This ancient wing, or offshoot, of the main buildings was more retired2 from the hurly-burly of outer life than other parts of the palace, and thither3 the sick King was very fond of retiring from the business of State, which ever rested more and more heavily upon his shoulders, sometimes to squander4 in quietness a spare hour or two; sometimes to idle over a favorite book; sometimes to play a game of chess with a favorite courtier. The cold painted walls had been hung with tapestry5, and its floor had been spread with arras carpet. These and the cushioned couches and chairs that stood around gave its gloomy antiquity6 an air of comfort—an air even of luxury.
It was to this favorite retreat of the King's that Myles was brought that morning with his father to face the great Earl of Alban.
In the anteroom the little party of Princes and nobles who escorted the father and son had held a brief consultation7. Then the others had entered, leaving Myles and his blind father in charge of Lord Lumley and two knights9 of the court, Sir Reginald Hallowell and Sir Piers10 Averell.
Myles, as he stood patiently waiting, with his father's arm resting in his, could hear the muffled11 sound of voices from beyond the arras. Among others, he recognized the well-remembered tones of the King. He fancied that he heard his own name mentioned more than once, and then the sound of talking ceased. The next moment the arras was drawn12 aside, and the Earl entered the antechamber again.
“All is ready, cousin,” said he to Lord Falworth, in a suppressed voice. “Essex hath done as he promised, and Alban is within there now.” Then, turning to Myles, speaking in the same low voice, and betraying more agitation13 than Myles had thought it possible for him to show, “Sir Myles,” said he, “remember all that hath been told thee. Thou knowest what thou hast to say and do.” Then, without further word, he took Lord Falworth by the hand, and led the way into the room, Myles following close behind.
The King half sat, half inclined, upon a cushioned seat close to which stood the two Princes. There were some dozen others present, mostly priests and noblemen of high quality who clustered in a group at a little distance. Myles knew most of them at a glance having seen them come and go at Scotland Yard. But among them all, he singled out only one—the Earl of Alban. He had not seen that face since he was a little child eight years old, but now that he beheld14 it again, it fitted instantly and vividly15 into the remembrance of the time of that terrible scene at Falworth Castle, when he had beheld the then Lord Brookhurst standing16 above the dead body of Sir John Dale, with the bloody17 mace18 clinched19 in his hand. There were the same heavy black brows, sinister20 and gloomy, the same hooked nose, the same swarthy cheeks. He even remembered the deep dent21 in the forehead, where the brows met in perpetual frown. So it was that upon that face his looks centred and rested.
The Earl of Alban had just been speaking to some Lord who stood beside him, and a half-smile still hung about the corners of his lips. At first, as he looked up at the entrance of the newcomers, there was no other expression; then suddenly came a flash of recognition, a look of wide-eyed amazement22; then the blood left the cheeks and the lips, and the face grew very pale. No doubt he saw at a flash that some great danger overhung him in this sudden coming of his old enemy, for he was as keen and as astute23 a politician as he was a famous warrior24. At least he knew that the eyes of most of those present were fixed25 keenly and searchingly upon him. After the first start of recognition, his left hand, hanging at his side, gradually closed around the scabbard of his sword, clutching it in a vice-like grip.
Meantime the Earl of Mackworth had led the blind Lord to the King, where both kneeled.
“Why, how now, my Lord?” said the King. “Methought it was our young Paladin whom we knighted at Devlen that was to be presented, and here thou bringest this old man. A blind man, ha! What is the meaning of this?”
“Majesty,” said the Earl, “I have taken this chance to bring to thy merciful consideration one who hath most wofully and unjustly suffered from thine anger. Yonder stands the young knight8 of whom we spake; this is his father, Gilbert Reginald, whilom Lord Falworth, who craves26 mercy and justice at thy hands.”
“Falworth,” said the King, placing his hand to his head. “The name is not strange to mine ears, but I cannot place it. My head hath troubled me sorely to-day, and I cannot remember.”
At this point the Earl of Alban came quietly and deliberately27 forward. “Sire,” said he, “pardon my boldness in so venturing to address you, but haply I may bring the name more clearly to your mind. He is, as my Lord of Mackworth said, the whilom Baron28 Falworth, the outlawed29, attainted traitor30; so declared for the harboring of Sir John Dale, who was one of those who sought your Majesty's life at Windsor eleven years ago. Sire, he is mine enemy as well, and is brought hither by my proclaimed enemies. Should aught occur to my harm, I rest my case in your gracious hands.”
The dusty red flamed into the King's pale, sickly face in answer, and he rose hastily from his seat.
“Aye,” said he, “I remember me now—I remember me the man and the name! Who hath dared bring him here before us?” All the dull heaviness of sickness was gone for the moment, and King Henry was the King Henry of ten years ago as he rolled his eyes balefully from one to another of the courtiers who stood silently around.
The Earl of Mackworth shot a covert31 glance at the Bishop32 of Winchester, who came forward in answer.
“Your Majesty,” said he, “here am I, your brother, who beseech33 you as your brother not to judge over-hastily in this matter. It is true that this man has been adjudged a traitor, but he has been so adjudged without a hearing. I beseech thee to listen patiently to whatsoever34 he may have to say.”
The King fixed the Bishop with a look of the bitterest, deepest anger, holding his nether35 lip tightly under his teeth—a trick he had when strongly moved with anger—and the Bishop's eyes fell under the look. Meantime the Earl of Alban stood calm and silent. No doubt he saw that the King's anger was likely to befriend him more than any words that he himself could say, and he perilled36 his case with no more speech which could only prove superfluous37.
At last the King turned a face red and swollen38 with anger to the blind Lord, who still kneeled before him.
“Gracious and merciful Lord,” said the blind nobleman, “I come to thee, the fountain-head of justice, craving40 justice. Sire, I do now and here deny my treason, which denial I could not before make, being blind and helpless, and mine enemies strong and malignant41. But now, sire, Heaven hath sent me help, and therefore I do acclaim42 before thee that my accuser, William Bushy Brookhurst, Earl of Alban, is a foul43 and an attainted liar44 in all that he hath accused me of. To uphold which allegation, and to defend me, who am blinded by his unknightliness, I do offer a champion to prove all that I say with his body in combat.”
The Earl of Mackworth darted45 a quick look at Myles, who came forward the moment his father had ended, and kneeled beside him. The King offered no interruption to his speech, but he bent46 a look heavy with anger upon the young man.
“My gracious Lord and King,” said Myles, “I, the son of the accused, do offer myself as his champion in this cause, beseeching47 thee of thy grace leave to prove the truth of the same, being a belted knight by thy grace and of thy creation and the peer of any who weareth spurs.” Thereupon, rising, he drew his iron gauntlet from his girdle, and flung it clashing down upon the floor, and with his heart swelling48 within him with anger and indignation and pity of his blind father, he cried, in a loud voice, “I do accuse thee, William of Alban, that thou liest vilely49 as aforesaid, and here cast down my gage51, daring thee to take it up.”
The Earl of Alban made as though he would accept the challenge, but the King stopped him hastily.
“Stop!” he cried, harshly. “Touch not the gage! Let it lie—let it lie, I tell thee, my Lord! Now then,” said he, turning to the others, “tell me what meaneth all this coil? Who brought this man hither?”
He looked from one to another of those who stood silently around, but no one answered.
“I see,” said he, “ye all have had to do with it. It is as my Lord of Alban sayeth; ye are his enemies, and ye are my enemies as well. In this I do smell a vile50 plot. I cannot undo52 what I have done, and since I have made this young man a knight with mine own hands, I cannot deny that he is fit to challenge my Lord of Alban. Ne'theless, the High Court of Chivalry53 shall adjudge this case. Meantime,” said he, turning to the Earl Marshal, who was present, “I give thee this attainted Lord in charge. Convey him presently to the Tower, and let him abide54 our pleasure there. Also, thou mayst take up yon gage, and keep it till it is redeemed55 according to our pleasure.”
He stood thoughtfully for a moment, and then raising his eyes, looked fixedly56 at the Earl of Mackworth. “I know,” he said, “that I be a right sick man, and there be some who are already plotting to overthrow57 those who have held up my hand with their own strength for all these years.” Then speaking more directly: “My Lord Earl of Mackworth, I see your hand in this before all others. It was thou who so played upon me as to get me to knight this young man, and thus make him worthy58 to challenge my Lord of Alban. It was thy doings that brought him here to-day, backed by mine own sons and my brother and by these noblemen.” Then turning suddenly to the Earl of Alban: “Come, my Lord,” said he; “I am aweary with all this coil. Lend me thine arm to leave this place.” So it was that he left the room, leaning upon the Earl of Alban's arm, and followed by the two or three of the Alban faction59 who were present.
“Your Royal Highness,” said the Earl Marshal, “I must e'en do the King's bidding, and take this gentleman into arrest.”
“Do thy duty,” said the Prince. “We knew it must come to this. Meanwhile he is to be a prisoner of honor, and see that he be well lodged60 and cared for. Thou wilt61 find my barge62 at the stairs to convey him down the river, and I myself will come this afternoon to visit him.”
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1
depicted
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| 描绘，描画( depict的过去式和过去分词 )； 描述 | |
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2
retired
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| adj.隐退的，退休的，退役的 | |
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3
thither
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| adv.向那里；adj.在那边的，对岸的 | |
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squander
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| v.浪费，挥霍 | |
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tapestry
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| n.挂毯，丰富多采的画面 | |
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6
antiquity
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| n.古老；高龄；古物，古迹 | |
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7
consultation
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| n.咨询；商量；商议；会议 | |
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8
knight
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| n.骑士，武士；爵士 | |
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9
knights
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| 骑士； （中古时代的）武士( knight的名词复数 )； 骑士； 爵士； （国际象棋中）马 | |
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10
piers
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| n.水上平台( pier的名词复数 )；（常设有娱乐场所的）突堤；柱子；墙墩 | |
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11
muffled
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| adj.（声音）被隔的；听不太清的；（衣服）裹严的；蒙住的v.压抑，捂住( muffle的过去式和过去分词 )；用厚厚的衣帽包着（自己） | |
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12
drawn
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| v.拖，拉，拔出；adj.憔悴的，紧张的 | |
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13
agitation
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| n.搅动；搅拌；鼓动，煽动 | |
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14
beheld
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| v.看，注视( behold的过去式和过去分词 )；瞧；看呀；（叙述中用于引出某人意外的出现）哎哟 | |
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15
vividly
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| adv.清楚地，鲜明地，生动地 | |
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16
standing
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| n.持续，地位；adj.永久的，不动的，直立的，不流动的 | |
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17
bloody
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| adj.非常的的；流血的；残忍的；adv.很；vt.血染 | |
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18
mace
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| n.狼牙棒，豆蔻干皮 | |
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19
clinched
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| v.（尤指两人）互相紧紧抱[扭]住( clinch的过去式和过去分词 )；解决（争端、交易），达成（协议） | |
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20
sinister
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| adj.不吉利的，凶恶的，左边的 | |
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21
dent
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| n.凹痕，凹坑；初步进展 | |
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22
amazement
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| n.惊奇，惊讶 | |
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23
astute
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| adj.机敏的，精明的 | |
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24
warrior
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| n.勇士，武士，斗士 | |
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25
fixed
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| adj.固定的，不变的，准备好的；(计算机)固定的 | |
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26
craves
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| 渴望，热望( crave的第三人称单数 )； 恳求，请求 | |
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27
deliberately
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| adv.审慎地；蓄意地；故意地 | |
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28
baron
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| n.男爵；(商业界等)巨头，大王 | |
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29
outlawed
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| 宣布…为不合法（outlaw的过去式与过去分词形式） | |
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30
traitor
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| n.叛徒，卖国贼 | |
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31
covert
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| adj.隐藏的；暗地里的 | |
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32
bishop
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| n.主教，（国际象棋）象 | |
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33
beseech
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| v.祈求，恳求 | |
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34
whatsoever
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| adv.（用于否定句中以加强语气）任何；pron.无论什么 | |
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35
nether
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| adj.下部的，下面的；n.阴间；下层社会 | |
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36
perilled
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| 置…于危险中（peril的过去式与过去分词形式） | |
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37
superfluous
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| adj.过多的，过剩的，多余的 | |
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38
swollen
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| adj.肿大的，水涨的；v.使变大，肿胀 | |
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39
sullen
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| adj.愠怒的，闷闷不乐的，(天气等)阴沉的 | |
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40
craving
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| n.渴望,热望 | |
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41
malignant
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| adj.恶性的，致命的；恶意的，恶毒的 | |
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42
acclaim
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| v.向…欢呼，公认；n.欢呼，喝彩，称赞 | |
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43
foul
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| adj.污秽的；邪恶的；v.弄脏；妨害；犯规；n.犯规 | |
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44
liar
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| n.说谎的人 | |
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45
darted
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| v.投掷，投射( dart的过去式和过去分词 )；向前冲，飞奔 | |
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46
bent
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| n.爱好，癖好；adj.弯的；决心的，一心的 | |
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47
beseeching
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| adj.恳求似的v.恳求，乞求（某事物）( beseech的现在分词 ) | |
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48
swelling
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| n.肿胀 | |
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49
vilely
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| adv.讨厌地，卑劣地 | |
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50
vile
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| adj.卑鄙的，可耻的，邪恶的；坏透的 | |
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51
gage
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| n.标准尺寸，规格；量规，量表 [=gauge] | |
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52
undo
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| vt.解开，松开；取消，撤销 | |
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53
chivalry
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| n.骑士气概，侠义；（男人）对女人彬彬有礼，献殷勤 | |
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54
abide
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| vi.遵守；坚持；vt.忍受 | |
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55
redeemed
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| adj. 可赎回的，可救赎的 动词redeem的过去式和过去分词形式 | |
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56
fixedly
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| adv.固定地；不屈地，坚定不移地 | |
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57
overthrow
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| v.推翻，打倒，颠覆；n.推翻，瓦解，颠覆 | |
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58
worthy
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| adj.(of)值得的，配得上的；有价值的 | |
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59
faction
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| n.宗派，小集团；派别；派系斗争 | |
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60
lodged
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| v.存放( lodge的过去式和过去分词 )；暂住；埋入；（权利、权威等）归属 | |
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61
wilt
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| v.(使)植物凋谢或枯萎；(指人)疲倦，衰弱 | |
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62
barge
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| n.平底载货船，驳船 | |
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