the caged lion-第39章

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ed　by　him　to　King　James；　Alice；　standing　close　behind　her　queen；　recollected　that　she　had　once　heard　Esclairmonde　say；　'Till　I　came　to　England　I　deemed　chivalry　a　mere　gaudy　illusion。'

Duke　Philippe　would　not　bear　close　inspection；　the　striking　features　and　full　red　lips；　that　had　made　so　effective　an　appearance　in　the　gay　procession　seen　from　a　distance；　seemed　harsh；　haughty；　and　sensual　near　at　hand；　and　when　brought　into　close　contact　with　the　strange　bright　stern　purity；　now　refined　into　hectic　transparency；　of　King　Henry's　face；　the　grand　and　melancholy　majesty　of　the　royal　Stewart's；　or　even　the　spare；　keen；　irregular　visage　of　John　of　Bedford。　　And　while　his　robes　were　infinitely　more　costly　thanand　his　ornaments　tenfold　outnumberedall　that　the　three　island　princes　wore；　yet　no　critical　eye　could　take　him　for　their　superior；　even　though　his　tone　in　addressing　an　inferior　was　elaborately　affable　and　condescending；　and　theirs　was　always　the　frankness　of　an　equal。　Where　they　gave　the　sense　of　pure　gold；　he　seemed　like　some　ruder　metal　gilt　and　decorated；　as　if　theirs　were　reality；　his　the　imitation；　theirs　the　truth；　his　the　display。

But　in　reality　his　birth　was　as　princely　as　theirs；　and　no　monarch　in　Europe；　not　even　Henry；　equalled　him　in　material　resources；　he　was　idolized　by　the　Parisians；　and　Henry　was　aware　that　France　had　been　made　over　to　England　more　by　his　revenge　for　his　father's　murder　at　Montereau　than　by　the　victory　at　Agincourt。　　Therefore　the　King　endured　his　grand　talk　about　OUR　arms　and　OUR　intentions；　and　for　Malcolm's　sake；　James　submitted　to　a　sort　of　patronage；　as　if　meant　to　imply　that　if　Philippe　the　Magnificent　chose　to　espouse　the　cause　of　a　captive　king；　his　ransom　would　be　the　merest　trifle。

When　Henry　bade　him　to　the　Pentecostal　banquet；　'when　kings　keep　state；'　he　graciously　accepted　the　invitation　for　himself　and　his　two　sisters；　Marguerite；　widow　of　the　second　short…lived　Dauphin；　and　Anne；　still　unmarried；　but　when　Henry　further　explained　his　plan　of　feasting　merely　with　the　orderly；　and　apportioning　the　food　in　real　alms；　the　Duke　by　no　means　approved。

'Feed　those　miserables！'　he　said。　　'One　gains　nothing　thereby！　　They　make　no　noise；　whereas　if　you　affront　the　others；　who　know　how　to　cry　out；　they　will　revile　you　like　dogs！

'I　will　not　be　a　slave　to　the　rascaille；'　said　Henry。

'Ah；　my　fair　lord；　you；　a　victor；　may　dispense　with　these　cares；　but　for　a　poor　little　prince　like　me；　it　is　better　to　reign　in　men's　hearts　than　on　their　necks。'

'In　the　hearts　of　honest　menon　the　necks　of　knaves；'　said　Henry。

Philippe　shrugged　his　shoulders。　　He　was　wise　in　his　own　generation；　for　he　had　all　the　audible　voices　in　Paris　on　his　side；　while　the　cavils　at　Henry's　economy　have　descended　to　the　present　time。

'Do　you　see　your　rival；　Sir？'　said　the　voice　of　the　Bishop　of　Therouenne　in　Malcolm's　ear；　just　as　the　Duke　had　begun　to　rise　to　take　leave；　and　he　pointed　out　a　knight　of　some　thirty　years；　glittering　with　gay　devices　from　head　to　foot；　and　showing　a　bold　proud　visage；　exaggerating　the　harshness　of　the　Burgundian　lineaments。

Malcolm　shuddered；　and　murmured；　'Such　a　pearl　to　such　a　hog！'

And　meanwhile；　King　James；　stepping　forward；　intimated　to　the　Duke　that　he　would　be　glad　of　an　interview　with　him。

Philippe　made　some　ostentation　of　his　numerous　engagements　with　men　of　Church　and　State；　but　ended　by　inviting　the　King　of　Scotland　to　sup　with　him　that　evening；　if　his　Grace　would　forgive　travellers'　fare　and　a　simple　reception。

Thither　accordingly　James　repaired　on　foot；　attended　only　by　Sir　Nigel　and　Malcolm；　with　a　few　archers　of　the　royal　guard；　in　case　torches　should　be　wanted　on　the　way　home。

How　magnificent　were　the　surroundings　of　the　great　Duke；　it　would　be　wearisome　to　tell。　　The　retainers　in　the　court　of　the　hotel　looked；　as　James　said；　as　if　honest　steel　and　good　cloth　were　reckoned　as　churls；　and　as　if　this　were　the　very　land　of　Cockaigne；　as　Sir　Richard　Whittington　had　dreamt　it。　　Neither　he　nor　St。　Andrew　himself　would　know　their　own　saltire　made　in　cloth　of　silver；　'the　very　metal　to　tarnish！'

Sir　Nigel　had　to　tell　their　rank；　ere　the　porters　admitted　the　small　company：　　but　the　seneschal　marshalled　them　forward　in　full　state。　And　James　never　looked　more　the　king　than　when；　in　simple　crimson　robe；　the　pure　white　cross　on　his　breast；　his　auburn　hair　parted　back　from　his　noble　brow；　he　stood　towering　above　all　heads；　passively　receiving　the　Duke　of　Burgundy's　elaborate　courtesies　and　greetings；　nor　seeming　to　note　the　lavish　display　of　gold　and　silver；　meant　to　amaze　the　poorest　king　in　Europe。

Exceeding　was　the　politeness　shown　to　himeven　to　the　omission　of　the　seneschal's　tasting　each　dish　presented　to　the　Duke；　a　recognition　of　the　presence　of　a　sovereign　that　the　two　Scots　scarcely　understood　enough　for　gratitude。

Malcolm　was　the　best　off　of　the　two　at　the　supper；　for　James　had　of　course　to　be　cavalier　to　the　sickly　fretful…looking　Dauphiness；　while　Malcolm　fell　to　the　lot　of　the　Lady　Anne；　who；　though　not　beautiful；　had　a　kindly　hearty　countenance　and　manner；　and　won　his　heart　by　asking　whether　the　Demoiselle　de　Luxemburg　were　still　in　the　suite　of　Madame　of　Hainault；　and　then　it　appeared　that　she　had　been　her　convent　mate　and　warmest　friend　and　admirer　in　their　girlish　days　at　Dijon；　and　was　now　longing　to　see　her。　　Was　she　as　much　set　as　ever　on　being　a　nun？

Meantime；　the　Duke　was　pompously　making　way　for　the　King　of　Scots　to　enter　his　cabinet；　wherewith　a　gold　cup　before　each；　a　dish　of　comfits　and　a　stoup　of　wine　between　themtheir　interview　was　to　take　place。

'These　dainties　accord　with　a　matter　of　ladies'　love；'　said　James；　as　the　Duke　handed　him　a　sugar　heart　transfixed　by　an　arrow。

'Good；　good；'　said　Philippe。　　'The　alliance　is　noble　and　our　crowns　and　influence　might　be　a　good　check　in　the　north　to　your　mighty　neighbour；　nor　would　I　be　hard　as　to　her　dowry。　　Send　me　five　score　yearly　of　such　knaves　as　came　with　Buchan；　and　I　could　fight　the　devil　himself。　　A　morning　gift　might　be　specified　for　the　name　of　the　thingbut　we　understand　one　another。'

'I　am　not　certain　of　that；　Sir；'　said　James；　smiling；　'though　I　see　you　mean　me　kindly。'

'Nay；　now；'　continued　Philippe；　'I　know　how　to　honour　royalty；　even　in　durance；　nor　will　I　even　press　Madame　la　Dauphine　on　you　instead　of　Anne；　though　it　were　better　for　us　all　if　she　could　have　her　wish　and　become　a　queen；　and　you　would　have　her　jointureif　you　or　any　one　else　can　get　it。'

'Stay；　my　Lord　Duke；'　said　James；　with　dignity；　'I　spake　not　of　myself；　deeming　that　it　was　well　known　that　my　troth　is　plighted。'

'How？'　said　Burgundy；　amazed；　but　not　offended。　　'Methought　the　House　of　Somerset　was　a　mere　bastard　slip；　with　which　even　King　Henry　with　all　his　insolence　could　not　expect　you　to　wed　in　earnest。　　However；　we　may　keep　our　intentions　secret　awhile；　and　then；　with　your　lances　and　my　resources；　English　displeasure　need　concern　you　little。'

James；　who　had　learned　self…control　in　captivity；　began　politely　to　express　himself　highly　honoured　and　obliged。

'Do　not　mention　it。　　Royal　blood；　thus　shamefully　oppressed；　must　command　the　aid　of　all　that　is　chivalrous。　　Speak；　and　your　ransom　is　at　your　service。'

The　hot　blood　rushed　into　James's　cheek　at　this　tone　of　condescension；　but　he　answered；　with　courteous　haughtiness：　　'Of　myself；　Sir　Duke；　there　is　no　question。　　My　ransom　waits　England's　willingness　to　accept　it；　and　my　hand　is　not　free；　even　for　the　prize　you　have　the　goodness　to　offer。　　I　came　not　to　speak　of　myself。'

'Not　to　make　suit　for　my　sister；　nor　my　intercession！'　exclaimed　Philippe。

'I　make　suit　to　no　man；'　said　James；　then；　recollecting　himself；　'if　I　did　so；　no　readier　friend　than　the　Duke　of　Burgundy　could　be　found。　I　did　in　effect　come　to　propose　an　alliance　between　one　of　my　own　house　and　a　fair　vassal　of　yours。'

'Ha！　the　runaway　jade　of　Luxemburg！'　cried　Burgundy；　'the　most　headstrong　girl　who　lives！　　She　dared　to　plead　her　foolish　vows　against　my　brother　Boemond；　fled　with　that　other　hoyden　of　Hainault；　and　now　defies　me　by　coming　here。　　I'll　have　her；　and　make　her　over　to　Boemond　to　tame　her　pride；　were　she　in　the　great　Satan's　camp　in