sir nigel-第47章

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〃The　quick　and　the　dead？〃

〃Every　man　of　them。〃

〃It　was　an　evil　deed。〃

Aylward　shrugged　his　shoulders。　　〃I　tried　to　save　one　boy；〃　said
he；　〃but　Cock　Badding　would　not　have　it；　and　he　had　Black　Simon
and　the　others　at　his　back。　　‘It　is　the　custom　of　the　Narrow
Seas；'　said　they：　‘Today　for　them；　to…morrow　for　us。'　…　Then　they
tore　him　from　his　hold　and　cast　him　screaming　over　the　side。　　By
my　hilt！　　I　have　no　love　for　the　sea　and　its　customs；　so　I　care
not　if　I　never　set　foot　on　it　again　when　it　has　once　borne　me　back
to　England。〃

〃Nay；　there　are　great　happenings　upon　the　sea；　and　many　worthy
people　to　be　found　upon　ships；〃　said　Nigel。　　〃In　all　parts；　if　one
goes　far　enough　upon　the　water；　one　would　find　those　whom　it　would
be　joy　to　meet。　　If　one　crosses　over　the　Narrow　Sea；　as　we　have
done；　we　come　on　the　French　who　are　so　needful　to　us；　for　how　else
would　we　win　worship？　　Or　if　you　go　south；　then　in　time　one　may
hope　to　come　to　the　land　of　the　unbelievers；　where　there　is　fine
skirmishing　and　much　honor　for　him　who　will　venture　his　person。
Bethink　you；　archer；　how　fair　a　life　it　must　be　when　one　can　ride
forth　in　search　of　advancement　with　some　hope　of　finding　many
debonair　cavaliers　upon　the　same　quest；　and　then　if　one　be
overborne　one　has　died　for　the　faith；　and　the　gates　of　Heaven　are
open　before　you。　　So　also　the　sea　to　the　north　is　a　help　to　him
who　seeks　honor；　for　it　leads　to　the　country　of　the　Eastlanders
and　to　those　parts　where　the　heathen　still　dwell　who　turn　their
faces　from　the　blessed　Gospel。　　There　also　a　man　might　find　some
small　deeds　to　do；　and　by　Saint　Paul！　　Aylward；　if　the　French　hold
the　truce　and　the　good　Sir　John　permits　us；　I　would　fain　go　down
into　those　parts。　　The　sea　is　a　good　friend　to　the　cavalier；　for
it　takes　him　where　he　may　fulfil　his　vows。〃

Aylward　shook　his　head；　for　his　memories　were　too　recent；　but　he
said　nothing；　because　at　this　instant　the　door　opened　and　Chandos
entered。　　With　joy　in　his　face　he　stepped　forward　to　the　couch　and
took　Nigel's　hand　in　his。　　Then　he　whispered　a　word　in　Aylward's
ear；　who　hurried　from　the　room。

〃Pardieu！　　this　is　a　good　sight；〃　said　the　knight。　　〃I　trust　that
you　will　soon　be　on　your　feet　again。〃

〃I　crave　your　pardon；　my　honored　lord；　that　I　have　been　absent
from　your　side；〃　said　Nigel。

〃In　truth　my　heart　was　sore　for　you；　Nigel；　for　you　have　missed
such　a　night　as　comes　seldom　in　any　man's　life。　　All　went　even　as
we　had　planned。　　The　postern　gate　was　opened；　and　a　party　made
their　way　in；　but　we　awaited　them；　and　all　were　taken　or　slain。
But　the　greater　part　of　the　French　had　remained　without　upon　the
plain　of　Nieullet；　so　we　took　horse　and　went　out　against　them。
When　we　drew　near　them　they　were　surprised；　but　they　made　good
cheer　among　themselves；　calling　out　to　each　other：　‘If　we　fly　we
lose　all。　　It　is　better　to　fight　on；　in　the　hopes　that　the　day　may
be　ours。'　　This　was　heard　by　our　people　in　the　van；　who　cried　out
to　them：　‘By　Saint　George！　　you　speak　truth。　　Evil　befall　him　who
thinks　of　flying！'　　So　they　held　their　ground　like　worthy　people
for　the　space　of　an　hour；　and　there　were　many　there　whom　it　is
always　good　to　meet：　Sir　Geoffrey　himself；　and　Sir　Pepin　de　Werre；
with　Sir　John　de　Landas；　old　Ballieul　of　the　Yellow　Tooth；　and　his
brother　Hector　the　Leopard。　　But　above　all　Sir　Eustace　de
Ribeaumont　was　at　great　pains　to　meet　us　worthily；　and　he　was　at
handstrokes　with　the　King　for　a　long　time。　　Then；　when　we　had
slain　or　taken　them；　all　the　prisoners　were　brought　to　a　feast
which　was　ready　for　them；　and　the　knights　of　England　waited　upon
them　at　the　table　and　made　good　cheer　with　them。　　And　all　this；
Nigel；　we　owe　to　you。〃

The　Squire　flushed　with　pleasure　at　the　words。　　〃Nay；　most　honored
lord；　it　was　but　a　small　thing　which　I　have　been　able　to　do。　　But
I　thank　God　and　our　Lady　that　I　have　done　some　service；　since　it
has　pleased　you　to　take　me　with　you　to　the　wars。　　Should　it　chance
…　〃

But　the　words　were　cut　short　upon　Nigel's　lips；　and　he　lay　back
with　amazed　eyes　staring　from　his　pallid　face。　　The　door　of　his
little　chamber　had　opened；　and　who　was　this；　the　tall　stately　man
with　the　noble　presence；　the　high　forehead；　the　long　handsome
face；　the　dark；　brooding　eyes　…　who　but　the　noble　Edward　of
England？〃

〃Ha；　my　little　cock　of　Tilford　Bridge；　I　still　bear　you　in　mind；〃
said　he。　　〃Right　glad　I　was　to　hear　that　you　had　found　your　wits
again；　and　I　trust　that　I　have　not　helped　to　make　you　take　leave
of　them　once　more。〃

Nigel's　stare　of　astonishment　had　brought　a　smile　to　the　King's
lips。　　Now　the　Squire　stammered　forth　some　halting　words　of
gratitude　at　the　honor　done　to　him。

〃Nay；　not　a　word；〃　　said　the　King。　　〃But　in　sooth　it　is　a　joy　to
my　heart　to　see　the　son　of　my　old　comrade　Eustace　Loring　carry
himself　so　bravely。　　Had　this　boat　got　before　us　with　news　of　our
coming；　then　all　our　labor　had　been　in　vain；　and　no　Frenchman
ventured　to　Calais　that　night。　　But　above　all　I　thank　you　for　that
you　have　delivered　into　my　hands　one　whom　I　had　vowed　to　punish　in
that　he　has　caused　us　more　scathe　by　fouler　means　than　any　living
man。　　Twice　have　I　sworn　that　Peter　the　Red　Ferret　shall　hang；　for
all　his　noble　blood　and　coat…armor；　if　ever　he　should　fall　into　my
hands。　　Now　at　last　his　time　has　come；　but　I　would　not　put　him　to
death　until　you；　who　had　taken　him；　could　be　there　to　see　it　done。
Nay；　thank　me　not；　for　I　could　do　no　less；　seeing　that　it　is　to
you　that　I　owe　him。〃

But　it　was　not　thanks　which　Nigel　was　trying　to　utter。　　It　was
hard　to　frame　his　words；　and　yet　they　must　be　said。　　〃Sire；〃　he
murmured；　〃it　ill　becomes　me　to　cross　your　royal　will　…　〃

The　dark　Plantagenet　wrath　gathered　upon　the　King's　high　brow　and
gloomed　in　his　fierce　deep…set　eyes。　　〃By　God's　dignity！　　no　man
has　ever　crossed　it　yet　and　lived　unscathed。　　How　now；　young　sir；
what　mean　such　words；　to　which　we　are　little　wont？　　Have　a　care；
for　this　is　no　light　thing　which　you　venture。〃

〃Sire；〃　said　Nigel；　〃in　all　matters　in　which　I　am　a　free　man　I　am
ever　your　faithful　liege；　but　some　things　there　are　which　may　not
be　done。〃

〃How？〃　cried　the　King。　　〃In　spite　of　my　will？〃

〃In　spite　of　your　will；　sire；〃　said　Nigel；　sitting　up　on　his
couch；　with　white　face　and　blazing　eyes。

〃By　the　Virgin！〃　the　angry　King　thundered；　〃we　are　come　to　a
pretty　pass！　　You　have　been　held　too　long　at　home；　young　man。　　The
overstabled　horse　will　kick。　　The　unweathered　hawk　will　fly　at
check。　　See　to　it；　Master　Chandos！　　He　is　thine　to　break；　and　I
hold　you　to　it　that　you　break　him。　　And　what　is　it　that　Edward　of
England　may　not　do；　Master　Loring？〃

Nigel　faced　the　King　with　a　face　as　grim　as　his　own。　　〃You　may　not
put　to　death　the　Red　Ferret。〃

〃Pardieu！　　And　why？〃

〃Because　he　is　not　thine　to　slay；　sire。　　Because　he　is　mine。
Because　I　promised　him　his　life；　and　it　is　not　for　you；　King
though　you　be；　to　constrain　a　man　of　gentle　blood　to　break　his
plighted　word　and　lose　his　honor。〃

Chandos　laid　his　soothing　hand　upon　his　Squire's　shoulder。
〃Excuse　him；　sire；　he　is　weak　from　his　wounds；〃　said　he。　　〃Perhaps
we　have　stayed　overlong；　for　the　leech　has　ordered　repose。〃

But　the　angry　King　was　not　easily　to　be　appeased。　　〃I　am　not　wont
to　be　so　browbeat；〃　said　he　hotly。　　〃This　is　your　Squire；　Master
John。　　How　comes　it　that　you　can　stand　there　and　listen　to　his
pert　talk；　and　say　no　word　to　chide　him？　　Is　this　how　you　guide
your　household？　　Have　you　not　taught　him　that　every　promise　given
is　subject　to　the　King's　consent；　and　that　with　him　only　lie　the
springs　of　life　and　death？　　If　he　is　sick；　you　at　least　are　hale。
Why　stand　you　there　in　silence？〃

〃My　liege；〃　said　Chandos　gravely；　〃I　have　served　you　for　over　a
score　of　years；　and　have　shed　my　blood　through　as　many　wounds　in
your　cause；　so　that　you　should　not　take　my　words　amiss。　　But
indeed　I　should　feel　myself　to　be　no　true　man　if　I　did　not　tell
you　that　my　Squire　Nigel；　though　perchance　he　has　spoken　more
bluntly　than　becomes　him；　is　none　the　less　right　in　this　matter；
and　that　you　are　wrong。　　For　bethink　you；　sire　…　〃

〃Enough！〃　cried　the　King；　more　furious　than　ever。　　〃Like　master