sir nigel-第14章
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Norman stock； like so many of those fierce prelates who； bearing a
mace lest they should be guilty of effusion of blood； led their
troops into battle； ever remembering that it was one of their own
cloth and dignity who； crosier in hand； had turned the long…drawn
bloody day of Hastings。 The soft accent of the churchman was gone
and it was the hard voice of a soldier which said …
〃One minute I give you； and no more。 Then when I cry 'Loose！'
drive me an arrow through his body。〃
The shaft was fitted； the bow was bent； and the stern eyes of the
woodman were fixed on his mark。 Slowly the minute passed； while
Nigel breathed a prayer to his three soldier saints； not that they
should save his body in this life； but that they should have a
kindly care for his soul in the next。 Some thought of a fierce
wildcat sally crossed his mind； but once out of his corner he was
lost indeed。 Yet at the last he would have rushed among his
enemies； and his body was bent for the spring； when with a deep
sonorous hum； like a breaking harp…string； the cord of the bow was
cloven in twain； and the arrow tinkled upon the tiled floor。 At
the same moment a young curly…headed bowman； whose broad shoulders
and deep chest told of immense strength； as clearly as his frank；
laughing face and honest hazel eyes did of good humor and courage；
sprang forward sword in hand and took his place by Nigel's side。
〃Nay； comrades！〃 said he。 〃Samkin Aylward cannot stand by and see
a gallant man shot down like a bull at the end of a baiting。 Five
against one is long odds； but two against four is better； and by
my finger…bones！ Squire Nigel and I leave this room together； be
it on our feet or no。〃
The formidable appearance of this ally and his high reputation
among his fellows gave a further chill to the lukewarm ardor of
the attack。 Aylward's left arm was passed through his strung bow；
and he was known from Woolmer Forest to the Weald as the quickest；
surest archer that ever dropped a running deer at tenscore paces。
〃Nay； Baddlesmere； hold your fingers from your string…case； or I
may chance to give your drawing hand a two months' rest；〃 said
Aylward。 〃Swords； if you will； comrades； but no man strings his
bow till I have loosed mine。〃
Yet the angry hearts of both Abbot and sacrist rose higher with a
fresh obstacle。
〃This is an ill day for your father； Franklin Aylward； who holds
the tenancy of Crooksbury；〃 said the sacrist。 〃He will rue it
that ever he begot a son who will lose him his acres and his
steading。〃
〃My father is a bold yeoman； and would rue it evermore that ever
his son should stand by while foul work was afoot；〃 said Aylward
stoutly。 〃Fall on； comrades！ We are waiting。〃
Encouraged by promises of reward if they should fall in the
service of the Abbey； and by threats of penalties if they should
hold back； the four archers were about to close； when a singular
interruption gave an entirely new turn to the proceedings。
At the door of the chapter…house； while these fiery doings had
been afoot； there had assembled a mixed crowd of lay brothers；
servants and varlets who had watched the development of the drama
with the interest and delight with which men hail a sudden break
in a dull routine。 Suddenly there was an agitation at the back of
this group； then a swirl in the center； and finally the front rank
was violently thrust aside； and through the gap there emerged a
strange and whimsical figure； who from the instant of his
appearance dominated both chapter…house and Abbey； monks； prelates
and archers； as if he were their owner and their master。
He was a man somewhat above middle age； with thin lemon…colored
hair； a curling mustache； a tufted chin of the same hue； and a
high craggy face； all running to a great hook of the nose； like
the beak of an eagle。 His skin was tanned a brown…red by much
exposure to the wind and sun。 In height he was tall； and his
figure was thin and loose…jointed； but stringy and hard…bitten。
One eye was entirely covered by its lid； which lay flat over an
empty socket； but the other danced and sparkled with a most
roguish light； darting here and there with a twinkle of humor and
criticism and intelligence； the whole fire of his soul bursting
through that one narrow cranny。
His dress was as noteworthy as his person。 A rich purple doublet
and cloak was marked on the lapels with a strange scarlet device
shaped like a wedge。 Costly lace hung round his shoulders； and
amid its soft folds there smoldered the dull red of a heavy golden
chain。 A knight's belt at his waist and a knight's golden spurs
twinkling from his doeskin riding…boots proclaimed his rank； and
on the wrist of his left gauntlet there sat a demure little hooded
falcon of a breed which in itself was a mark of the dignity of the
owner。 Of weapons he had none； but a mandolin was slung by a
black silken band over his back； and the high brown end projected
above his shoulder。 Such was the man； quaint； critical；
masterful； with a touch of what is formidable behind it； who now
surveyed the opposing groups of armed men and angry monks with an
eye which commanded their attention。
〃Excusez！〃 said he； in a lisping French。 〃Excusez； mes amis！ I
had thought to arouse from prayer or meditation； but never have I
seen such a holy exercise as this under an abbey's roof； with
swords for breviaries and archers for acolytes。 I fear that I
have come amiss； and yet I ride on an errand from one who permits
no delay。〃
The Abbot； and possibly the sacrist also； had begun to realize
that events had gone a great deal farther than they had intended；
and that without an extreme scandal it was no easy matter for them
to save their dignity and the good name of Waverley。 Therefore；
in spite of the debonair； not to say disrespectful； bearing of the
newcomer； they rejoiced at his appearance and intervention。
〃I am the Abbot of Waverley； fair son；〃 said the prelate。 〃If
your message deal with a public matter it may be fitly repeated in
the chapter…house； if not I will give you audience in my own
chamber； for it is clear to me that you are a gentle man of blood
and coat…armor who would not lightly break in upon the business of
our court … a business which； as you have remarked； is little
welcome to men of peace like myself and the brethren of the rule
of Saint Bernard。〃
〃Pardieu！ Father Abbot；〃 said the stranger。 〃One had but to
glance at you and your men to see that the business was indeed
little to your taste； and it may be even less so when I say that
rather than see this young person in the window； who hath a noble
bearing； further molested by these archers； I will myself
adventure my person on his behalf。〃
The Abbot's smile turned to a frown at these frank words。 〃It
would become you better； sir； to deliver the message of which you
say that you are the bearer； than to uphold a prisoner against the
rightful judgment of a court。〃
The stranger swept the court with his questioning eye。 〃The
message is not for you； good father Abbot。 It is for one whom I
know not。 I have been to his house； and they have sent me hither。
The name is Nigel Loring。〃
〃It is for me； fair sir。〃
〃I had thought as much。 I knew your father； Eustace Loring； and
though he would have made two of you； yet he has left his stamp
plain enough upon your face。〃
〃You know not the truth of this matter；〃 said the Abbot。 〃If you
are a loyal man； you will stand aside； for this young man hath
grievously offended against the law； and it is for the King's
lieges to give us their support。〃
〃And you have haled him up for judgment；〃 cried the stranger with
much amusement。 〃It is as though a rookery sat in judgment upon a
falcon。 I warrant that you have found it easier to judge than to
punish。 Let me tell you； father Abbot； that this standeth not
aright。 When powers such as these were given to the like of you；
they were given that you might check a brawling underling or
correct a drunken woodman； and not that you might drag the best
blood in England to your bar and set your archers on him if he
questioned your findings。〃
The Abbot was little used to hear such words o
