sir nigel-第15章

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！


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　of　reproof　uttered　in
so　stern　a　voice　under　his　own　abbey　roof　and　before　his　listening
monks。　　〃You　may　perchance　find　that　an　Abbey　court　has　more
powers　than　you　wot　of；　Sir　Knight；〃　said　he；　〃if　knight　indeed
you　be　who　are　so　uncourteous　and　short　in　your　speech。　　Ere　we　go
further；　I　would　ask　your　name　and　style？〃

The　stranger　laughed。　　〃It　is　easy　to　see　that　you　are　indeed　men
of　peace；〃　said　he　proudly。　　〃Had　I　shown　this　sign；〃　and　he
touched　the　token　upon　his　lapels；　〃whether　on　shield　or　pennon；
in　the　marches　of　France　or　Scotland；　there　is　not　a　cavalier　but
would　have　known　the　red　pile　of　Chandos。〃

Chandos；　John　Chandos；　the　flower　of　English　chivalry；　the　pink　of
knight…errantry；　the　hero　already　of　fifty　desperate　enterprises；
a　man　known　and　honored　from　end　to　end　of　Europe！　　Nigel　gazed　at
him　as　one　who　sees　a　vision。　　The　archers　stood　back　abashed；
while　the　monks　crowded　closer　to　stare　at　the　famous　soldier　of
the　French　wars。　　The　Abbot　abated　his　tone；　and　a　smile　came　to
his　angry　face。

〃We　are　indeed　men　of　peace；　Sir　John；　and　little　skilled　in
warlike　blazonry；〃　said　he；　〃　yet　stout　as　are　our　Abbey　walls；
they　are　not　so　thick　that　the　fame　of　your　exploits　has　not
passed　through　them　and　reached　our　ears。　　If　it　be　your　pleasure
to　take　an　interest　in　this　young　and　misguided　Squire；　it　is　not
for　us　to　thwart　your　kind　intention　or　to　withhold　such　grace　as
you　request。　　I　am　glad　indeed　that　he　hath　one　who　can　set　him　so
fair　an　example　for　a　friend。〃

〃I　thank　you　for　your　courtesy；　good　father　Abbot；〃　said　Chandos
carelessly。　　〃This　young　Squire　has；　however；　a　better　friend　than
myself；　one　who　is　kinder　to　those　he　loves　and　more　terrible　to
those　he　hates。　　It　is　from　him　I　bear　a　message。〃

〃I　pray　you；　fair　and　honored　sir；〃　said　Nigel；　〃that　you　will
tell　me　what　is　the　message　that　you　bear。〃

〃The　message；　mon　ami；　is　that　your　friend　comes　into　these　parts
and　would　have　a　night's　lodging　at　the　manor　house　of　Tilford　for
the　love　and　respect　that　he　bears　your　family。〃

〃Nay；　he　is　most　welcome；〃　said　Nigel；　〃and　yet　I　hope　that　he　is
one　who　can　relish　a　soldier's　fare　and　sleep　under　a　humble　roof；
for　indeed　we　can　but　give　our　best；　poor　as　it　is。〃

〃He　is　indeed　a　soldier　and　a　good　one；〃　Chandos　answered；
laughing；　〃　and　I　warrant　he　has　slept　in　rougher　quarters　than
Tilford　Manor…house。〃

〃I　have　few　friends；　fair　sir；〃　said　Nigel；　with　a　puzzled　face。
〃I　pray　you　give　me　this　gentleman's　name。〃

〃His　name　is　Edward。〃

〃Sir　Edward　Mortimer　of　Kent；　perchance；　or　is　it　Sir　Edward
Brocas　of　whom　the　Lady　Ermyntrude　talks？〃

〃Nay；　he　is　known　as　Edward　only；　and　if　you　ask　a　second　name　it
is　Plantagenet；　for　he　who　comes　to　seek　the　shelter　of　your　roof
is　your　liege　lord　and　mine；　the　King's　high　majesty；　Edward　of
England。〃




VI。　　IN　WHICH　LADY　ERMYNTRUDE　OPENS　THE　IRON　COFFER


AS　in　a　dream　Nigel　heard　these　stupendous　and　incredible　words。
As　in　a　dream　also　he　had　a　vision　of　a　smiling　and　conciliatory
Abbot；　of　an　obsequious　sacrist；　and　of　a　band　of　archers　who
cleared　a　path　for　him　and　for　the　King's　messenger　through　the
motley　crowd　who　had　choked　the　entrance　of　the　Abbey　court。　　A
minute　later　he　was　walking　by　the　side　of　Chandos　through　the
peaceful　cloister；　and　in　front　in　the　open　archway　of　the　great
gate　was　the　broad　yellow　road　between　its　borders　of　green
meadow…land。　　The　spring　air　was　the　sweeter　and　the　more　fragrant
for　that　chill　dread　of　dishonor　and　captivity　which　had　so
recently　frozen　his　ardent　heart。　　He　had　already　passed　the
portal　when　a　hand　plucked　at　his　sleeve　and　he　turned　to　find
himself　confronted　by　the　brown　honest　face　and　hazel　eyes　of　the
archer　who　had　interfered　in　his　behalf。

〃　Well；〃　said　Aylward；　〃what　have　you　to　say　to　me；　young　sir？〃

〃What　can　I　say；　my　good　fellow；　save　that　I　thank　you　with　all　my
heart？　　By　Saint　Paul！　　if　you　had　been　my　blood　brother　you　could
not　have　stood　by　me　more　stoutly。〃

〃Nay！　　but　this　is　not　enough。〃

Nigel　colored　with　vexation；　and　the　more　so　as　Chandos　was
listening　with　his　critical　smile　to　their　conversation。　　〃If　you
had　heard　what　was　said　in　the　court；〃　said　he；　〃you　would
understand　that　I　am　not　blessed　at　this　moment　with　much　of　this
world's　gear。　　The　black　death　and　the　monks　have　between　them
been　heavy　upon　our　estate。　　Willingly　would　I　give　you　a　handful
of　gold　for　your　assistance；　since　that　is　what　you　seem　to　crave；
but　indeed　I　have　it　not；　and　so　once　more　I　say　that　you　must　be
satisfied　with　my　thanks。〃

〃Your　gold　is　nothing　to　me；〃　said　Aylward　shortly；　〃nor　would　you
buy　my　loyalty　if　you　filled　my　wallet　with　rose　nobles；　so　long
as　you　were　not　a　man　after　my　own　heart。　　But　I　have　seen　you
back　the　yellow　horse；　and　I　have　seen　you　face　the　Abbot　of
Waverley；　and　you　are　such　a　master　as　I　would　very　gladly　serve
if　you　have　by　chance　a　place　for　such　a　man。　　I　have　seen　your
following；　and　I　doubt　not　that　they　were　stout　fellows　in　your
grandfather's　time；　but　which　of　them　now　would　draw　a　bow…string
to　his　ear？　　Through　you　I　have　left　the　service　of　the　Abbey　of
Waverley；　and　where　can　I　look　now　for　a　post？　　If　I　stay　here　I
am　all　undone　like　a　fretted　bow…string。〃

〃Nay；　there　can　be　no　difficulty　there；〃　said　Chandos。　　〃Padieu！
a　roistering；　swaggering　dare…devil　archer　is　worth　his　price　on
the　French　border。　　There　are　two　hundred　such　who　march　behind　my
own　person；　and　I　would　ask　nothing　better　than　to　see　you　among
them。〃

〃I　thank　you；　noble　sir；　for　your　offer；〃　said　Aylward；　〃　and　I
had　rather　follow　your　banner　than　many　another　one；　for　it　is
well　known　that　it　goes　ever　forward；　and　I　have　heard　enough　of
the　wars　to　know　that　there　are　small　pickings　for　the　man　who
lags　behind。　　Yet；　if　the　Squire　will　have　me；　I　would　choose　to
fight　under　the　five　roses　of　Loring；　for　though　I　was　born　in　the
hundred　of　Easebourne　and　the　rape　of　Chichester；　yet　I　have　grown
up　and　learned　to　use　the　longbow　in　these　parts；　and　as　the　free
son　of　a　free　franklin　I　had　rather　serve　my　own　neighbor　than　a
stranger。〃

〃My　good　fellow；〃　said　Nigel；　〃I　have　told　you　that　I　could　in　no
wise　reward　you　for　such　service。〃

〃If　you　will　but　take　me　to　the　wars　I　will　see　to　my　own　reward；〃
said　Aylward。　　〃Till　then　I　ask　for　none；　save　a　corner　of　your
table　and　six　feet　of　your　floor；　for　it　is　certain　that　the　only
reward　I　would　get　from　the　Abbey　for　this　day's　work　would　be　the
scourge　for　my　back　and　the　stocks　for　my　ankles。　　Samkin　Aylward
is　your　man；　Squire　Nigel；　from　this　hour　on；　and　by　these　ten
finger…bones　he　trusts　the　Devil　will　fly　away　with　him　if　ever　he
gives　you　cause　to　regret　it！〃　　So　saying　he　raised　his　hand　to
his　steel　cap　in　salute；　slung　his　great　yellow　bow　over　his　back；
and　followed　on　some　paces　in　the　rear　of　his　new　master。

〃Pardieu！　　I　have　arrived　a　la　bonne　heure；〃　said　Chandos。　　〃I
rode　from　Windsor　and　came　to　your　manor　house；　to　find　it　empty
save　for　a　fine　old　dame；　who　old　me　of　your　troubles。　　From　her　I
walked　across　to　the　Abbey；　and　none　too　soon；　for　what　with
cloth…yard　shafts　for　your　body；　and　bell；　book　and　candle　for
your　soul；　it　was　no　very　cheerful　outlook。　　But　here　is　the　very
dame　herself；　if　I　mistake　not。〃

It　was　indeed　the　formidable　figure　of　the　Lady　Ermyntrude；　gaunt；
bowed　and　leaning　on　her　staff；　which　had　emerged　from　the　door　of
the　manor…house　and　advanced　to　greet　them。　　She　croaked　with
laughter；　and　shook　her　stick　at　the　great　building　as　she　heard
of　the　discomfiture　of　the　Abbey　court。　　Then　she　led　the　way　into
the　hall　where　the　best　which　she　could　provide　had　been　laid　out
for　their　illustrious　guest。　　There　was　Chandos　blood　in　her　own
veins；　traceable　back　through　the　de　Greys；　de　Multons；　de
Valences；　de　Montagues　and　other　high　and　noble　strains；　so　that
the　meal　had　been　eaten　and　cleared　before　she　had　done　tracing
the　network　of　intermarriages　and　connections