sir nigel-第27章

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for　the　wars。　　Yet　what　you　say　shall　be　done；　fair　sire。　　So；　if
you　will　come　to　me　in　the　morning；　Squire　Loring；　John
Widdicombe's　suit　will　be　handed　over　to　you。〃

〃Then　with　the　King's　leave；　I　will　hand　it　back　to　him；〃　said
Nigel；　troubled　and　stammering；　〃for　indeed　I　had　rather　never
ride　to　the　wars　than　take　from　a　brave　man　his　only　suit　of
plate。〃

〃There　spoke　your　father's　spirit！〃　cried　the　King。　　〃By　the　rood！
Nigel；　I　like　you　full　well。　　Let　the　matter　bide　in　my　hands。
But　I　marvel　much　that　Sir　Aymery　the　Lombard　hath　not　come　to　us
yet　from　Windsor。〃

》From　the　moment　of　his　arrival　at　Tilford；　again　and　again　King
Edward　had　asked　most　eagerly　whether　Sir　Aymery　had　come；　and
whether　there　was　any　news　of　him；　so　that　the　courtiers　glanced
at　each　other　in　wonder。　　For　Aymery　was　known　to　all　of　them　as　a
famous　mercenary　of　Italy；　lately　appointed　Governor　of　Calais；
and　this　sudden　and　urgent　summons　from　the　King　might　well　mean
some　renewal　of　the　war　with　France；　which　was　the　dearest　wish　of
every　soldier。　　Twice　the　King　had　stopped　his　meal　and　sat　with
sidelong　head；　his　wine…cup　in　his　hand；　listening　attentively
when　some　sound　like　the　clatter　of　hoofs　was　heard　from　outside；
but　the　third　time　there　could　be　no　mistake。　　The　tramp　and
jingle　of　the　horses　broke　loud　upon　the　ear；　and　ended　in　hoarse
voices　calling　out　of　the　darkness；　which　were　answered　by　the
archers　posted　as　sentries　without　the　door。

〃Some　traveler　has　indeed　arrived；　my　liege；〃　said　Nigel。　　〃What
is　your　royal　will？〃

〃It　can　be　but　Aymery；〃　the　King　answered；　〃for　it　was　only　to　him
that　I　left　the　message　that　he　should　follow　me　hither。　　Bid　him
come　in；　I　pray　you；　and　make　him　very　welcome　at　your　board。〃

Nigel　cast　open　the　door；　plucking　a　torch　from　its　bracket　as　he
did　so。　　Half　a　dozen　men…at…arms　sat　on　their　horses　outside；　but
one　had　dismounted；　a　short；　squat；　swarthy　man　with　a　rat　face
and　quick；　restless　brown　eyes　which　peered　eagerly　past　Nigel
into　the　red　glare　of　the　well…lit　hall。

〃I　am　Sir　Aymery　of　Pavia；〃　he　whispered。　　〃For　God's　sake；　tell
me！　is　the　King　within？〃

〃He　is　at　table；　fair　sir；　and　he　bids　you　to　enter。〃

〃One　moment；　young　man；　one　moment；　and　a　secret　word　in　your　ear。
Wot　you　why　it　is　that　the　King　has　sent　for　me？〃

Nigel　read　terror　in　the　dark　cunning　eyes　which　glanced　in
sidelong　fashion　into　his。　　〃Nay；　I　know　not。〃

〃I　would　I　knew　…　I　would　I　was　sure　ere　I　sought　his　presence。〃

〃You　have　but　to　cross　the　threshold；　fair　sir；　and　doubtless　you
will　learn　from　the　King's　own　lips。〃

Sir　Aymery　seemed　to　gather　himself　as　one　who　braces　for　a　spring
into　ice…cold　water。　　Then　he　crossed　with　a　quick　stride　from　the
darkness　into　the　light。　　The　King　stood　up　and　held　out　his　hand
with　a　smile　upon　his　long　handsome　face；　and　yet　it　seemed　to　the
Italian　that　it　was　the　lips　which　smiled　but　not　the　eyes。

〃Welcome！〃　cried　Edward。　　〃Welcome　to　our　worthy　and　faithful
Seneschal　of　Calais！　　Come；　sit　here　before　me　at　the　board；　for　I
have　sent　for　you　that　I　may　hear　your　news　from　over　the　sea；　and
thank　you　for　the　care　that　you　have　taken　of　that　which　is　as
dear　to　me　as　wife　or　child。　　Set　a　place　for　Sir　Aymery　there；
and　give　him　food　and　drink；　for　he　has　ridden　fast　and　far　in　our
service　to…day。〃

Throughout　the　long　feast　which　the　skill　of　the　Lady　Ermyntrude
had　arranged；　Edward　chatted　lightly　with　the　Italian　as　well　as
with　the　barons　near　him。　　Finally；　when　the　last　dish　was　removed
and　the　gravy…soaked　rounds　of　coarse　bread　which　served　as　plates
had　been　cast　to　the　dogs；　the　wine…flagons　were　passed　round；　and
old　Weathercote　the　minstrel　entered　timidly　with　his　harp　in　the
hope　that　he　might　be　allowed　to　play　before　the　King's　majesty。
But　Edward　had　other；　sport　afoot。

〃I　pray　you；　Nigel；　to　send　out　the　servants；　so　that　we　may　be
alone。　　I　would　have　two　men…at…arms　at　every　door　lest　we　be
disturbed　in　our　debate；　for　it　is　a　matter　of　privacy。　　And　now；
Sir　Aymery；　these　noble　lords　as　well　as　I；　your　master；　would
fain　hear　from　your　own　lips　how　all　goes　forward　in　France。〃

The　Italian's　face　was　calm；　but　he　looked　restlessly　from　one　to
another　along　the　line　of　his　listeners。

〃So　far　as　I　know；　my　liege；　all　is　quiet　on　the　French　marches；〃
said　he。

〃You　have　not　heard　then　that　they　have　mustered　or　gathered　to　a
head　with　the　intention　of　breaking　the　truce　and　making　some
attempt　upon　our　dominions？〃

〃Nay；　sire；　I　have　heard　nothing　of　it。〃

〃You　set　my　mind　much　at　ease；　Aymery；〃　said　the　King；　〃for　if
nothing　has　come　to　your　ears；　then　surely　it　cannot　be。　　It　was
said　that　the　wild　Knight　de　Chargny　had　come　down　to　St。　Omer
with　his　eyes　upon　my　precious　jewel　and　his　mailed　hands　ready　to
grasp　it。〃

〃Nay；　sire；　let　him　come。　　He　will　find　the　jewel　safe　in　its
strong　box；　with　a　goodly　guard　over　it。〃

〃You　are　the　guard　over　my　jewel；　Aymery。〃

〃Yes；　sire；　I　am　the　guard。〃

〃And　you　are　a　faithful　guard　and　one　whom　I　can　trust；　are　you
not？　　You　would　not　barter　away　that　which　is　so　dear　to　me　when　I
have　chosen　you　out　of　all　my　army　to　hold　it　for　me？〃

〃Nay；　sire；　what　reasons　can　there　be　for　such　questions？　　They
touch　my　honor　very　nearly。　　You　know　that　I　would　part　with
Calais　only　when　I　parted　with　my　soul。〃

〃Then　you　know　nothing　of　de　Chargny's　attempt？〃

〃Nothing　sire。〃

〃Liar　and　villain！〃　yelled　the　King；　springing　to　his　feet　and
dashing　his　fist　upon　the　table　until　the　glasses　rattled　again。
〃Seize　him；　archers！　　Seize　him　this　instant！　　Stand　close　by
either　elbow；　lest　he　do　himself　a　mischief！　　Now　do　you　dare　to
tell　me　to　my　face；　you　perjured　Lombard；　that　you　know　nothing　of
de　Chargny　and　his　plans？〃

〃As　God　is　my　witness　I　know　nothing　of　him！〃　　The　man's　lips　were
white；　and　he　spoke　in　a　thin；　sighing；　reedy　voice；　his　eyes
wincing　away　from　the　fell　gaze　of　the　angry　King。

Edward　laughed　bitterly；　and　drew　a　paper　from　his　breast。　　〃You
are　the　judges　in　this　case；　you；　my　fair　son；　and　you；　Chandos；
and　you；　Manny；　and　you；　Sir　Hubert；　and　you　also；　my　Lord　Bishop。
By　my　sovereign　power　I　make　you　a　court　that　you　may　deal　justice
upon　this　man；　for　by　God's　eyes　I　will　not　stir　from　this　room
until　I　have　sifted　the　matter　to　the　bottom。　　And　first　I　would
read　you　this　letter。　　It　is　superscribed　to　Sir　Aymery　of　Pavia；
nomme　Le　Lombard；　Chateau　de　Calais。　　Is　not　that　your　name　and
style；　you　rogue？〃

〃It　is　my　name；　sire；　but　no　such　letter　has　come　to　me。〃

〃Else　had　your　villainy　never　been　disclosed。　　It　is　signed
‘Isidore　de　Chargny'。　　What　says　my　enemy　de　Chargny　to　my　trusted
servant？　　Listen！　　‘We　could　not　come　with　the　last　moon；　for　we
have　not　gathered　sufficient　strength；　nor　have　we　been　able　to
collect　the　twenty　thousand　crowns　which　are　your　price。　　But　with
the　next　turn　of　the　moon　in　the　darkest　hour　we　will　come　and　you
will　be　paid　your　money　at　the　small　postern　gate　with　the
rowan…bush　beside　it。'　　Well；　rogue；　what　say　you　now？〃

〃It　is　a　forgery！〃　gasped　the　Italian。

〃I　pray　you　that　you　will　let　me　see　it；　sire；〃　said　Chandos。　　〃De
Chargny　was　my　prisoner；　and　so　many　letters　passed　ere　his　ransom
was　paid　that　his　script　is　well…known　to　me。　　Yes；　yes；　I　will
swear　that　this　is　indeed　his。　　If　my　salvation　were　at　stake　I
could　swear　it。〃

〃If　it　were　indeed　written　by　de　Chargny　it　was　to　dishonor　me；〃
cried　Sir　Aymery。

〃Nay；　nay！〃　said　the　young　Prince。　　〃We　all　know　de　Chargny　and
have　fought　against　him。　　Many　faults　he　has；　a　boaster　and　a
brawler；　but　a　braver　man　and　one　of　greater　heart　and　higher　of
enterprise　does　not　ride　beneath　the　lilies　of　France。　　Such　a　man
would　never　stoop　to　write　a　letter　for　the　sake　of　putting
dishonor　upon　one　of　knightly　rank。　　I；　for　one；　will　never
believe　it。〃

A　gruff　murmur　from　the　others　showed　that　they　were　of　one　mind
with　the　Prince。　　The　light　of　the　torches　from　the　walls　beat
upon　the　line　of　stern　faces　at　the　high　table。　　They　had　sat　like
flint；　and　the　Italian　shrank　from　their　inexorable　eyes。　　He
looked　swiftly　rou