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！
anew； and the rate and dates of interest； sat for a long while saying
as little as possible； while the others unfolded parchments and talked
and talked； telling tales that often contradicted each other； till at
length the lord Deleroy； who seemed ill at ease； grew weary and left
the chamber。 At last all was done that could be done at that sitting
and it being past the hour of dinner； I was taken in to eat；
consenting； because I hoped that I should see the lady Blanche。
A butler； or chamber…groom； led me to the dining…hall and sat me with
the lawyers at a table beneath the dais。 Presently on this dais
appeared Sir Robert Aleys； his daughter Blanche； the lord Deleroy；
and perhaps eight or ten other fine folk whom I had never seen。 She；
looking about her； saw me seated at the lower table； and spoke to her
father and Deleroy； reasoning with the latter； as it would appear。
Indeed； in a sudden hush I caught some of her words。 They were； 〃If
you are not ashamed to take his money； you should not be ashamed to
sit at meat with him。〃
Deleroy stamped his foot； but the end of it was that I was summoned to
the high table where the lady Blanche made place for me beside her；
while Deleroy sat himself down between two splendid dames at the other
end of the board。
Here； then； I stayed by Blanche who； I noted； wore the ruby heart
encircled by serpents。 Indeed； this was the first thing of which she
spoke to me； saying；
〃It looks well upon my robe； does it not； and I thank you for it；
Master Hubert； who know surely that it is not my cousin Deleroy's
gift； but yours； since for it you will never see your money。〃
By way of answer I looked at the sumptuous plate and furnishings； the
profusion of the viands； and the number of the serving…men。 Reading my
thought； she replied；
〃Aye； but pledged； all of it。 I tell you； Master Hubert； that we are
starved hounds； though we live in a kennel with golden bars。 And now
they would pawn you that kennel also。〃
Then； while I wondered what to say； she began to talk of our great
adventure in bygone years； recalling every tiny thing that had
happened and every word that had been spoken between us； some of which
I had forgotten。 Of one thing only she said nothingthe kisses with
which we parted。 Amongst much else； she spoke of how the ancient sword
had shorn through the armour of the French knight； and I told her that
the sword was named Wave…Flame and that it had come down to me from my
ancestor； Thorgrimmer the Viking； and of what was written on its
blade； to all of which she listened greedily。
〃And they thought you not fit to sit at meat with them； you whose race
is so old and who are so great a warrior； as you showed that day。 And
it is to you that I owe my life and more than life； to you and not to
them。〃
So saying she shot a glance at me that pierced me through and through；
as my arrows had pierced the Frenchmen； and what is more beneath the
cover of the board for a moment let her slim hand rest upon my own。
After this for a while we were silent； for indeed I could not speak。
Then we talked on as we could do well enough； since there was no one
on my left where the board ended； and on Blanche's right was a fat old
lord who seemed to be deaf and occupied himself in drinking more than
he should have done。 I told her much about myself； also what my mother
had said to me on the day of the Burning； and of how she had
prophesied that I should be a wanderer； words at which Blanche sighed
and answered：
〃Yet you seem to be well planted in London and in rich soil； Master
Hubert。〃
〃Aye； Lady； but it is not my native soil and for the rest we go where
Fate leads us。〃
〃Fate！ What does that word bring to my mind？ I have it； yonder Moor of
yours who makes those jewels。 He has the very eyes of Fate and I fear
him。〃
〃That is strange； Lady； and yet not so strange； for about this man
there is something fateful。 Ever he swears to me that I shall
accompany him to some dim land where he was born； of which land he is
a prince。〃
Then I told her all the story of Kari； to which she listened open…eyed
and wondering； saying when I had finished；
〃So you saved this poor wanderer also； and doubtless he loves you
well。〃
〃Yes； Lady； almost too well； seeing that at times he is jealous of me；
though God knows I did little for him save pick him from a crowd upon
the quay。〃
〃Ah！ I guess it； who saw him watching you the other day。 Yet it is
strange； for I thought that only women could be jealous of men； and
men of women。 Hush！ they are mocking us because we talk so friendly。〃
I looked up； following her glance； and saw that Deleroy and the two
fine ladies between whom he sat； all of whom appeared to have had
enough of wine； were pointing at us。 Indeed； in a silence； such as now
and again happens at feasts； I heard one of them say；
〃You had best beware lest that fair white dove of yours does not slip
your hand and begin to coo in another's ear； my Lord Deleroy；〃 and
heard his answer；
〃Nay； I have her too fast； and who cares for a pining dove whereof the
feathers adorn another's cap？〃
Whilst I was wondering what this dark talk might mean the company
broke up； the lady Blanche gliding away through a door at the back of
the dais； followed； as I noted； by Deleroy who seemed flushed and
angry。
Many times I visited that prodigal house which seemed to me to be the
haunt of folk who； however highly placed and greatly favoured at
Court； were as loose in their lives as they were in their talk。
Indeed； although I was no saint； I liked them not at all； especially
the men with their scented hair； turned…up shoes； and party…coloured
clothes。 Nor as I thought； did Sir Robert Aleys like them； who；
whatever his faults； was a bluff knight of the older sort； who had
fought with credit in the French wars。 Yet I noted that he seemed to
be helpless in their hands； or rather in those of Deleroy； the King's
favourite； who was the chief of all the gang。 It was as though that
gay and handsome young man had some hold over the old soldier； yes；
and over his daughter also； though what this might be I could not
guess。
Now I will move on with the tale。 In due course the parchments were
signed and delivered； and the money in good gold was paid over on my
behalf； after which the great household at Westminster became more
prodigal than before。 But when the time came for the discharge of the
interest due not a groat was forthcoming。 Then afterwards there was
talk of my taking over certain of the pledged lands in lieu of this
interest。 Sir Robert suggested this and I assented； because Blanche
had told me that it would help her father。 Only when the matter was
set on foot by my lawyers was it found that these lands were not his
to transfer； inasmuch as they had been already mortgaged to their
value。
Then there was a fierce quarrel between Sir Robert Aleys and the lord
Deleroy； at which I was present。 Sir Robert with many oaths accused
his cousin of having forged his name when he was absent in France；
while Deleroy declared that what he did was done with due authority。
Almost they drew swords on each other； till at length Deleroy took
Aleys aside and with a fierce grin whispered something into his ear
which caused the old knight to sink down on a stool and call out；
〃Get you gone； you false rogue！ Get out of this house； aye； and out of
England。 If I meet you again； by God's Blood I swear that King's
favourite or no King's favourite； I'll throat you like a hog！〃
To which Deleroy mocked in answer：
〃Good！ I'll go； my gentle cousin； which it suits me well to do who
have certain business of the King's awaiting me in France。 Aye； I'll
go and leave you to settle with this worthy trader who may hold that
you have duped him。 Do it as you will； except in one fashion； of which
you know。 Now a word with my cousin Blanche and another at the Palace
and I ride for Dover。 Farewell； Cousin Aleys。 Farewell； worthy
merchant for whose loss I should grieve； did I not know that soon you
will recoup yourself out of gentle pockets。 Mourn not over me over
much； either of you； since doubtless ere so very long I shall return。〃
Now my blood flamed up and I answered：
〃I pray you do not hurry； my lord； lest you should find me waiting for
you with a shield and a sword in place of a warrant and a pen。〃
He heard and called out； 〃Fore God； this chapman thinks himself a
knight！〃
Then with a mocking laugh he went。
CHAPTER VI
MARRIAGEAND AFTER
Sir Robert and I stood facing each other speechless with rage； both of
us。 At length he said in a hoarse voice：
〃Your pardon； Master Hastings； for the affronts that this bastard
lordling has put upon you； an honest man。 I tell you that he is a
loose…living knave； as you would agree if you knew all his story； a
cockatrice that for my sins I have nurtured in my bosom。 'Tis he that
has wasted all my substance； 'tis he that has made free of my name； so
that I fear me you are defrauded。 'Tis he that uses my house as though
it were his own； bringing into it vile women of the Court； and men
that are viler still； however high their