Chapter 43

THERE IS THE MATTER of your western lands, I called out from the throng¹ of petitioners².

Who speaks? Baldwin asked, startled. A surprised buzzworked through the crowd of petitioners.

A knight³, your lordship, I shouted. I have taken a raiding party and sacked and burned all the villages of your enemies in the west.

Baldwin stood up. He leaned over to his seneschal. But we don't have any enemies in the west...

I took a breath and edged myself out from the crowd. I am sorry, lord, but I fear that you donow.

Slowly, steadily⁴, a trail of laughter wound through the room. As the joke became clear, it grew heartier⁵.

It is afool , I heard someone say. A performance.

Baldwin glared and stepped toward me. His icy stare made my blood run cold. Who are you, fool? What has prompted you to speak?

I am Hugh. From Bor俥. I bowed. I have studied under Norbert, the famous jester there. I am informed that your court is greatly in need of a laugh.

Alaugh ? My court hungers for alaugh... ? Baldwin squinted⁶ uncomprehendingly. You are certainly fool-born, man, I grant you that. And you have come all this way from the big city to amuse us.

That is so, my lord. I bowed again, nerves flashing through me.

Well, your journey is wasted, the noble said. We already have a fool here. Don't we, Palimpost, my droll⁷ pet?

The jester sprang up, an old, clubfooted man with white hair and thick lips who looked as if he had just been jolted⁸ awake.

With all due respect, I said, stepping into the middle of the room and addressing the court, I have heard that Palimpost couldn't get a laugh from a drunken sot. That he has lost his touch. I say hear me out. If you are not happy, I will be on my way.

The boy sports a challenge to you. Baldwin grinned at his jester.

Restrain him, my lord, Palimpost said. Do not listen. He means to create unrest in your duchy.

Our only unrest, my dizzy-eyed fool, is from the dullness of your wit. Perhaps the lad is right. Let us see what he brings from Bor俥.

Baldwin stepped down from his platform. He made his way across the room toward me. Make us laugh, and we will see about your future. Fail, and you'll be practicing jokes for the rats in our keep.

It's fair, my lord. I bowed. I will make you laugh.

1 throng   

n.人群，群众；v.拥挤，群集

参考例句：

• A patient throng was waiting in silence.一大群耐心的人在静静地等着。
• The crowds thronged into the mall.人群涌进大厅。

2 petitioners   

n.请求人，请愿人( petitioner的名词复数 )；离婚案原告

参考例句：

• Petitioners suggest that anything less than certainty, that any speculation, is irresponsible. 申诉者认为不准确的事或推断都是不负责任的。 来自英汉非文学 - 环境法 - 环境法
• The judge awarded the costs of the case to the petitioners. 法官判定由这起案件的上诉人支付诉讼费用。 来自辞典例句

3 knight   

n.骑士，武士；爵士

参考例句：

• He was made an honourary knight.他被授予荣誉爵士称号。
• A knight rode on his richly caparisoned steed.一个骑士骑在装饰华丽的马上。

4 steadily   

adv.稳定地；不变地；持续地

参考例句：

• The scope of man's use of natural resources will steadily grow.人类利用自然资源的广度将日益扩大。
• Our educational reform was steadily led onto the correct path.我们的教学改革慢慢上轨道了。

5 heartier   

亲切的( hearty的比较级 )； 热诚的； 健壮的； 精神饱满的

参考例句：

• Another and heartier smile illumined her rough face, and from that moment we were friends. 另一个更加真诚的微笑照亮了她那粗糙的脸；从那时起，我们就成了朋友。
• My ideas received a far heartier and were much more appreciated in the corporate world. 劳林本人就是从学术界转到了企业界。

6 squinted   

斜视( squint的过去式和过去分词 )； 眯着眼睛； 瞟； 从小孔或缝隙里看

参考例句：

• Pulling his rifle to his shoulder he squinted along the barrel. 他把枪顶肩，眯起眼睛瞄准。
• I squinted through the keyhole. 我从锁眼窥看。

7 droll   

adj.古怪的，好笑的

参考例句：

• The band have a droll sense of humour.这个乐队有一种滑稽古怪的幽默感。
• He looked at her with a droll sort of awakening.他用一种古怪的如梦方醒的神情看着她.

8 jolted   

（使）摇动， （使）震惊( jolt的过去式和过去分词 )

参考例句：

• The truck jolted and rattled over the rough ground. 卡车嘎吱嘎吱地在凹凸不平的地面上颠簸而行。
• She was jolted out of her reverie as the door opened. 门一开就把她从幻想中惊醒。