sir nigel-第20章

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Squire！〃

Nigel　had　clutched　his　bag；　and　right　glad　he　was　to　feel　that　the
treasures　were　all　safe　within　it。　　〃　My　proffer　is　given；〃　said
he。　　〃I　will　say　what　I　can；　but　the　issue　rests　with　others。　　I
pray　you　to　stand　up；　for　indeed　I　cannot　promise　more。〃

〃Then　I　must　be　content；〃　said　she；　rising；　with　a　composed　face。
〃I　have　prayed　you　to　take　ruth；　and　indeed　I　can　do　no　more；　but
ere　I　go　back　to　the　forest　I　would　rede　you　to　be　on　your　guard
lest　you　lose　your　bag　once　more。　　Wot　you　how　I　took　it；　archer？
Nay；　it　was　simple　enough；　and　may　happen　again；　so　I　make　it
clear　to　you。　　I　had　this　knife　in　my　sleeve；　and　though　it　is
small　it　is　very　sharp。　　I　slipped　it　down　like　this。　　Then　when　I
seemed　to　weep　with　my　face　against　the　saddle；　I　cut　down　like
this　…　〃

In　an　instant　she　had　shorn　through　the　stirrup　leather　which
bound　her　man；　and　he；　diving　under　the　belly　of　the　horse；　had
slipped　like　a　snake　into　the　brushwood。　　In　passing　he　had　struck
Pommers　from　beneath；　and　the　great　horse；　enraged　and　insulted；
was　rearing　high；　with　two　men　hanging　to　his　bridle。　　When　at
last　he　had　calmed　there　was　no　sign　left　of　the　〃Wild　Man　　or　of
his　wife。　　In　vain　did　Aylward；　an　arrow　on　his　string；　run　here
and　there　among　the　great　trees　and　peer　down　the　shadowy　glades。
When　he　returned　he　and　his　master　cast　a　shamefaced　glance　at
each　other。

〃I　trust　that　we　are　better　soldiers　than　jailers；〃　said　Aylward；
as　he　climbed　on　his　pony。

But　Nigel's　frown　relaxed　into　a　smile。　　〃At　least　we　have　gained
back　what　we　lost；〃　said　he。　　〃Here　I　place　it　on　the　pommel　of　my
saddle；　and　I　shall　not　take　my　eyes　from　it　until　we　are　safe　in
Guildford　town。〃

So　they　jogged　on　together　until　passing　Saint　Catherine's　shrine
they　crossed　the　winding　Wey　once　more；　and　so　found　themselves　in
the　steep　high　street　with　its　heavy…caved　gabled　houses；　its
monkish　hospitium　upon　the　left；　where　good　ale　may　still　be
quaffed；　and　its　great　square…keeped　castle　upon　the　right；　no
gray　and　grim　skeleton　of　ruin；　but　very　quick　and　alert；　with
blazoned　banner　flying　free；　and　steel　caps　twinkling　from　the
battlement。　　A　row　of　booths　extended　from　the　castle　gate　to　the
high　street；　and　two　doors　from　the　Church　of　the　Trinity　was　that
of　Thorold　the　goldsmith；　a　rich　burgess　and　Mayor　of　the　town。

He　looked　long　and　lovingly　at　the　rich　rubies　and　at　the　fine
work　upon　the　goblet。　　Then　he　stroked　his　flowing　gray　beard　as
he　pondered　whether　he　should　offer　fifty　nobles　or　sixty；　for　he
knew　well　that　he　could　sell　them　again　for　two　hundred。　　If　he
offered　too　much　his　profit　would　be　reduced。　　If　he　offered　too
little　the　youth　might　go　as　far　as　London　with　them；　for　they
were　rare　and　of　great　worth。　　The　young　man　was　ill…clad；　and　his
eyes　were　anxious。　　Perchance　he　was　hard　pressed　and　was　ignorant
of　the　value　of　what　he　bore。　　He　would　sound　him。

〃These　things　are　old　and　out　of　fashion；　fair　sir；〃　said　he。　　〃Of
the　stones　I　can　scarce　say　if　they　are　of　good　quality　or　not；
but　they　are　dull　and　rough。　　Yet；　if　your　price　be　low　I　may　add
them　to　my　stock；　though　indeed　this　booth　was　made　to　sell　and
not　to　buy。　　What　do　you　ask？〃

Nigel　bent　his　brows　in　perplexity。　　Here　was　a　game　in　which
neither　his　bold　heart　nor　his　active　limbs　could　help　him。　　It
was　the　new　force　mastering　the　old：　the　man　of　commerce
conquering　the　man　of　war　…　wearing　him　down　and　weakening　him
through　the　centuries　until　he　had　him　as　his　bond…servant　and　his
thrall。

〃　　know　not　what　to　ask；　good　sir；〃　said　Nigel。　　〃It　is　not　for
me；　nor　for　any　man　who　bears　my　name；　to　chaffer　and　to　haggle。
You　know　the　worth　of　these　things；　for　it　is　your　trade　to　do　so。
The　Lady　Ermyntrude　lacks　money；　and　we　must　have　it　against　the
King's　coming；　so　give　me　that　which　is　right　and　just；　and　we
will　say　no　more。〃

The　goldsmith　smiled。　　The　business　was　growing　more　simple　and
more　profitable。　　He　had　intended　to　offer　fifty；　but　surely　it
would　be　sinful　waste　to　give　more　than　twenty…five。

〃I　shall　scarce　know　what　to　do　with　them　when　I　have　them；〃　said
he。　　〃Yet　I　should　not　grudge　twenty　nobles　if　it　is　a　matter　in
which　the　King　is　concerned。〃

Nigel's　heart　turned　to　lead。　　This　sum　would　not　buy　one…half
what　was　needful。　　It　was　clear　that　the　Lady　Ermyntrude　had
overvalued　her　treasures。　　Yet　he　could　not　return　empty…handed；
so　if　twenty　nobles　was　the　real　worth；　as　this　good　old　man
assured　him；　then　he　must　be　thankful　and　take　it。

〃I　am　concerned　by　what　you　say；〃　said　he。　　〃You　know　more　of
these　things　than　I　can　do。　　However；　I　will　take　…　〃

〃A　hundred　and　fifty；〃　whispered　Aylward's　voice　in　his　ear。

〃A　hundred　and　fifty；〃　said　Nigel；　only　too　relieved　to　have　found
the　humblest　guide　upon　these　unwonted　paths。

The　goldsmith　started。　　This　youth　was　not　the　simple　soldier　that
he　had　seemed。　　That　frank　face；　those　blue　eyes；　were　traps　for
the　unwary。　　Never　had　he　been　more　taken　aback　in　a　bargain。

〃This　is　fond　talk　and　can　lead　to　nothing；　fair　sir；〃　said　he；
turning　away　and　fiddling　with　the　keys　of　his　strong　boxes。　　〃Yet
I　have　no　wish　to　be　hard　on　you。　　Take　my　outside　price；　which　is
fifty　nobles。〃

〃And　a　hundred；〃　whispered　Aylward。

〃And　a　hundred；〃　said　Nigel；　blushing　at　his　own　greed。

〃Well；　well；　take　a　hundred！〃　cried　the　merchant。　　〃Fleece　me；
skin　me；　leave　me　a　loser；　and　take　for　your　wares　the　full
hundred！〃

〃I　should　be　shamed　forever　if　I　were　to　treat　you　so　badly；〃　said
Nigel。　　〃You　have　spoken　me　fair；　and　I　would　not　grind　you　down。
Therefore；　I　will　gladly　take　one　hundred　…　〃

〃And　fifty；〃　whispered　Aylward。

〃And　fifty；〃　said　Nigel。

〃By　Saint　John　of　Beverley！〃　cried　the　merchant。　　〃I　came　hither
from　the　North　Country；　and　they　are　said　to　be　shrewd　at　a　deal
in　those　parts；　but　I　had　rather　bargain　with　a　synagogue　full　of
Jews　than　with　you；　for　all　your　gentle　ways。　　Will　you　indeed
take　no　less　than　a　hundred　and　fifty？　　Alas！　you　pluck　from　me　my
profits　of　a　month。　　It　is　a　fell　morning's　work　for　me。　　I　would
I　had　never　seen　you！〃　　With　groans　and　lamentations　he　paid　the
gold　pieces　across　the　counter；　and　Nigel；　hardly　able　to　credit
his　own　good　fortune；　gathered　them　into　the　leather　saddle…bag。

A　moment　later　with　flushed　face　he　was　in　the　street　and　pouring
out　his　thanks　to　Aylward。

〃Alas；　my　fair　lord！　the　man　has　robbed　us　now；〃　said　the　archer。
〃　We　could　have　had　another　twenty　had　we　stood　fast。〃

〃How　know　you　that；　good　Aylward？〃

〃By　his　eyes；　Squire　Loring。　　I　wot　I　have　little　store　of　reading
where　the　parchment　of　a　book　or　the　pinching　of　a　blazon　is
concerned；　but　I　can　read　men's　eyes；　and　I　never　doubted　that　he
would　give　what　he　has　given。〃

The　two　travelers　had　dinner　at　the　monk's　hospitium；　Nigel　at　the
high　table　and　Aylward　among　the　commonalty。　　Then　again　they
roamed　the　high　street　on　business　intent。　　Nigel　bought　taffeta
for　hangings；　wine；　preserves；　fruit；　damask　table　linen　and　many
other　articles　of　need。　　At　last　he　halted　before　the　armorer's
shop　at　the　castle…yard；　staring　at　the　fine　suits　of　plate；　the
engraved　pectorals；　the　plumed　helmets；　the　cunningly　jointed
gorgets；　as　a　child　at　a　sweet…shop。

〃Well；　Squire　Loring；〃　said　Wat　the　armorer；　looking　sidewise　from
the　furnace　where　he　was　tempering　a　sword　blade；　〃what　can　I　sell
you　this　morning？　　I　swear　to　you　by　Tubal　Cain；　the　father　of　all
workers　in　metal；　that　you　might　go　from　end　to　end　of　Cheapside
and　never　see　a　better　suit　than　that　which　hangs　from　yonder
hook！〃

〃And　the　price；　armorer？〃

〃To　anyone　else；　two　hundred　and　fifty　rose　nobles。　　To　you　two
hundred。〃

〃And　why　cheaper　to　me；　good　fellow？〃

〃Because　I　fitted　your　father　also　for　the　wars；　and　a　finer　suit
never　went　out　of　my　shop。　　I　warrant　that　it　turned　many　an　edge
before　he　laid　it　aside。　　We　worked　in　mail　in　those　days；　and　I
had　as　soon　have　a　well…made　thick…meshed　mail　as　any　plates；　but
a　young　knight　will　be　in　the　fashion　like　any　dame　of　the　court；
and　so　it　must　be　plate　now；　even　though　the　price　be　trebled。〃

〃