sir nigel-第58章

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〃Simon；〃　said　Aylward；　〃the　light　is　not　overgood　and　the　place　is
cramped　for　sword…play；　but　if　you　will　step　out　into　the　open　I
will　teach　you　whether　my　master　is　a　true　soldier　or　not。〃

〃Tut；　man！　you　are　as　foolish　yourself；〃　said　Simon。　　〃Here　we　are
with　our　work　in　hand；　and　yet　you　must　needs　fall　out　with　me　on
our　way　to　it。　　I　say　nothing　against　your　master　save　that　he
hath　the　way　of　his　fellows　who　follow　dreams　and　fancies。　　But
Knolles　looks　neither　to　right　nor　left　and　walks　forward　to　his
mark。　　Now；　let　us　on；　for　the　time　passes。〃

〃Simon；　your　words　are　neither　good　nor　fair。　　When　we　are　back　on
shipboard　we　will　speak　further　of　this　matter。　　Now　lead　on；　I
pray　you；　and　let　us　see　some　more　of　this　ten…devil　island。〃

For　half　a　mile　Simon　led　the　way　until　they　came　to　a　large　house
which　stood　by　itself。　　Peering　at　it　from　the　edge　of　the
cutting；　Aylward　could　see　that　it　was　made　from　the　wreckage　of
many　vessels；　for　at　each　corner　a　prow　was　thrust　out。　　Lights
blazed　within；　and　there　came　the　sound　of　a　strong　voice　singing
a　gay　song　which　was　taken　up　by　a　dozen　others　in　the　chorus。

〃All　is　well；　lad！〃　whispered　Simon　in　great　delight。　　〃That　is
the　voice　of　the　King。　　It　is　the　very　song　he　used　to　sing。　　'Les
deux　filles　de　Pierre。'　　'Fore　God；　my　back　tingles　at　the　very
sound　of　it。　　Here　we　will　wait　until　his　company　take　their
leave。〃

Hour　after　hour　they　crouched　in　the　peat…cutting；　listening　to
the　noisy　songs　of　the　revelers　within；　some　French；　some　English；
and　all　growing　fouler　and　less　articulate　as　the　night　wore　on。
Once　a　quarrel　broke　out　and　the　clamor　was　like　a　cageful　of　wild
beasts　at　feeding…time。　　Then　a　health　was　drunk　and　there　was
much　stamping　and　cheering。

Only　once　was　the　long　vigil　broken。　　A　woman　came　forth　from　the
house　and　walked　up　and　down；　with　her　face　sunk　upon　her　breast。
She　was　tall　and　slender；　but　her　features　could　not　be　seen　for　a
wimple　over　her　head。　　Weary　sadness　could　be　read　in　her　bowed
back　and　dragging　steps。　　Once　only　they　saw　her　throw　her　two
hands　up　to　Heaven　as　one　who　is　beyond　human　aid。　　Then　she
passed　slowly　into　the　house　again。　　A　moment　later　the　door　of
the　hall　was　flung　open；　and　a　shouting　stumbling　throng　came
crowding　forth；　with　whoop　and　yell；　into　the　silent　night。
Linking　arms　and　striking　up　a　chorus；　they　marched　past　the
peat…cutting；　their　voices　dwindling　slowly　away　as　they　made　for
their　homes。

〃Now；　Samkin；　now！〃　cried　Simon；　and　jumping　out　from　the
hiding…place　he　made　for　the　door。　　It　had　not　yet　been　fastened。
The　two　comrades　sprang　inside。　　Then　Simon　drew　the　bolts　so　that
none　might　interrupt　them。

A　long　table　littered　with　flagons　and　beakers　lay　before　them。
It　was　lit　up　by　a　line　of　torches；　which　flickered　and　smoked　in
their　iron　sconces。　　At　the　farther　end　a　solitary　man　was　seated。
His　head　rested　upon　his　two　hands；　as　if　he　were　befuddled　with
wine；　but　at　the　harsh　sound　of　the　snapping　bolts　he　raised　his
face　and　looked　angrily　around　him。　　It　was　a　strange　powerful
head；　tawny　and　shaggy　like　a　lion's；　with　a　tangled　beard　and　a
large　harsh　face；　bloated　and　blotched　with　vice。　　He　laughed　as
the　newcomers　entered；　thinking　that　two　of　his　boon　companions
had　returned　to　finish　a　flagon。　　Then　he　stared　hard　and　he
passed　his　hand　over　his　eyes　like　one　who　thinks　he　may　be
dreaming。

〃Mon　Dieu！〃　he　cried。　　〃Who　are　you　and　whence　come　you　at　this
hour　of　the　night？　　Is　this　the　way　to　break　into　our　royal
presence？〃

Simon　approached　up　one　side　of　the　table　and　Aylward　up　the
other。　　When　they　were　close　to　the　King；　the　man…at…arms　plucked
a　torch　from　its　socket　and　held　it　to　his　own　face。　　The　King
staggered　back　with　a　cry；　as　he　gazed　at　that　grim　visage。

〃Le　diable　noir！〃　he　cried。　　〃Simon；　the　Englishman！　　What　make
you　here？〃

Simon　put　his　hand　upon　his　shoulder。　　〃Sit　here！〃　said　he；　and　he
forced　the　King　into　his　seat。　　〃Do　you　sit　on　the　farther　side　of
him；　Aylward。　　We　make　a　merry　group；　do　we　not？　　Often　have　I
served　at　this　table；　but　never　did　I　hope　to　drink　at　it。　　Fill
your　cup；　Samkin；　and　pass　the　flagon。〃

The　King　looked　from　one　to　the　other　with　terror　in　his　bloodshot
eyes。　　〃What　would　you　do？〃　he　asked。　　〃Are　you　mad；　that　you
should　come　here。　　One　shout　and　you　are　at　my　mercy。〃

〃Nay；　my　friend；　I　have　lived　too　long　in　your　house　not　to　know
the　ways　of　it。　　No　man…servant　ever　slept　beneath　your　roof；　for
you　feared　lest　your　throat　would　be　cut　in　the　night…time。　　You
may　shout　and　shout；　if　it　so　please　you。　　It　chanced　that　I　was
passing　on　my　way　from　England　in　those　ships　which　lie　off　La
Brechou；　and　I　thought　I　would　come　in　and　have　speech　with　you。〃

〃Indeed；　Simon；　I　am　right　glad　to　see　you；〃　said　the　King；
cringing　away　from　the　fierce　eyes　of　the　soldier。　　〃We　were　good
friends　in　the　past；　were　we　not；　and　I　cannot　call　to　mind　that　I
have　ever　done　you　injury。　　When　you　made　your　way　to　England　by
swimming　to　the　Levantine　there　was　none　more　glad　in　heart　than！〃

〃If　I　cared　to　doff　my　doublet　I　could　show　you　the　marks　of　what
your　friendship　has　done　for　me　in　the　past；〃　said　Simon。　　〃It　is
printed　on　my　back　as　clearly　as　on　my　memory。　　Why；　you　foul　dog；
there　are　the　very　rings　upon　the　wall　to　which　my　hands　were
fastened；　and　there　the　stains　upon　the　boards　on　which　my　blood
has　dripped！　　Is　it　not　so；　you　king　of　butchers？〃

The　pirate　chief　turned　whiter　still。　　〃It　may　be　that　life　here
was　somewhat　rough；　Simon；　but　if　I　have　wronged　you　in　anyway；　I
will　surely　make　amends。　　What　do　you　ask？〃

〃I　ask　only　one　thing；　and　I　have　come　hither　that　I　may　get　it。
It　is　that　you　pay　me　forfeit　for　that　you　have　lost　your　wager。〃

〃My　wager；　Simon！　　I　call　to　mind　no　wager。〃

〃But　I　will　call　it　to　your　mind；　and　then　I　will　take　my　payment。
Often　have　you　sworn　that　you　would　break　my　courage。　　‘By　my
head！'　you　have　cried　to　me。　　‘You　will　crawl　at　my　feet！'　and
again：　‘I　will　wager　my　head　that　I　will　tame　you！'　　Yes；　yes；　a
score　of　times　you　have　said　so。　　In　my　heart；　as　I　listened；　I
have　taken　up　your　gage。　　And　now；　dog；　you　have　lost　and　I　am
here　to　claim　the　forfeit。〃

His　long　heavy　sword　flew　from　its　sheath。　　The　King；　with　a　howl
of　despair；　flung　his　arms　round　him；　and　they　rolled　together
under　the　table。　　Aylward　sat　with　a　ghastly　face；　and　his　toes
curled　with　horror　at　the　sight；　for　he　was　still　new　to　scenes　of
strife　and　his　blood　was　too　cold　for　such　a　deed。　　When　Simon
rose　he　tossed　something　into　his　bag　and　sheathed　his　bloody
sword。

〃Come；　Samkin；　our　work　is　well　done；〃　said　he。

〃By　my　hilt；　if　I　had　known　what　it　was　I　would　have　been　less
ready　to　come　with　you；〃　said　the　archer。　　〃Could　you　not　have
clapped　a　sword　in　his　fist　and　let　him　take　his　chance　in　the
hall？〃

〃Nay；　Samkin；　if　you　had　such　memories　as　I；　you　would　have　wished
that　he　should　die　like　a　sheep　and　not　like　a　man。　　What　chance
did　he　give　me　when　he　had　the　power？　　And　why　should　I　treat　him
better？　　But；　Holy　Virgin；　what　have　we　here？〃

At　the　farther　end　of　the　table　a　woman　was　standing。　　An　open
door　behind　her　showed　that　she　had　come　from　the　inner　room　of
the　house。　　By　her　tall　figure　the　comrades　knew　that　she　was　the
same　that　they　had　already　seen。　　Her　face　had　once　been　fair；　but
now　was　white　and　haggard　with　wild　dark　eyes　full　of　a　hopeless
terror　and　despair。　　Slowly　she　paced　up　the　room；　her　gaze　fixed
not　upon　the　comrades；　but　upon　the　dreadful　thing　beneath　the
table。　　Then　as　she　stooped　and　was　sure　she　burst　into　loud
laughter　and　clapped　her　hands。

〃Who　shall　say　there　is　no　God？〃　she　cried。　　〃Who　shall　say　that
prayer　is　unavailing？　　Great　sir；　brave　sir；　let　me　kiss　that
conquering　hand！〃

〃Nay；　nay；　dame；　stand　back！　　Well；　if　you　must　needs　have　one　of
them；　take　this　which　is　the　clean　one。〃

〃It　is　the　other　I　crave　…　that　which　is　red　with　his　blood！　　Oh！
joyful　night　when　my　lips　have　been　wet　with　it！　　Now　I　can　die　in
peace！〃

〃We　must　go；　Aylward；〃　said　Simon。　　〃In　another　hour　the　dawn　will
ha