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！
attention now to this and now to that； until at last the lad began to awaken
somewhat from his despondency to the things around。 Besides those
servants and others who came and went； and a knot of six or eight men…at…
arms with bills and pole…axes； who stood at the farther door…way talking
together in low tones； now and then broken by a stifled laugh； was a group
of four young squires； who lounged upon a bench beside a door…way
hidden by an arras； and upon them Myles's eyes lit with a sudden interest。
Three of the four were about his own age； one was a year or two older； and
all four were dressed in the black…and…yellow uniform of the house of
Beaumont。
Myles plucked the bowman by the sleeve。 〃Be they squires； Diccon？〃
said he； nodding towards the door。
〃Eh？〃 said Diccon。 〃Aye； they be squires。〃
〃And will my station be with them？〃 asked the boy。
〃Aye； an the Earl take thee to service； thou'lt haply be taken as squire。〃
Myles stared at them； and then of a sudden was aware that the young
men were talking of him。 He knew it by the way they eyed him askance；
and spoke now and then in one another's ears。 One of the four； a gay
young fellow； with long riding… boots laced with green laces； said a few
words； the others gave a laugh； and poor Myles； knowing how ungainly he
must seem to them； felt the blood rush to his cheeks； and shyly turned his
head。
Suddenly； as though stirred by an impulse； the same lad who had just
created the laugh arose from the bench； and came directly across the room
14
… Page 15…
MEN OF IRON
to where Myles and the bowman sat。
〃Give thee good…den；〃 said he。 〃What be'st thy name and whence
comest thou； an I may make bold so to ask？〃
〃My name is Myles Falworth；〃 said Myles； 〃and I come from
Crosbey…Dale bearing a letter to my Lord。〃
〃Never did I hear of Crosbey…Dale；〃 said the squire。 〃But what seekest
here； if so be I may ask that much？〃
〃I come seeking service；〃 said Myles； 〃and would enter as an esquire
such as ye be in my Lord's household。〃
Myles's new acquaintance grinned。 〃Thou'lt make a droll squire to wait
in a Lord's household；〃 said he。 〃Hast ever been in such service？〃
〃Nay；〃 said Myles； 〃I have only been at school； and learned Latin and
French and what not。 But Diccon Bowman here hath taught me use of
arms。
The young squire laughed outright。 〃By'r Lady； thy talk doth tickle me；
friend Myles；〃 said he。 〃Think'st thou such matters will gain thee footing
here？ But stay！ Thou didst say anon that thou hadst a letter to my Lord。
From whom is it？〃
〃It is from my father；〃 said Myles。 〃He is of noble blood； but fallen in
estate。 He is a kinsman of my Lord's； and one time his comrade in arms。〃
〃Sayst so？〃 said the other。 〃Then mayhap thy chances are not so ill；
after all。〃 Then； after a moment； he added： 〃My name is Francis Gascoyne；
and I will stand thy friend in this matter。 Get thy letter ready； for my Lord
and his Grace of York are within and come forth anon。 The Archbishop is
on his way to Dalworth； and my Lord escorts him so far as Uppingham。 I
and those others are to go along。 Dost thou know my Lord by sight？〃
〃Nay；〃 said Myles； 〃I know him not。〃
〃Then I will tell thee when he cometh。 Listen！〃 said he； as a confused
clattering sounded in the court…yard without。 〃Yonder are the horses now。
They come presently。 Busk thee with thy letter； friend Myles。〃
The attendants who passed through the anteroom now came and went
more hurriedly； and Myles knew that the Earl must be about to come forth。
He had hardly time to untie his pouch； take out the letter； and tie the
15
… Page 16…
MEN OF IRON
strings again when the arras at the door…way was thrust suddenly aside；
and a tall thin squire of about twenty came forth； said some words to the
young men upon the bench； and then withdrew again。 Instantly the squires
arose and took their station beside the door…way。 A sudden hush fell upon
all in the room； and the men…at…arms stood in a line against the wall； stiff
and erect as though all at once transformed to figures of iron。 Once more
the arras was drawn back； and in the hush Myles heard voices in the other
room。
〃My Lord cometh；〃 whispered Gascoyne in his ear； and Myles felt his
heart leap in answer。
The next moment two noblemen came into the anteroom followed by a
crowd of gentlemen； squires； and pages。 One of the two was a dignitary of
the Church； the other Myles instantly singled out as the Earl of
Mackworth。
16
… Page 17…
MEN OF IRON
CHAPTER 4
He was a tall man； taller even than Myles's father。 He had a thin face；
deep…set bushy eyebrows； and a hawk nose。 His upper lip was clean
shaven； but from his chin a flowing beard of iron… gray hung nearly to his
waist。 He was clad in a riding…gown of black velvet that hung a little lower
than the knee； trimmed with otter fur and embroidered with silver
goshawksthe crest of the family of Beaumont。
A light shirt of link mail showed beneath the gown as he walked； and a
pair of soft undressed leather riding…boots were laced as high as the knee；
protecting his scarlet hose from mud and dirt。 Over his shoulders he wore
a collar of enamelled gold； from which hung a magnificent jewelled
pendant； and upon his fist he carried a beautiful Iceland falcon。 As
Myles stood staring； he suddenly heard Gascoyne's voice whisper in his
ear； 〃Yon is my Lord； go forward and give him thy letter。〃
Scarcely knowing what he did； he walked towards the Earl like a
machine； his heart pounding within him and a great humming in his ears。
As he drew near； the nobleman stopped for a moment and stared at him；
and Myles； as in a dream； kneeled； and presented the letter。 The Earl took
it in his hand； turned it this way and that； looked first at the bearer； then at
the packet； and then at the bearer again。
〃Who art thou？〃 said he； 〃and what is the matter thou wouldst have of
me？〃
〃I am Myles Falworth；〃 said the lad； in a low voice； 〃and I come
seeking service with you。〃
The Earl drew his thick eyebrows quickly together； and shot a keen
look