the caged lion-第3章

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ir；　and　eyes　of　the　same　peculiar　tint；　glancing　with　a　light　that　once　seen　could　never　be　forgotten；　and　the　bearing　was　such；　that　Patrick　at　once　growled　to　himself；　'One　of　our　haughty　loons；　brimful　of　outre　cuidance；　and　yet　how　coolly　he　bears　it　off。　　If　he　looks　to　find　us　his　humble　servants；　he　will　find　himself　mistaken；　I　trow。'

'Sir　Patrick；'　said　Father　Ninian；　who　was　by　this　time　close　to　him；　'let　me　present　to　you　Sir　James　Stewart；　a　captive　knight　who　is　come　to　collect　his　ransom。　　I　fell　in　with　him　on　the　road；　and　as　his　road　lay　with　mine；　I　made　bold　to　assure　him　of　a　welcome　from　your　honoured　father　and　Lord　Malcolm。'

Patrick's　face　cleared。　　It　was　no　grace　or　beauty　that　he　feared　in　any　stranger；　but　the　sheer　might　and　unright　that　their　Regency　enabled　the　House　of　Albany　to　exercise　over　the　orphans　of　the　royal　family；　whose　head　was　absent；　and　a　captive　knight　could　be　no　mischievous　person。　　Still　this　might　be　only　a　specious　pretence　to　impose　on　the　chaplain；　and　gain　admittance　to　the　castle；　and　Patrick　was　resolved　to　be　well　on　his　guard；　though　he　replied　courteously　to　the　graceful　bow　with　which　the　stranger　greeted　him；　saying　in　a　manly　mellow　voice　and　southern　accent；　'I　have　been　bold　enough　to　presume　on　the　good　father's　offer　of　hospitality；　Sir。'

'You　are　welcome；　Sir；'　returned　Patrick；　taking　the　stranger's　bridle　that　he　might　dismount；　'my　father　and　my　cousin　will　gladly　further　on　his　way　a　prisoner　seeking　freedom。'

'A　captive　may　well　be　welcome；　for　the　sake　of　one　prisoner；'　said　his　father；　who　had　in　the　meantime　come　forward；　and　extended　his　hand　to　the　knight；　who　took　it；　and　uncovering　his　bright　locks；　respectfully　said；　'I　am　in　the　presence　of　the　noble　Tutor　of　Glenuskie。'

'Even　so；　Sir；'　returned　Sir　David　Drummond；　who　was；　in　fact；　as　his　nephew's　guardian；　usually　known　by　this　curious　title；　'and　you　here　see　my　wards；　the　Lord　Malcolm　and　Lady　Lilias。　　Your　knighthood　will　make　allowances　for　the　lad；　he　is　but　home…bred。'　　For　while　Lilias　with　stately　grace　responded　to　Sir　James　Stewart's　courtly　greeting；　Malcolm　bashfully　made　an　awkward　bow；　and　seemed　ready　to　shrink　within　himself；　as；　indeed；　the　brutal　jests　of　his　rude　cousins　had　made　him　dread　and　hate　the　eye　of　a　stranger；　and　while　the　knight　was　led　forward　to　the　hall　fire；　he　merely　pressed　up　to　the　priest；　and　eagerly　demanded　under　his　breath；　'Have　you　brought　me　the　book？'　but　Father　Ninian　had　only　time　to　nod；　and　sign　that　a　volume　was　in　his　bosom；　before　old　Sir　David　called　out；　'What　now；　Malcolm；　forgetting　that　your　part　is　to　come　and　disarm　the　knight　who　does　you　the　honour　to　be　your　guest？'　　And　Sir　Patrick　rather　roughly　pushed　him　forward；　gruffly　whispering；　'Leave　not　Lily　to　supply　your　lack　of　courtesy。'

Malcolm　shambled　forward；　bewildered；　as　the　keen　auburn　eye　fell　on　him；　and　the　cheery　kindly　voice　said；　'Ha！　a　new　booka　romance？　Well　may　that　drive　out　other　thoughts。'

'Had　he　ears　to　hear　such　a　whisper？'　thought　Malcolm；　as　he　mumbled　in　the　hoarse　voice　of　bashful　boyhood；　'Not　a　romance；　Sir；　but　whatever　the　good　fathers　at　Coldingham　would　lend　me。'

'It　is　the　〃Itinerarium〃　of　the　blessed　Adamnanus；'　replied　Father　Ninian；　producing　from　his　bosom　a　parcel；　apparently　done　up　in　many　wrappers；　a　seal…skin　above　all。

'The　〃Itinerarium〃！'　exclaimed　Sir　James；　'methought　I　had　heard　of　such　a　book。　　I　have　a　friend　in　England　who　would　give　many　a　fair　rose　noble　for　a　sight　of　it。'

'A　friend　in　England！'the　words　had　a　sinister　sound　to　the　audience；　and　while　Malcolm　jealously　gathered　up　the　book　into　his　arms；　the　priest　made　cold　answer；　that　the　book　was　the　property　of　the　Monastery　at　Coldingham；　and　had　only　been　lent　to　Lord　Malcolm　Stewart　by　special　favour。　　The　guest　could　not　help　smiling；　and　saying　he　was　glad　books　were　thus　prized　in　Scotland；　but　at　that　moment；　as　the　sunny　look　shone　on　his　face；　and　he　stood　before　the　fire　in　the　close　suit　of　chamois　leather　which　he　wore　under　his　armour；　old　Sir　David　exclaimed；　'Ha！　never　did　I　see　such　a　likeness。　　Patie；　you　should　be　old　enough　to　remember；　do　you　not　see　it？'

'What　should　I　see？　　Who　is　he　like？'　asked　Patrick；　surprised　at　his　father's　manner。

'Who？'　whispered　Sir　David　in　a　lowered　voice；　'do　you　not　see　it？　to　the　unhappy　lad；　the　Duke　of　Rothsay。'

Patrick　could　not　help　smiling；　for　he　had　been　scarcely　seven　years　old　at　the　time　of　the　murder　of　the　unfortunate　Prince　of　Scotland；　hut　a　flush　of　colour　rose　into　the　face　of　the　guest；　and　he　shortly　answered；　'So　I　have　been　told；'　and　then　assuming　a　seat　near　Sir　David；　he　entered　into　conversation　with　him　upon　the　condition　of　Scotland　at　the　period；　inquiring　into　the　state　of　many　of　the　families　and　districts　by　name。　　Almost　always　there　was　but　one　answermurderharryingforay；　and　when　the　question　followed；　'What　had　the　Regent　done？'　there　was　a　shrug　of　the　shoulders；　and　as　often　Sir　James's　face　flushed　with　a　dark　red　fire；　and　his　hand　clenched　at　the　hilt　of　the　sword　by　his　side。

'And　is　there　not　a　man　in　Scotland　left　to　strike　for　the　right？'　he　demanded　at　last；　'cannot　nobles；　clergy；　and　burghers；　band　themselves　in　parliament　to　put　down　Albany　and　his　bloody　house；　and　recall　their　true　head？'

'They　love　to　have　it　so；'　returned　Sir　David　sadly。　　'United；　they　might　be　strong　enough；　but　each　knows　that　his　fellow；　Douglas；　Lennox；　March；　or　Mar；　would　be　ready　to　play　the　same　game　as　Albany；　and　to　raise　a　rival　none　will　stir。'

'And　so；'　proceeded　Sir　James；　bitterly；　'the　manhood　of　Scotland　goes　forth　to　waste　itself　in　an　empty　foreign　war；　merely　to　keep　France　in　as　wretched　a　state　of　misrule　as　itself。'

'Nay；　nay；　Sir；'　cried　Patrick　angrily；　'it　is　to　save　an　ancient　ally　from　the　tyranny　of　our　foulest　foe。　　It　is　the　only　place　where　a　Scotsman　can　seek　his　fortune　with　honour；　and　without　staining　his　soul　with　foul　deeds。　　Bring　our　King　home；　and　every　sword　shall　be　at　his　service。'

'What；　when　they　have　all　been　lavished　on　the　crazy　Frenchman？'　said　Sir　James。

'No；　Sir；'　said　Patrick；　rising　in　his　vehemence；　'when　they　have　been　brightened　there　by　honourable　warfare；　not　tarnished　by　home　barbarities。'

'He　speaks　truly；'　said　Sir　David；　'and　though　it　will　go　to　my　heart　to　part　with　the　lad；　yet　may　I　not　say　a　word　to　detain　him　in　a　land　where　the　contagion　of　violence　can　scarce　be　escaped　by　a　brave　man。'

Sir　James　gave　a　deep　sigh　as　of　pain；　but　as　if　to　hinder　its　being　remarked；　promptly　answered；　'That　may　be；　but　what　is　to　be　the　lot　of　a　land　whose　honest　men　desert　her　cause　as　too　evil　for　them；　and　seek　out　another；　that　when　seen　closer　is　scarce　less　evil？'

'How；　Sir！'　cried　Patrick；　'you　a　prisoner　of　England；　yet　speaking　against　our　noble　French　allies；　so　foully　trampled　on？'

'I　have　lived　long　enough　in　England；'　returned　Sir　James；　'to　think　that　land　happiest　where　law　is　strong　enough　to　enforce　peace　and　order。'

'The　coward　loons！'　muttered　Patrick；　chiefly　out　of　the　spirit　of　opposition。

'You　have　been　long　in　England；　Sir？'　said　Lilias；　hoping　to　direct　the　conversation　into　a　more　peaceful　current。

'Many　years；　fair　lady；'　he　replied；　turning　courteously　to　her；　'I　was　taken　when　I　was　a　mere　lad；　but　I　have　had　gentle　captors；　and　no　over　harsh　prison。'

'And　has　no　one　ransomed　you？'　she　asked　pitifully；　as　one　much　moved　by　a　certain　patience　on　his　brow；　and　in　his　sweet　full　voice。

'No　one；　lady。　　My　uncle　was　but　too　willing　that　the　heir　should　be　kept　aloof；　and　it　is　only　now　he　is　dead；　that　I　have　obtained　leave　from　my　friendly　captor　to　come　in　search　of　my　ransom。'

Lilias　would　have　liked　to　know　the　amount；　but　it　was　not　manners　to　ask；　since　the　rate　of　ransom　was　the　personal　value　of　the　knight；　and　her　uncle　put　in　the　question；　who　was　his　keeper。

'The　Earl　of　Somerset；'　rather　hastily　answered　Sir　James；　and　then　at　once　Lilias　exclaimed；　'Ah；　Uncle；　is　not　the　King；　too；　in　his　charge？'　　And　then　questions　crowded　on。　　'What　like　is　the　King？　How　brooks　he　his　durance？　　What　freedom　hath　he？　　What　hope　is　there　of　his　return？