the caged lion-第31章

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'No；　Sir；'　hoarsely　cried　both。

And　Kitson　explained：　　'Sir；　you　said　you'd　knight　the　one　of　us　that　was　foremost。　　Now；　the　two　being　dubbed；　we　shall　be　but　where　we　were　before　as　to　Mistress　Agnes　of　Mineshull；　unless　of　your　good…　will　you　would　be　pleased　to　let　us　fight　out　the　wager　of　the　heriard　in　all　peace　and　amity。'

Henry　burst　out　laughing；　with　all　his　old　merriment；　as　he　said；　'For　no　Mistress　Agnes　living　can　I　have　honest　men's　lives　wasted；　specially　of　such　as　have　that　gift　of　standing　still。　　If　she　does　not　knew　her　own　mind；　one　of　you　must　get　himself　killed　by　the　Frenchmen；　not　by　one　another。　　So　kneel　down；　and　we'll　make　your　knighthood's　feast　fall　in　with　that　of　my　son。'

Thus　Sir　Christopher　Kitson　and　Sir　William　Trenton　rose　up　knights；　and　bore　their　honours　with　a　certain　bluntness　that　made　them　butts；　even　while　they　were　the　heroes　of　the　day；　and　Henry；　who　had　resumed　his　gay　temper；　made　much　diversion　out　of　their　mingled　shrewdness　and　gruffness。

'So；'　muttered　Malcolm　to　Ralf　Percy；　'we　are　passed　over　in　the　self…same　matter　for　which　these　fellows　are　knighted。'

'Tush！'　answered　Percy；　'I'd　scorn　to　be　confounded　with　a　couple　of　clowns　like　them！　　Moreover；'　he　added；　with　better　reason；　'their　valour　was　more　exercised　than　ours；　inasmuch　as　they　thought　there　was　treachery；　and　we　did　not。　　No；　no；　when　my　spurs　are　won；　it　shall　be　for　some　prowess；　better　than　standing　stock…still。'

Malcolm　held　his　tongue；　unwilling　that　Percy　should　see　that　he　did　feel　this　an　achievement；　but　he　was　vexed　at　the　lack　of　reward；　fancying　that　knighthood　would　be　no　small　step　in　the　favour　of　that　imaginary　Esclairmonde　whom　he　had　made　for　himself。

'Light　of　the　world'　he　loved　to　call　her　still；　but　it　was　in　the　commonplace　romance　of　his　time；　the　mere　light　of　beauty　and　grace　illuminating　the　world　of　chivalry。



CHAPTER　VIII：　　THE　CAPTURE



The　seven　months'　siege　ended　at　last；　but　it　was　not　until　the　brightness　of　May　was　on　the　fields　outside；　and　the　deadly　blight　of　famine　on　all　within；　that　a　haggard；　wasted…looking　deputation　came　down　from　the　upper　city　to　treat　with　the　King。

Henry　was　never　severe　with　the　inhabitants　of　French　cities；　and　exacted　no　harsh　terms；　save　that　he　insisted　that　Vaurus；　the　robber　captain；　and　his　two　chief　lieutenants；　should　be　given　up　to　him　to　suffer　condign　punishment。　　The　warriors　who　had　shut　themselves　up　to　hold　out　the　place　by　honourable　warfare　for　the　Dauphin　must　be　put　to　ransom　as　prisoners　of　war；　but　the　burghers　were　to　be　unmolested；　on　condition　of　their　swearing　allegiance　to　Henry　as　regent　for；　and　heir　of；　Charles　VI。

To　this　the　deputies　consented；　and　the　next　day　was　fixed　for　the　surrender。　　The　difficulty　was；　as　Henry　had　found　at　Harfleur；　Rouen；　and　many　other　places；　to　enforce　forbearance　on　his　soldiery；　who　regarded　plunder　as　their　lawful　prey；　the　enemy　as　their　natural　game；　and　the　trouble　a　city　had　given　them　as　a　cause　for　unmercifulness。　　The　more　time　changed　his　army　from　the　feudal　gathering　of　English　country　gentlemen　and　yeomen　to　mercenary　bands　of　men…at…arms；　the　mere　greedy；　rapacious；　and　insubordinate　became　their　temper。　　Well　knowing　the　greatness　of　the　peril；　and　that　the　very　best　of　his　captains　had　scarcely　the　will；　if　they　had　the　power；　to　restrain　the　license　that　soon　became　barbarity　unimaginable；　he　spoke　sadly　overnight　of　his　dread　of　the　day　of　surrender；　when　it　might　prove　impossible　to　prevent　deeds　that　would　be　not　merely　a　blot　on　his　scutcheon；　but　a　shame　to　human　nature；　looking　back　to　the　exultation　with　which　he　had　entered　Harfleur　as　a　mere　effect　of　boyish　ignorance　and　thoughtlessness。

Having　taken　all　possible　precautions；　he　stood　in　his　full　armour；　with　the　fox's　brush　in　his　helmet；　under　the　great　elm　in　the　market…place；　received　the　keys；　accepted　the　sword　of　the　captain　commissioned　by　Charles　with　royal　courtesy；　gave　his　hand　to　be　kissed　by　the　mayor；　and　then；　with　grave　inexorable　air；　like　a　statue　of　steel；　watched　as　the　freebooter　Vaurus　and　his　two　chief　companions　were　led　down　with　their　hands　tied；　halters　round　their　necks；　and　priests　at　their　sides；　preparing　them　to　be　hung　on　that　very　tree。　　They　were　proud　hard　men；　and　uttered　no　entreaty　for　grace。　　They　had　hung　too　many　travellers　upon　these　same　branches　not　to　expect　their　own　turn；　and　they　were　no　cravens　to　abase　themselves。

That　act　of　justice　ended；　Henry　mounted　his　warhorse　and　rode　in　at　the　gates。　　His　wont　was　to　go　straight　to　the　principal　church；　and　there　attend　a　solemn　mass　of　thanksgiving；　but　experience　had　taught　him　that　his　devotions　were　the　very　opportunity　of　his　men's　rapine：　he　had　therefore　arranged　that　as　soon　as　he　should　have　arrived　in　the　choir　of　the　cathedral；　James　should　take　his　place；　and　he　slip　out　by　a　side　door；　so　as　to　return　to　the　scene　of　action。

In　full　procession　he　and　his　suite　reached　the　chief　door；　and　there　dismounted　in　an　immense　crowd；　which　thronged　in　at　the　doors。

'Come；　Glenuskie；'　said　Ralf　Percy；　as　the　two　youths　were　pushed　chose　together　in　the　press；　'if　you　have　a　fancy　for　being　smothered　in　the　minster；　I　have　none。　　We　shall　never　be　missed。　　'Twill　be　sport　to　walk　round　and　see　how　these　hardy　rogues　contrived　to　hold　out。'

Malcolm　willingly　turned　aside　with　him；　and　looked　down　the　sloping　street；　which　was　swarming　with　comers　and　goers。　　The　whole　place　was　in　an　inflammable　state。　　Soldiers　were　demanding　quarters；　which　the　citizens　unwillingly　gave。　　A　refusal　or　expostulation　against　a　rough　entry　led　to　violence；　and　ever　as　the　two　youths　walked　farther　from　the　cathedral；　there　was　more　of　excitement；　more　rude　oaths　of　soldiers；　more　shrieking　of　women；　often　crying　out　even　before　any　harm　was　done　to　them　or　their　houses。

At　last；　before　a　tall　overhanging　house；　there　was　an　immense　press；　and　a　frightful　din　of　shouts　and　imprecations；　filling　both　the　new…　comers　with　infectious　eagerness。

'How　now？　how　now？'　called　Percy。　　'Keep　the　peace；　good　fellows。'

'Sir；'　cried　a　number　of　voices；　passionately；　'the　French　villains　have　barred　their　door。　　There's　a　lot　of　cowardly　Armagnacs　hid　there　with　their　gold；　trying　to　balk　honest　men　of　their　ransom。'

Such　was　the　cry　resounding　on　all　sides。　　'Have　at　them！　　There's　the　rogue　at　the　windows。　　Out　on　the　fellows！　　Burn　down　the　door！　'Tis　Vaurus　himself　and　all　his　gold。　　Treason！　treason！'

The　clamour　was　convincing　to　the　spirit；　if　not　to　the　senses。　　The　two　lads　believed　in　the　concealed　Armagnacs；　or　perhaps　more　truly　were　carried　away　by　the　vehemence　around　them；　and　with　something　of　the　spirit　of　the　chase；　threw　themselves　headlong　into　the　affair。

'Open！　open！'　shouted　Ralf。　　'Open；　in　the　name　of　King　Henry！'

An　old　man's　face　peeped　through　a　little　wicket　in　the　door；　and　at　sight　of　the　two　youths；　evidently　of　high　rank；　said　in　a　trembling　voice；　'Alas！　alas！　　Sir；　bid　these　cruel　men　go　away。　　I　have　nothing　hereno　oneonly　my　sick　daughter。'

'You　hear；'　said　Malcolm；　turning　round；　'only　his　sick　daughter。'

'Sick　daughter！old　liar！　　Here's　an　honest　tinker　makes　oath　he　has　hoards　of　gold　laid　up　for　Vaurus；　and　ten　Armagnacs　hidden　in　his　house。　　Have　at　him！　　Bring　fire！'

Blows　hailed　thick　on　the　door；　a　flaming　torch　was　handed　over　the　heads　of　the　throng；　horrible　growls　and　roars　pervaded　them。　Malcolm　and　Ralf；　furious　at　the　cheat；　stood　among　the　foremost；　making　so　much　noise　themselves　between　thundering　and　reviling；　and　calling　out；　'Where　are　the　Armagnacs？　　Down　with　the　traitors！'　that　they　were　not　aware　of　a　sudden　hush　behind　them；　till　a　buffet　from　a　heavy　hand　fell　on　Malcolm's　shoulder；　and　a　mighty　voice　cried　'Shame！　shame！　　What；　you　too！'

'There　are　traitors　hid　here；　Sir；'　said　Percy；　in　angry　self…　justification。

'And　what　an　if　there　are？　　Back；　every　one　of　you！　rogues　that　you　be！Here；　Fitzhugh；　see　those　villains　back　to　the　camp。　　Let　their　arms　be　given　up　to　the　Provost…marshal。Kites　and　crows　as　you　are！　Away；　out　with　you！'

Henry　pointed　to　the　broken　door；　and　the　cowed　and　abashe