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！
chains gleamed and clinked； so that when at last； to the long
blast of two court trumpeters； the company took their seats at the
board； it was the brightest； fairest scene which those old black
rafters had ever spanned。
The great influx of foreign knights who had come in their splendor
from all parts of Christendom to take part in the opening of the
Round Tower of Windsor six years before； and to try their luck and
their skill at the tournament connected with it； had deeply
modified the English fashions of dress。 The old tunic； over…tunic
and cyclas were too sad and simple for the new fashions； so now
strange and brilliant cote…hardies； pourpoints； courtepies；
paltocks； hanselines and many other wondrous garments；
parti…colored or diapered； with looped； embroidered or escalloped
edges； flamed and glittered round the King。 He himself； in black
velvet and gold； formed a dark rich center to the finery around
him。 On his right sat the Prince； on his left the Bishop； while
Dame Ermyntrude marshaled the forces of the household outside；
alert and watchful； pouring in her dishes and her flagons at the
right moment； rallying her tired servants； encouraging the van；
hurrying the rear； hastening up her reserves； the tapping of her
oak stick heard everywhere the pressure was the greatest。
Behind the King； clad in his best； but looking drab and sorry amid
the brilliant costumes round him； Nigel himself； regardless of an
aching body and a twisted knee； waited upon his royal guests； who
threw many a merry jest at him over their shoulders as they still
chuckled at the adventure of the bridge。
〃By the rood！〃 said King Edward； leaning back； with a chicken bone
held daintily between the courtesy fingers of his left hand； 〃the
play is too good for this country stage。 You must to Windsor with
me； Nigel； and bring with you this great suit of harness in which
you lurk。 There you shall hold the lists with your eyes in your
midriff； and unless some one cleave you to the waist I see not how
any harm can befall you。 Never have I seen so small a nut in so
great a shell。〃
The Prince； looking back with laughing eyes； saw by Nigel's
flushed and embarrassed face that his poverty hung heavily upon
him。 〃 Nay；〃 said he kindly； 〃such a workman is surely worthy of
better tools。〃
〃And it is for his master to see that he has them；〃 added the
King。 〃The court armorer will look to it that the next time your
helmet is carried away； Nigel； your head shall be inside it。〃
Nigel； red to the roots of his flaxen hair； stammered out some
words of thanks。
John Chandos； however； had a fresh suggestion； and he cocked a
roguish eye as he made it： 〃Surely； my liege； your bounty is
little needed in this case。 It is the ancient law of arms that if
two cavaliers start to joust； and one either by maladdress or
misadventure fail to meet the shock； then his arms become the
property of him who still holds the lists。 This being so；
methinks； Sir Hubert de Burgh； that the fine hauberk of Milan and
the helmet of Bordeaux steel in which you rode to Tilford should
remain with our young host as some small remembrance of your
visit。〃
The suggestion raised a general chorus of approval and laughter；
in which all joined； save only Sir Hubert himself； who； flushed
with anger； fixed his baleful eyes upon Chandos' mischievous and
smiling face。
〃I said that I did not play that foolish game； and I know nothing
of its laws；〃 said he； 〃but you know well； John； that if you would
have a bout with sharpened spear or sword； where two ride to the
ground； and only one away from it； you have not far to go to find
it。〃
〃Nay； nay； would you ride to the ground？ Surely you had best
walk； Hubert；〃 said Chandos。 〃On your feet I know well that I
should not see your back as we have seen it to…day。 Say what you
will； your horse has played you false； and I claim your suit of
harness for Nigel Loring。〃
〃Your tongue is overlong； John； and I am weary of its endless
clack！〃 said Sir Hubert； his yellow mustache bristling from a
scarlet face。 〃If you claim my harness； do you yourself come and
take it。 If there is a moon in the sky you may try this very
night when the board is cleared。〃
〃Nay； fair sirs；〃 cried the King； smiling from one to the other；
〃this matter must be followed no further。 Do you fill a bumper of
Gascony； John； and you also； Hubert。 Now pledge each other； I
pray you； as good and loyal comrades who would scorn to fight save
in your King's quarrel。 We can spare neither of you while there
is so much work for brave hearts over the sea。 As to this matter
of the harness； John Chandos speaks truly where it concerns a
joust in the lists； but we hold that such a law is scarce binding
in this； which was but a wayside passage and a gentle trial of
arms。 On the other hand； in the case of your Squire； Master
Manny； there can be no doubt that his suit is forfeit。〃
〃It is a grievous hearing for him； my liege；〃 said Walter Manny；
〃for he is a poor man and hath been at sore pains to fit himself
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 Go