；　and　the　opportunity　offering；　gave　it　to　one　of　the　young　ladies　attendant　upon　the　Countess's　familya　lass　with　whom　he　had　friendly　intimacyto　be　delivered　to　Lady　Alice。

But　if　Myles　congratulated　himself　upon　the　success　of　this　new　adventure；　it　was　not　for　long。　That　night；　as　the　crowd　of　pages　and　squires　were　making　themselves　ready　for　bed；　the　call　came　through　the　uproar　for　〃Myles　Falworth！　Myles　Falworth！〃

〃Here　I　be；〃　cried　Myles；　standing　up　on　his　cot。　〃Who　calleth　me？〃

It　was　the　groom　of　the　Earl's　bedchamber；　and　seeing　Myles　standing　thus　raised　above　the　others；　he　came　walking　down　the　length　of　the　room　towards　him；　the　wonted　hubbub　gradually　silencing　as　he　advanced　and　the　youngsters　turning；　staring；　and　wondering。

〃My　Lord　would　speak　with　thee；　Myles　Falworth；〃　said　the　groom；　when　he　had　come　close　enough　to　where　Myles　stood。　〃Busk　thee　and　make　ready；　he　is　at　livery　even　now。〃

The　groom's　words　fell　upon　Myles　like　a　blow。　He　stood　for　a　while　staring　wide…eyed。　〃My　Lord　speak　with　me；　sayst　thou！〃　he　ejaculated　at　last。

〃Aye；〃　said　the　other；　impatiently；　〃get　thee　ready　quickly。　I　must　return　anon。〃

Myles's　head　was　in　a　whirl　as　he　hastily　changed　his　clothes　for　a　better　suit；　Gascoyne　helping　him。　What　could　the　Earl　want　with　him　at　this　hour？　He　knew　in　his　heart　what　it　was；　the　interview　could　concern　nothing　but　the　letter　that　he　had　sent　to　Lady　Alice　that　day。　As　he　followed　the　groom　through　the　now　dark　and　silent　courts；　and　across　the　corner　of　the　great　quadrangle；　and　so　to　the　Earl's　house；　he　tried　to　brace　his　failing　courage　to　meet　the　coming　interview。　Nevertheless；　his　heart　beat　tumultuously　as　he　followed　the　other　down　the　long　corridor；　lit　only　by　a　flaring　link　set　in　a　wrought…iron　bracket。　Then　his　conductor　lifted　the　arras　at　the　door　of　the　bedchamber；　whence　came　the　murmuring　sound　of　many　voices；　and　holding　it　aside；　beckoned　him　to　enter；　and　Myles　passed　within。　At　the　first；　he　was　conscious　of　nothing　but　a　crowd　of　people；　and　of　the　brightness　of　many　lighted　candles；　then　he　saw　that　he　stood　in　a　great　airy　room　spread　with　a　woven　mat　of　rushes。　On　three　sides　the　walls　were　hung　with　tapestry　representing　hunting　and　battle　scenes；　at　the　farther　end；　where　the　bed　stood；　the　stone　wall　of　the　fourth　side　was　covered　with　cloth　of　blue；　embroidered　with　silver　goshawks。　Even　now；　in　the　ripe　springtime　of　May；　the　room　was　still　chilly；　and　a　great　fire　roared　and　crackled　in　the　huge　gaping　mouth　of　the　stone　fireplace。　Not　far　from　the　blaze　were　clustered　the　greater　part　of　those　present；　buzzing　in　talk；　now　and　then　swelled　by　murmuring　laughter。　Some　of　those　who　knew　Myles　nodded　to　him；　and　two　or　three　spoke　to　him　as　he　stood　waiting；　whilst　the　groom　went　forward　to　speak　to　the　Earl；　though　what　they　said　and　what　he　answered；　Myles；　in　his　bewilderment　and　trepidation；　hardly　knew。

As　was　said　before；　the　livery　was　the　last　meal　of　the　day；　and　was　taken　in　bed。　It　was　a　simple　repasta　manchette；　or　small　loaf　of　bread　of　pure　white　flour；　a　loaf　of　household　bread；　sometimes　a　lump　of　cheese；　and　either　a　great　flagon　of　ale　or　of　sweet　wine；　warm　and　spiced。　The　Earl　was　sitting　upright　in　bed；　dressed　in　a　furred　dressing…gown；　and　propped　up　by　two　cylindrical　bolsters　of　crimson　satin。　Upon　the　coverlet；　and　spread　over　his　knees；　was　a　large　wide　napkin　of　linen　fringed　with　silver　thread；　and　on　it　rested　a　silver　tray　containing　the　bread　and　some　cheese。　Two　pages　and　three　gentlemen　were　waiting　upon　him；　and　Mad　Noll；　the　jester；　stood　at　the　head　of　the　bed；　now　and　then　jingling　his　bawble　and　passing　some　quaint　jest　upon　the　chance　of　making　his　master　smile。　Upon　a　table　near　by　were　some　dozen　or　so　waxen　tapers　struck　upon　as　many　spiked　candlesticks　of　silver…gilt；　and　illuminating　that　end　of　the　room　with　their　bright　twinkling　flames。　One　of　the　gentlemen　was　in　the　act　of　serving　the　Earl　with　a　goblet　of　wine；　poured　from　a　silver　ewer　by　one　of　the　squires；　as　the　groom　of　the　chamber　came　forward　and　spoke。　The　Earl；　taking　the　goblet；　turned　his　head；　and　as　Myles　looked；　their　eyes　met。　Then　the　Earl　turned　away　again　and　raised　the　cup　to　his　lips；　while　Myles　felt　his　heart　beat　more　rapidly　than　ever。

But　at　last　the　meal　was　ended；　and　the　Earl　washed　his　hands　and　his　mouth　and　his　beard　from　a　silver　basin　of　scented　water　held　by　another　one　of　the　squires。　Then；　leaning　back　against　the　pillows；　he　beckoned　to　Myles。

In　answer　Myles　walked　forward　the　length　of　the　room；　conscious　that　all　eyes　were　fixed　upon　him