men of iron-第30章

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　not　know；　but　suddenly　some　one　touched　him　upon　the　shoulder；　and　he　sprang　up　quickly。　It　was　Gascoyne。

〃What　is　to　do；　Myles？〃　said　his　friend；　anxiously。　〃What　is　all　this　talk　I　hear　concerning　thee　up　yonder　at　the　armory？〃

〃Oh；　Francis！〃　cried　Myles；　with　a　husky　choking　voice：　〃I　am　to　be　knightedby　the　Kingby　the　King　himself；　and　II　am　to　fight　the　Sieur　de　la　Montaigne。〃

He　reached　out　his　hand；　and　Gascoyne　took　it。　They　stood　for　a　while　quite　silent；　and　when　at　last　the　stillness　was　broken；　it　was　Gascoyne　who　spoke；　in　a　choking　voice。

〃Thou　art　going　to　be　great；　Myles；〃　said　he。　〃I　always　knew　that　it　must　be　so　with　thee；　and　now　the　time　hath　come。　Yea；　thou　wilt　be　great；　and　live　at　court　amongst　noble　folk；　and　Kings　haply。　Presently　thou　wilt　not　be　with　me　any　more；　and　wilt　forget　me　by…and…by。〃

〃Nay；　Francis；　never　will　I　forget　thee！〃　answered　Myles；　pressing　his　friend's　hand。　〃I　will　always　love　thee　better　than　any　one　in　the　world；　saving　only　my　father　and　my　mother。〃

Gascoyne　shook　his　head　and　looked　away；　swallowing　at　the　dry　lump　in　his　throat。　Suddenly　he　turned　to　Myles。　〃Wilt　thou　grant　me　a　boon？〃

〃Yea；〃　answered　Myles。　〃What　is　it？〃

〃That　thou　wilt　choose　me　for　thy　squire。〃

〃Nay；〃　said　Myles；　〃how　canst　thou　think　to　serve　me　as　squire？　Thou　wilt　be　a　knight　thyself　some　day；　Francis；　and　why　dost　thou　wish　now　to　be　my　squire？〃

〃Because；〃　said　Gascoyne；　with　a　short　laugh；　〃I　would　rather　be　in　thy　company　as　a　squire　than　in　mine　own　as　a　knight；　even　if　I　might　be　banneret。〃

Myles　flung　his　arm　around　his　friend's　neck；　and　kissed　him　upon　the　cheek。　〃Thou　shalt　have　thy　will；〃　said　he；　〃but　whether　knight　or　squire；　thou　art　ever　mine　own　true　friend。〃

Then　they　went　slowly　back　together；　hand　in　hand；　to　the　castle　world　again。

At　two　o'clock　Myles　went　to　Lord　George's　apartments；　and　there　his　friend　and　patron　dressed　him　out　in　a　costume　better　fitted　for　the　ceremony　of　presentationa　fur…trimmed　jacket　of　green　brocaded　velvet　embroidered　with　golden　thread；　a　black　velvet　hood…cap　rolled　like　a　turban　and　with　a　jewel　in　the　front；　a　pair　of　crimson　hose；　and　a　pair　of　black　velvet　shoes　trimmed　and　stitched　with　gold…thread。　Myles　had　never　worn　such　splendid　clothes　in　his　life　before；　and　he　could　not　but　feel　that　they　became　him　well。

〃Sir；〃　said　he；　as　he　looked　down　at　himself；　〃sure　it　is　not　lawful　for　me　to　wear　such　clothes　as　these。〃

In　those　days　there　was　a　law；　known　as　a　sumptuary　law；　which　regulated　by　statute　the　clothes　that　each　class　of　people　were　privileged　to　wear。　It　was；　as　Myles　said；　against　the　law　for　him　to　wear　such　garments　as　those　in　which　he　was　cladeither　velvet；　crimson　stuff；　fur　or　silver　or　gold　embroiderynevertheless　such　a　solemn　ceremony　as　presentation　to　the　King　excused　the　temporary　overstepping　of　the　law；　and　so　Lord　George　told　him。　As　he　laid　his　hand　upon　the　lad's　shoulder　and　held　him　off　at　arm's…length；　he　added；　〃And　I　pledge　thee　my　word；　Myles；　that　thou　art　as　lusty　and　handsome　a　lad　as　ever　mine　eyes　beheld。〃

〃Thou　art　very　kind　to　me；　sir；〃　said　Myles；　in　answer。

Lord　George　laughed；　and　then　giving　him　a　shake；　let　go　his　shoulder。

It　was　about　three　o'clock　when　little　Edmond　de　Montefort；　Lord　Mackworth's　favorite　page；　came　with　word　that　the　King　was　then　walking　in　the　Earl's　pleasance。

〃Come；　Myles；〃　said　Lord　George；　and　then　Myles　arose　from　the　seat　where　he　had　been　sitting；　his　heart　palpitating　and　throbbing　tumultuously。

At　the　wicket…gate　of　the　pleasance　two　gentlemen…　at…arms　stood　guard　in　half…armor；　they　saluted　Lord　George；　and　permitted　him　to　pass　with　his　protege。　As　he　laid　his　hand　upon　the　latch　of　the　wicket　he　paused　for　a　moment　and　turned。

〃Myles；〃　said　he；　in　a　low　voice；　〃thou　art　a　thoughtful　and　cautious　lad；　for　thy　father's　sake　be　thoughtful　and　cautious　now。　Do　not　speak　his　name　or　betray　that　thou　art　his　son。〃　Then　he　opened　the　wicket…gate　and　entered。

Any　lad　of　Myles's　age；　even　one　far　more　used　to　the　world　than　he；　would　perhaps　have　felt　all　the　oppression　that　he　experienced　under　the　weight　of　such　a　presentation。　He　hardly　knew　what　he　was　doing　as　Lord　George　led　him　to　where　the　King　stood；　a　little　apart　from　the　attendants；　with　the　Earl　and　the　Comte　de　Vermoise。　Even　in　his　confusion　he　knew　enough　to　kneel；　and　somehow　his　honest；　modest　diffidence　became　the　young　fellow　very　well。　He　was　not　awkward；　for　one　so　healthful　in　mind　and　body　as　he　could　not　bear　himself　very　ill；　and　he　felt　the　assurance　that　in　Lord　George　he　had　a　kind　friend　at　his　side；　and　one　well　used　to　court　ceremonies　to　lend　him　countenance。　Then　there　is　something　always　pleasing　in　frank；　modest　manliness　such　as　was　stamped　on　Myles's　handsome；　sturdy　face。　No　doubt　the　King's　heart　warmed　towards　the　fledgling　warrior　kneeling　in　the　pathway　before　him。　He　smiled　very　kindly　as　he　gave　the　lad　his　hand　to　kiss；　and　that　ceremony　done；　held　fast　to　the　hard；　brown；　sinewy　fist　of　the　young　man　with　his　soft　white　hand；　and　raised　him　to　his　feet。

〃By　the　mass！〃　said　he；　looking　Myles　over　with　smiling　eyes；　〃thou　art　a　right　champion　in　good　sooth。　Such　as　thou　art　haply　was　Sir　Galahad　when　he　came　to　Arthur's　court。　And　so　they　tell　me；　thou　hast　stomach　to　brook　the　Sieur　de　la　Montaigne；　that　tough　old　boar　of　Dauphiny。　Hast　thou　in　good　sooth　the　courage　to　face　him？　Knowest　thou　what　a　great　thing　it　is　that　thou　hast　set　upon　thyselfto　do　battle；　even　in　sport；　with　him？〃

〃Yea；　your　Majesty；〃　answered　Myles；　〃well　I　wot　it　is　a　task　haply　beyond　me。　But　gladly　would　I　take　upon　me　even　a　greater　venture；　and　one　more　dangerous；　to　do　your　Majesty's　pleasure！〃

The　King　looked　pleased。　〃Now　that　was　right　well　said；　young　man；〃　said　he；　〃and　I　like　it　better　that　it　came　from　such　young　and　honest　lips。　Dost　thou　speak　French？〃

〃Yea；　your　Majesty；〃　answered　Myles。　〃In　some　small　measure　do　I　so。〃

〃I　am　glad　of　that；〃　said　the　King；　〃for　so　I　may　make　thee　acquainted　with　Sieur　de　la　Montaigne。〃

He　turned　as　he　ended　speaking；　and　beckoned　to　a　heavy；　thick…set；　black…browed　chevalier　who　stood　with　the　other　gentlemen　attendants　at　a　little　distance。　He　came　instantly　forward　in　answer　to　the　summons；　and　the　King　introduced　the　two　to　one　another。　As　each　took　the　other　formally　by　the　hand；　he　measured　his　opponent　hastily；　body　and　limb；　and　perhaps　each　thought　that　he　had　never　seen　a　stronger；　stouter；　better…　knit　man　than　the　one　upon　whom　he　looked。　But　nevertheless　the　contrast　betwixt　the　two　was　very　greatMyles；　young；　boyish；　fresh…faced；　the　other；　bronzed；　weather　beaten；　and　seamed　with　a　great　white　scar　that　ran　across　his　forehead　and　cheek；　the　one　a　novice；　the　other　a　warrior　seasoned　in　twoscore　battles。

A　few　polite　phrases　passed　between　the　two；　the　King　listening　smiling；　but　with　an　absent　and　far…away　look　gradually　stealing　upon　his　face。　As　they　ended　speaking；　a　little　pause　of　silence　followed；　and　then　the　King　suddenly　aroused　himself。

〃So；〃　said　he；　〃I　am　glad　that　ye　two　are　acquainted。　And　now　we　will　leave　our　youthful　champion　in　thy　charge；　Beaumontand　in　thine；　Mon　Sieur；　as　welland　so　soon　as　the　proper　ceremonies　are　ended；　we　will　dub　him　knight　with　our　own　hands。　And　now；　Mackworth；　and　thou　my　Lord　Count；　let　us　walk　a　little；　I　have　bethought　me　further　concerning　these　threescore　extra　men　for　Dauphiny。〃

Then　Myles　withdrew；　under　the　charge　of　Lord　George　and　the　Sieur　de　la　Montaigne　and　while　the　King　and　the　two　nobles　walked　slowly　up　and　down　the　gravel　path　between　the　tall　rose…　bushes；　Myles　stood　talking　with　the　gentlemen　attendants；　finding　himself；　with　a　certain　triumphant　exultation；　the　peer　of　any　and　the　hero　of　the　hour。

That　night　was　the　last　that　Myles　and　Gascoyne　spent　lodging　in　the　dormitory　in　their　squirehood　service。　The　next　day　they　were　assigned　apartments　in　Lord　George's　part　of　the　house；　and　thither　they　transported　themselves　and　their　belongings；　amid　the　awestruck　wonder　and　admiration　of　their　fellow…squires。



CHAPTER　24

In　Myles　Falworth's　day　one　of　the　greatest　ceremonies　of　cou