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！
dark and silent courts； and across the corner of the great quadrangle； and so to the Earl's house； he tried to brace his failing courage to meet the coming interview。 Nevertheless； his heart beat tumultuously as he followed the other down the long corridor； lit only by a flaring link set in a wrought…iron bracket。 Then his conductor lifted the arras at the door of the bedchamber； whence came the murmuring sound of many voices； and holding it aside； beckoned him to enter； and Myles passed within。 At the first； he was conscious of nothing but a crowd of people； and of the brightness of many lighted candles； then he saw that he stood in a great airy room spread with a woven mat of rushes。 On three sides the walls were hung with tapestry representing hunting and battle scenes； at the farther end； where the bed stood； the stone wall of the fourth side was covered with cloth of blue； embroidered with silver goshawks。 Even now； in the ripe springtime of May； the room was still chilly； and a great fire roared and crackled in the huge gaping mouth of the stone fireplace。 Not far from the blaze were clustered the greater part of those present； buzzing in talk； now and then swelled by murmuring laughter。 Some of those who knew Myles nodded to him； and two or three spoke to him as he stood waiting； whilst the groom went forward to speak to the Earl； though what they said and what he answered； Myles； in his bewilderment and trepidation； hardly knew。
As was said before； the livery was the last meal of the day； and was taken in bed。 It was a simple repasta manchette； or small loaf of bread of pure white flour； a loaf of household bread； sometimes a lump of cheese； and either a great flagon of ale or of sweet wine； warm and spiced。 The Earl was sitting upright in bed； dressed in a furred dressing…gown； and propped up by two cylindrical bolsters of crimson satin。 Upon the coverlet； and spread over his knees； was a large wide napkin of linen fringed with silver thread； and on it rested a silver tray containing the bread and some cheese。 Two pages and three gentlemen were waiting upon him； and Mad Noll； the jester； stood at the head of the bed； now and then jingling his bawble and passing some quaint jest upon the chance of making his master smile。 Upon a table near by were some dozen or so waxen tapers struck upon as many spiked candlesticks of silver…gilt； and illuminating that end of the room with their bright twinkling flames。 One of the gentlemen was in the act of serving the Earl with a goblet of wine； poured from a silver ewer by one of the squires； as the groom of the chamber came forward and spoke。 The Earl； taking the goblet； turned his head； and as Myles looked； their eyes met。 Then the Earl turned away again and raised the cup to his lips； while Myles felt his heart beat more rapidly than ever。
But at last the meal was ended； and the Earl washed his hands and his mouth and his beard from a silver basin of scented water held by another one of the squires。 Then； leaning back against the pillows； he beckoned to Myles。
In answer Myles walked forward the length of the room； conscious that all eyes were fixed upon him。 The Earl said something； and those who stood near drew back as he came forward。 Then Myles found himself standing beside the bed； looking down upon the quilted counterpane； feeling that the other was gazing fixedly at him。
〃I sent for thee；〃 said the Earl at last； still looking steadily at him； 〃because this afternoon came a letter to my hand which thou hadst written to my niece； the Lady Alice。 I have it here；〃 said he； thrusting his hand under the bolster； 〃and have just now finished reading it。〃 Then； after a moment's pause； whilst he opened the parchment and scanned it again； 〃I find no matter of harm in it； but hereafter write no more such。〃 He spoke entirely without anger； and Myles looked up in wonder。 〃Here； take it；〃 said the Earl； folding the letter and tossing it to Myles； who instinctively caught it； 〃and henceforth trouble thou my niece no more either by letter or any other way。 I thought haply thou wouldst be at some such saucy trick； and I made Alice promise to let me know when it happed。 Now； I say； let this be an end of the matter。 Dost thou not know thou mayst injure her by such witless folly as that of meeting her privily； and privily writing to her？〃
〃I meant no harm；〃 said Myles。
〃I believe thee；〃 said the Earl。 〃That will do now； thou mayst go。〃
Myles hesitated。
〃What wouldst thou say？〃 said Lord Mackworth。
〃Only this；〃 said Myles； 〃an I have thy leave so to do； that the Lady Alice hath chosen me to be her knight； and so； whether I may see her or speak with her or no； the laws of chivalry give me； who am gentle born； the right to serve her as a true knight may。〃
〃As a true fool may；〃 said the Earl； dryly。 〃Why； how now； thou art not a knight yet； nor anything but a raw lump of a boy。 What rights do the laws of chivalry give thee； sirrah？ Thou art a fool！〃
Had the Earl been ever so angry； his words would have been less bitter to Myles than his cool； unmoved patience； it mortified his pride and galled it to the quick。
〃I know that thou dost hold me in contempt；〃 he mumbled。
〃Out upon thee！〃 said the Earl； testily。 〃Thou dost tease me beyond patience。 I hold thee in contempt； forsooth！ Why； look thee； hadst thou been other than thou art； I would have had thee whipped out of my house long since。 Thinkest thou I would have borne so patiently with another one of ye squires had such an one held secret meeting with my daughter and niece； and tampered； as thou hast done； with my household； sending through one of my people that letter？ Go to； thou art a fool； Myles Falworth！〃
Myles stood staring at the Earl without making an effort to speak。 The words that he had heard suddenly flashed； as it were； a new light into his mind。 In that flash he fully recognized； and for the first time； the strange and wonderful forbearance the great Earl had shown to him； a poor obscure boy。 What did it mean？ Was Lord Mackworth his secret friend； after all； as Gascoyne had more than once asserted？ So Myles stood silent； thinking many things。
Meantime the other lay back upon the cylindrical bolsters； looking thoughtfully at him。 〃How old art thou？〃 said he at last。
〃Seventeen last April；〃 answered Myles。
〃Then thou art old enough to have some of the thoughts of a man； and to lay aside those of a boy。 Haply thou hast had foolish things in thy head this short time past； it is time that thou put them away。 Harkee； sirrah！ the Lady Alice is a great heiress in her own right； and mayst command the best alliance in Englandan Earla Duke。 She groweth apace to a woman； and then her kind lieth in Courts and great houses。 As for thee； thou art but a poor lad； penniless and without friends to aid thee to open advancement。 Thy father is attainted； and one whisper of where he lieth hid would bring him thence to the Tower； and haply to the block。 Besides that； he hath an enemy； as Sir James Lee hath already told theean enemy perhaps more great and powerful than myself。 That enemy watcheth for thy father and for thee； shouldst thou dare raise thy head or thy fortune ever so little； he would haply crop t