“We have run, gossips, and there must be a reason for it, or we shall be damned.”
Their unanimity3 was admirable. My Lord of Troy owed them six months’ pay, a shrewd way he had of keeping men at his heels, but he did not concern himself with cowards. These five dogs knew better than to run home with their tails between their legs.
Roger Bland4 was at supper, a noble function in which all stateliness was properly and finely considered. He had a love of taking his meals in public, of playing at pageantry even among the plates. His wealth showed itself in his gold cups and dishes, his tapestries5 and dorsers, his linen6 and silver, the musicians, their coats of blue and green, his crowd of serving men, the profusion7 of food. All this peacocking had a purpose. Men’s senses are conquered and led into subjection by the pomps that paint a picture of power.
Fulk de Lisle had returned and brought in the bodies of Vance and the archer8. Rich and his men were back from Badger9 Hill. Neither of these captains had caught much; the Forest did not lightly surrender its secrets.
Meanwhile those five fugitive10 worthies11 had chosen a player and spokesman, a little Welshman with much language and fiery12 eyes. He was to tell their tale of the attack on Woodmere to Roger Bland, and dress up a few picturesque14 lies to give the tale a greater appearance of reality.
The news of their coming was brought to my Lord of Troy as he sat at the high table. The page who brought the news had been listening to the Welshman filling the guard-room with sound and fury.
“These fellows say, my lord, that Swartz is dead, and five more with him, and that they were beaten by one man.”
My lord was cracking nuts, and picking them out of their shells with precise indifference15.
“Who are the men, Ralph?”
It was De Lisle who asked the question.
“Morgan the Welshman, Part, and Simonsby, and fat Horner, and one more.”
De Lisle laughed, and nodded at Roger Bland.
“I could have named the men, my lord; spunkless rogues16 all of them. Morgan would lie the hoofs17 off Satan.”
My Lord of Troy went on cracking nuts.
“Ralph.”
“My lord?”
“Bring the men in here, all of them, and let them line up in front of my table.”
He was obeyed. The five bold “blades” found themselves standing18 in a row, while Roger Bland ate his nuts, and looked at them as though they were cattle to be judged. He did not speak, and the five tried not to fidget.
“Question these fellows for me, Sir Fulk de Lisle.”
“My lord, with pleasure.”
“So you ran away, my friends?”
They denied it, Morgan the Welshman leading the chorus.
“Then, how is it that you are here?”
“You saw no more than one man?”
“A giant, sir, a devil of a fellow in white harness, plated from poll to toes.”
“Ah, a paladin! You say that he killed Swartz and five more?”
“He was like an iron bull, my lord.”
“And so you ran away! Yes, yes—I have no patience to waste, fool, on your paltry24 lies. You saw nothing of a woman?”
“Nothing, my lord.”
“Very well. Out with you—out of my sight! Master Rich, come here to me.”
The five slouched out, and John Rich, who was sitting at the far end of the dais table, came and stood behind Roger Bland’s chair.
“My lord?”
“Ah, Master Rich, bend your head nearer. You will take thirty men and such gear as you need, and ride at dawn. I must have this fabulous25 fellow in white harness. See to it that he does not frighten you all.”
Rich grinned.
“It shall be done, my lord.”
“Man, let it be done. I am beginning to be angry.”
Five minutes later my Lord of Troy took a last sip2 of sweet wine, washed his hands in perfumed water, and went to his closet. Fulk de Lisle followed at his heels, smiling humorously at the great man’s back.
“Fulk de Lisle.”
“My dear lord?”
“Is there more in this, think you, than meets the eye?”
“The slaying26 of Vance, sir, was very natural, and I take it that Swartz fell by the same hand. This bastard27 priest is something of an enigma28. How did he come by armor and a sword? Such things do not grow in the Forest.”
“We must see the end and bottom of this affair. I have given John Rich the adventure; I give you John Rich. Is that plain to you?”
“Most plain, my lord.”
“See that this business is carried through. I want the Forest’s secret—if it is keeping a secret. I care not how it is come by.”
Fulk de Lisle bowed.
“You have a spacious31 way, my lord, of sending a gentleman upon your business. We are not cramped32 and hindered by little abominations of the law. It is an honor to serve you.”
And he went out with the air of a man who knew himself to be shrewder than his master.
Such were the preparations that were maturing at Troy Castle on the night after Martin Valliant’s defeat of Swartz and his men. John Rich took the road next morning, while Martin was improving his footbridge, and Mellis was chastening the hot vanities of young Nigel Blount. Martin had brought the three horses over the mere13, stabled them in the old dining hall, pulled up the bridge and shut the gate. He took life with great seriousness, but his heart was full of a new song.
Martin was shaping a new oak bar for the garden postern when Peter Swartz came out of the orchard33 for a gossip. He had slept passably and eaten better, though his legs were none too steady under him.
“My noddle still simmers like a boiling pot. What happens to-day, brother?”
“What God wills.”
Swartz looked at him intently.
“Fine philosophy, Martin Valliant, but God may leave a man with a noose35 about his neck. You would say that this is no affair of mine, nor is it, save that I have no lust36 for a man’s blood, or to see him kicking at the end of a rope. The Forest would be healthier than this sweet island.”
Martin stood idle, the bill hanging in his hand.
“I am here to serve,” he said.
“My friend, you have drunk of the magic cup. A man might wound you, and you would hardly feel it. But my Lord of Troy is no child of dreams. You are but a rat—to be sniffed37 out by terriers.”
“I am not alone.”
“Thunder—that’s where the trouble lies. This child with the eyes of midnight wonder——”
He shook his fist at Martin.
“No frowns, no haughtiness38, good comrade. Is she too miraculous39 to be spoken of by my lips? Why, by all the devils, have I no heart in me, and no liking40 for the gallant41 splendor42 of youth? You will be attacked to-day, not with ten men, but with fifty.”
Martin answered him bluntly.
“She has gone for help. We are not alone.”
“So—that is the game! I guessed it. There is the color of a red rose in all this.”
“Guess what you please.”
“A Richmond—a Richmond! The Forest is stirring with the wind, eh? And I am Peter Noside for the moment. Yes, and let me tell you one thing, Martin Valliant, your friends will need to hurry if they are to make this place good. There are cannon44 at Raychester. Oh, this great and happy madness!”
He rose up, and walked to and fro.
“What an old fool I am, but I could change sides to get a blow at my dear master. Why must some of us always rush to help the man who has his back against the wall? Hallo—hallo!”
Shrill45 and clear came the scream of a trumpet46 from the valley. Martin Valliant and Peter Swartz stood looking at each other.
“Troy, by God! And a summons. What did I tell you, comrade?”
Martin dropped the billhook and took his sword, that was leaning against the wall. He stared hard at Swartz, as though to read the man’s soul.
Swartz smiled at him.
“No, I shall not stab you in the back, man; have no fear. Let us go up on the tower and look at the country.”
He followed Martin to the leads, but did not show himself above the wall. Martin was scanning the valley.
“What do you see, brother?”
“A man on a white horse with a green banner, and on it a silver key. There is another man with a trumpet.”
“Troy. What else?”
“That would be John Rich. Nothing more?”
“Steel, man, steel.”
The trumpeter blew a second blast, and John Rich and his banner-bearer rode down nearer to the water. They were scanning the island, and had sighted Martin on the tower.
“A summons, Greenshield.”
“I have nothing to say to them.”
“Then say nothing. They will take to other music.”
Swartz, raising his head to look, saw John Rich turn his horse and ride back slowly to the beech wood, followed by his trumpeter and the man who carried my Lord of Troy’s banner.
“Ha, the old fox! John Rich takes his time. You will not see until you do see.”
An hour passed, and nothing happened. The beech wood looked black, mysterious, and inscrutable, while Martin stood to arms upon the tower, feeling that the wood above was full of eyes that watched and waited. Swartz had grown restless. His heart was taking sides in the adventure.
“What is the old fox at? I mislike this silence.”
Suddenly he heard Martin Valliant give a strange, sharp cry.
“Look!”
“What damnable fool is that?”
Away down the valley young Nigel Blount and Mellis had ridden out from the woods and were crossing the open grassland51 toward the mere, with Nigel’s men straggling as they pleased half a furlong behind them. Young Blount was riding gallantly52 enough, making his horse cut capers53, while he showed what manner of man he was in the saddle. His men were laughing and talking, their bows unstrung, not one of them troubling to keep watch.
“Peacock! Ape! Shout, man, shout! There is a trap set here, if I am not much mistaken.”
Martin raised his sword, and flashed it to and fro. He saw Mellis draw rein54, and knew that her eyes were on him. He pointed55 toward the beech wood, but even if she understood his warning it came too late.
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1
flare
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| v.闪耀，闪烁；n.潮红；突发 | |
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2
sip
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| v.小口地喝，抿，呷；n.一小口的量 | |
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3
unanimity
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| n.全体一致，一致同意 | |
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bland
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| adj.淡而无味的，温和的，无刺激性的 | |
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5
tapestries
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| n.挂毯( tapestry的名词复数 )；绣帷，织锦v.用挂毯（或绣帷）装饰( tapestry的第三人称单数 ) | |
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6
linen
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| n.亚麻布，亚麻线，亚麻制品；adj.亚麻布制的，亚麻的 | |
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7
profusion
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| n.挥霍；丰富 | |
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8
archer
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| n.射手，弓箭手 | |
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9
badger
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| v.一再烦扰，一再要求，纠缠 | |
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10
fugitive
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| adj.逃亡的，易逝的；n.逃犯，逃亡者 | |
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11
worthies
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| 应得某事物( worthy的名词复数 )； 值得做某事； 可尊敬的； 有（某人或事物）的典型特征 | |
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12
fiery
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| adj.燃烧着的，火红的；暴躁的；激烈的 | |
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13
mere
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| adj.纯粹的；仅仅，只不过 | |
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14
picturesque
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| adj.美丽如画的，（语言）生动的，绘声绘色的 | |
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15
indifference
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| n.不感兴趣，不关心，冷淡，不在乎 | |
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16
rogues
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| n.流氓( rogue的名词复数 )；无赖；调皮捣蛋的人；离群的野兽 | |
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17
hoofs
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| n.（兽的）蹄，马蹄( hoof的名词复数 )v.（兽的）蹄，马蹄( hoof的第三人称单数 ) | |
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18
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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19
belly
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| n.肚子，腹部；(像肚子一样)鼓起的部分，膛 | |
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20
cynical
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| adj.(对人性或动机)怀疑的，不信世道向善的 | |
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21
confession
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| n.自白，供认，承认 | |
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22
amplify
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| vt.放大，增强；详述，详加解说 | |
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23
gallop
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| v./n.(马或骑马等)飞奔；飞速发展 | |
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24
paltry
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| adj.无价值的，微不足道的 | |
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25
fabulous
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| adj.极好的；极为巨大的；寓言中的，传说中的 | |
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26
slaying
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| 杀戮。 | |
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27
bastard
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| n.坏蛋，混蛋；私生子 | |
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28
enigma
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| n.谜，谜一样的人或事 | |
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29
eyelids
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| n.眼睑( eyelid的名词复数 )；眼睛也不眨一下；不露声色；面不改色 | |
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30
flicker
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| vi./n.闪烁，摇曳，闪现 | |
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31
spacious
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| adj.广阔的，宽敞的 | |
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32
cramped
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| a.狭窄的 | |
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33
orchard
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| n.果园，果园里的全部果树，(美俚)棒球场 | |
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34
squatted
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| v.像动物一样蹲下( squat的过去式和过去分词 )；非法擅自占用（土地或房屋）；为获得其所有权；而占用某片公共用地。 | |
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35
noose
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| n.绳套，绞索（刑）；v.用套索捉；使落入圈套；处以绞刑 | |
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36
lust
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| n.性(淫)欲；渴(欲)望；vi.对…有强烈的欲望 | |
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37
sniffed
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| v.以鼻吸气，嗅，闻( sniff的过去式和过去分词 )；抽鼻子（尤指哭泣、患感冒等时出声地用鼻子吸气）；抱怨，不以为然地说 | |
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38
haughtiness
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| n.傲慢；傲气 | |
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39
miraculous
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| adj.像奇迹一样的，不可思议的 | |
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40
liking
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| n.爱好；嗜好；喜欢 | |
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41
gallant
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| adj.英勇的，豪侠的；(向女人)献殷勤的 | |
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42
splendor
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| n.光彩；壮丽，华丽；显赫，辉煌 | |
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43
flinching
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| v.（因危险和痛苦）退缩，畏惧( flinch的现在分词 ) | |
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44
cannon
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| n.大炮，火炮；飞机上的机关炮 | |
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45
shrill
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| adj.尖声的；刺耳的；v尖叫 | |
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46
trumpet
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| n.喇叭，喇叭声；v.吹喇叭，吹嘘 | |
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47
knight
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| n.骑士，武士；爵士 | |
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48
beech
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| n.山毛榉；adj.山毛榉的 | |
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49
rigid
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| adj.严格的，死板的；刚硬的，僵硬的 | |
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50
robust
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| adj.强壮的，强健的，粗野的，需要体力的，浓的 | |
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51
grassland
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| n.牧场，草地，草原 | |
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52
gallantly
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| adv. 漂亮地，勇敢地，献殷勤地 | |
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53
capers
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| n.开玩笑( caper的名词复数 )；刺山柑v.跳跃，雀跃( caper的第三人称单数 ) | |
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54
rein
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| n.疆绳，统治，支配；vt.以僵绳控制，统治 | |
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55
pointed
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| adj.尖的，直截了当的 | |
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