men of iron-第41章

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s　from　them　that　the　little　hall　took　its　name　of　the　Painted　Room。

This　ancient　wing；　or　offshoot；　of　the　main　buildings　was　more　retired　from　the　hurly…burly　of　outer　life　than　other　parts　of　the　palace；　and　thither　the　sick　King　was　very　fond　of　retiring　from　the　business　of　State；　which　ever　rested　more　and　more　heavily　upon　his　shoulders；　sometimes　to　squander　in　quietness　a　spare　hour　or　two；　sometimes　to　idle　over　a　favorite　book；　sometimes　to　play　a　game　of　chess　with　a　favorite　courtier。　The　cold　painted　walls　had　been　hung　with　tapestry；　and　its　floor　had　been　spread　with　arras　carpet。　These　and　the　cushioned　couches　and　chairs　that　stood　around　gave　its　gloomy　antiquity　an　air　of　comfortan　air　even　of　luxury。

It　was　to　this　favorite　retreat　of　the　King's　that　Myles　was　brought　that　morning　with　his　father　to　face　the　great　Earl　of　Alban。

In　the　anteroom　the　little　party　of　Princes　and　nobles　who　escorted　the　father　and　son　had　held　a　brief　consultation。　Then　the　others　had　entered；　leaving　Myles　and　his　blind　father　in　charge　of　Lord　Lumley　and　two　knights　of　the　court；　Sir　Reginald　Hallowell　and　Sir　Piers　Averell。

Myles；　as　he　stood　patiently　waiting；　with　his　father's　arm　resting　in　his；　could　hear　the　muffled　sound　of　voices　from　beyond　the　arras。　Among　others；　he　recognized　the　well…remembered　tones　of　the　King。　He　fancied　that　he　heard　his　own　name　mentioned　more　than　once；　and　then　the　sound　of　talking　ceased。　The　next　moment　the　arras　was　drawn　aside；　and　the　Earl　entered　the　antechamber　again。

〃All　is　ready；　cousin；〃　said　he　to　Lord　Falworth；　in　a　suppressed　voice。　〃Essex　hath　done　as　he　promised；　and　Alban　is　within　there　now。〃　Then；　turning　to　Myles；　speaking　in　the　same　low　voice；　and　betraying　more　agitation　than　Myles　had　thought　it　possible　for　him　to　show；　〃Sir　Myles；〃　said　he；　〃remember　all　that　hath　been　told　thee。　Thou　knowest　what　thou　hast　to　say　and　do。〃　Then；　without　further　word；　he　took　Lord　Falworth　by　the　hand；　and　led　the　way　into　the　room；　Myles　following　close　behind。

The　King　half　sat；　half　inclined；　upon　a　cushioned　seat　close　to　which　stood　the　two　Princes。　There　were　some　dozen　others　present；　mostly　priests　and　noblemen　of　high　quality　who　clustered　in　a　group　at　a　little　distance。　Myles　knew　most　of　them　at　a　glance　having　seen　them　come　and　go　at　Scotland　Yard。　But　among　them　all；　he　singled　out　only　onethe　Earl　of　Alban。　He　had　not　seen　that　face　since　he　was　a　little　child　eight　years　old；　but　now　that　he　beheld　it　again；　it　fitted　instantly　and　vividly　into　the　remembrance　of　the　time　of　that　terrible　scene　at　Falworth　Castle；　when　he　had　beheld　the　then　Lord　Brookhurst　standing　above　the　dead　body　of　Sir　John　Dale；　with　the　bloody　mace　clinched　in　his　hand。　There　were　the　same　heavy　black　brows；　sinister　and　gloomy；　the　same　hooked　nose；　the　same　swarthy　cheeks。　He　even　remembered　the　deep　dent　in　the　forehead；　where　the　brows　met　in　perpetual　frown。　So　it　was　that　upon　that　face　his　looks　centred　and　rested。

The　Earl　of　Alban　had　just　been　speaking　to　some　Lord　who　stood　beside　him；　and　a　half…smile　still　hung　about　the　corners　of　his　lips。　At　first；　as　he　looked　up　at　the　entrance　of　the　newcomers；　there　was　no　other　expression；　then　suddenly　came　a　flash　of　recognition；　a　look　of　wide…eyed　amazement；　then　the　blood　left　the　cheeks　and　the　lips；　and　the　face　grew　very　pale。　No　doubt　he　saw　at　a　flash　that　some　great　danger　overhung　him　in　this　sudden　coming　of　his　old　enemy；　for　he　was　as　keen　and　as　astute　a　politician　as　he　was　a　famous　warrior。　At　least　he　knew　that　the　eyes　of　most　of　those　present　were　fixed　keenly　and　searchingly　upon　him。　After　the　first　start　of　recognition；　his　left　hand；　hanging　at　his　side；　gradually　closed　around　the　scabbard　of　his　sword；　clutching　it　in　a　vice…like　grip。

Meantime　the　Earl　of　Mackworth　had　led　the　blind　Lord　to　the　King；　where　both　kneeled。

〃Why；　how　now；　my　Lord？〃　said　the　King。　〃Methought　it　was　our　young　Paladin　whom　we　knighted　at　Devlen　that　was　to　be　presented；　and　here　thou　bringest　this　old　man。　A　blind　man；　ha！　What　is　the　meaning　of　this？〃

〃Majesty；〃　said　the　Earl；　〃I　have　taken　this　chance　to　bring　to　thy　merciful　consideration　one　who　hath　most　wofully　and　unjustly　suffered　from　thine　anger。　Yonder　stands　the　young　knight　of　whom　we　spake；　this　is　his　father；　Gilbert　Reginald；　whilom　Lord　Falworth；　who　craves　mercy　and　justice　at　thy　hands。〃

〃Falworth；〃　said　the　King；　placing　his　hand　to　his　head。　〃The　name　is　not　strange　to　mine　ears；　but　I　cannot　place　it。　My　head　hath　troubled　me　sorely　to…day；　and　I　cannot　remember。〃

At　this　point　the　Earl　of　Alban　came　quietly　and　deliberately　forward。　〃Sire；〃　said　he；　〃pardon　my　boldness　in　so　venturing　to　address　you；　but　haply　I　may　bring　the　name　more　clearly　to　your　mind。　He　is；　as　my　Lord　of　Mackworth　said；　the　whilom　Baron　Falworth；　the　outlawed；　attainted　traitor；　so　declared　for　the　harboring　of　Sir　John　Dale；　who　was　one　of　those　who　sought　your　Majesty's　life　at　Windsor　eleven　years　ago。　Sire；　he　is　mine　enemy　as　well；　and　is　brought　hither　by　my　proclaimed　enemies。　Should　aught　occur　to　my　harm；　I　rest　my　case　in　your　gracious　hands。〃

The　dusty　red　flamed　into　the　King's　pale；　sickly　face　in　answer；　and　he　rose　hastily　from　his　seat。

〃Aye；〃　said　he；　〃I　remember　me　nowI　remember　me　the　man　and　the　name！　Who　hath　dared　bring　him　here　before　us？〃　All　the　dull　heaviness　of　sickness　was　gone　for　the　moment；　and　King　Henry　was　the　King　Henry　of　ten　years　ago　as　he　rolled　his　eyes　balefully　from　one　to　another　of　the　courtiers　who　stood　silently　around。

The　Earl　of　Mackworth　shot　a　covert　glance　at　the　Bishop　of　Winchester；　who　came　forward　in　answer。

〃Your　Majesty；〃　said　he；　〃here　am　I；　your　brother；　who　beseech　you　as　your　brother　not　to　judge　over…hastily　in　this　matter。　It　is　true　that　this　man　has　been　adjudged　a　traitor；　but　he　has　been　so　adjudged　without　a　hearing。　I　beseech　thee　to　listen　patiently　to　whatsoever　he　may　have　to　say。

The　King　fixed　the　Bishop　with　a　look　of　the　bitterest；　deepest　anger；　holding　his　nether　lip　tightly　under　his　teetha　trick　he　had　when　strongly　moved　with　angerand　the　Bishop's　eyes　fell　under　the　look。　Meantime　the　Earl　of　Alban　stood　calm　and　silent。　No　doubt　he　saw　that　the　King's　anger　was　likely　to　befriend　him　more　than　any　words　that　he　himself　could　say；　and　he　perilled　his　case　with　no　more　speech　which　could　only　prove　superfluous。

At　last　the　King　turned　a　face　red　and　swollen　with　anger　to　the　blind　Lord；　who　still　kneeled　before　him。

〃What　hast　thou　to　say？〃　he　said；　in　a　deep　and　sullen　voice。

〃Gracious　and　merciful　Lord；〃　said　the　blind　nobleman；　〃I　come　to　thee；　the　fountain…head　of　justice；　craving　justice。　Sire；　I　do　now　and　here　deny　my　treason；　which　denial　I　could　not　before　make；　being　blind　and　helpless；　and　mine　enemies　strong　and　malignant。　But　now；　sire；　Heaven　hath　sent　me　help；　and　therefore　I　do　acclaim　before　thee　that　my　accuser；　William　Bushy　Brookhurst；　Earl　of　Alban；　is　a　foul　and　an　attainted　liar　in　all　that　he　hath　accused　me　of。　To　uphold　which　allegation；　and　to　defend　me；　who　am　blinded　by　his　unknightliness；　I　do　offer　a　champion　to　prove　all　that　I　say　with　his　body　in　combat。〃

The　Earl　of　Mackworth　darted　a　quick　look　at　Myles；　who　came　forward　the　moment　his　father　had　ended；　and　kneeled　beside　him。　The　King　offered　no　interruption　to　his　speech；　but　he　bent　a　look　heavy　with　anger　upon　the　young　man。

〃My　gracious　Lord　and　King；〃　said　Myles；　〃I；　the　son　of　the　accused；　do　offer　myself　as　his　champion　in　this　cause；　beseeching　thee　of　thy　grace　leave　to　prove　the　truth　of　the　same；　being　a　belted　knight　by　thy　grace　and　of　thy　creation　and　the　peer　of　any　who　weareth　spurs。〃　Thereupon；　rising；　he　drew　his　iron　gauntlet　from　his　girdle；　and　flung　it　clashing　down　upon　the　floor；　and　with　his　heart　swelling　within　him　with　anger　and　indignation　and　pity　of　his　blind　father；　he　cried；　in　a　loud　voice；　〃I　do　accuse　thee；　William　of　Alban；　that　thou　liest　vilely　as　aforesaid；　and　here　cast　down　my　gage；　daring　thee　to　take　it　up。

The　Earl　of　Alban　made　as　though　he　would　accept　the　challenge；　but　the　King　stopped　him　hastily。

〃Stop！〃　h