men of iron-第29章

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！


y　up　against　the　stream；　the　Earl；　leaning　back　in　his　cushioned　seat；　pointed　out　the　various　inns　of　the　great　priests　or　nobles；　palatial　town　residences　standing　mostly　a　little　distance　back　from　the　water　behind　terraced　high…walled　gardens　and　lawns。　Yon　was　the　Bishop　of　Exeter's　Close；　yon　was　the　Bishop　of　Bath's；　that　was　York　House；　and　that　Chester　Inn。　So　passing　by　gardens　and　lawns　and　palaces；　they　came　at　last　to　Scotland　Yard　stairs；　a　broad　flight　of　marble　steps　that　led　upward　to　a　stone　platform　above；　upon　which　opened　the　gate…way　of　the　garden　beyond。

The　Scotland　Yard　of　Myles　Falworth's　day　was　one　of　the　more　pretentious　and　commodious　of　the　palaces　of　the　Strand。　It　took　its　name　from　having　been　from　ancient　times　the　London　inn　which　the　tributary　Kings　of　Scotland　occupied　when　on　their　periodical　visits　of　homage　to　England。　Now；　during　this　time　of　Scotland's　independence；　the　Prince　of　Wales　had　taken　up　his　lodging　in　the　old　palace；　and　made　it　noisy　with　the　mad；　boisterous　mirth　of　his　court。

As　the　watermen　drew　the　barge　close　to　the　landing…place　of　the　stairs；　the　Earl　stepped　ashore；　and　followed　by　Myles　and　Gascoyne；　ascended　to　the　broad　gate…way　of　the　river　wall　of　the　garden。　Three　men…at…arms　who　lounged　upon　a　bench　under　the　shade　of　the　little　pent　roof　of　a　guard…house　beside　the　wall；　arose　and　saluted　as　the　well…known　figure　of　the　Earl　mounted　the　steps。　The　Earl　nodded　a　cool　answer；　and　passing　unchallenged　through　the　gate；　led　the　way　up　a　pleached　walk；　beyond　which；　as　Myles　could　see；　there　stretched　a　little　grassy　lawn　and　a　stone…paved　terrace。　As　the　Earl　and　the　two　young　men　approached　the　end　of　the　walk；　they　were　met　by　the　sound　of　voices　and　laughter；　the　clinking　of　glasses　and　the　rattle　of　dishes。　Turning　a　corner；　they　came　suddenly　upon　a　party　of　young　gentlemen；　who　sat　at　a　late　breakfast　under　the　shade　of　a　wide…spreading　lime…tree。　They　had　evidently　just　left　the　tilt…yard；　for　two　of　the　guestssturdy；　thick…set　young　knightsyet　wore　a　part　of　their　tilting　armor。

Behind　the　merry　scene　stood　the　gray；　hoary　old　palace；　a　steep　flight　of　stone　steps；　and　a　long；　open；　stone…arched　gallery；　which　evidently　led　to　the　kitchen　beyond；　for　along　it　hurried　serving…　men；　running　up　and　down　the　tall　flight　of　steps；　and　bearing　trays　and　dishes　and　cups　and　flagons。　It　was　a　merry　sight　and　a　pleasant　one。　The　day　was　warm　and　balmy；　and　the　yellow　sunlight　fell　in　waving　uncertain　patches　of　light；　dappling　the　table…cloth；　and　twinkling　and　sparkling　upon　the　dishes；　cups；　and　flagons。

At　the　head　of　the　table　sat　a　young　man　some　three　or　four　years　older　than　Myles；　dressed　in　a　full　suit　of　rich　blue　brocaded　velvet；　embroidered　with　gold…thread　and　trimmed　with　black　fur。　His　face；　which　was　turned　towards　them　as　they　mounted　from　the　lawn　to　the　little　stone…flagged　terrace；　was　frank　and　open；　the　cheeks　smooth　and　fair；　the　eyes　dark　and　blue。　He　was　tall　and　rather　slight；　and　wore　his　thick　yellow　hair　hanging　to　his　shoulders；　where　it　was　cut　square　across；　after　the　manner　of　the　times。　Myles　did　not　need　to　be　told　that　it　was　the　Prince　of　Wales。

〃Ho；　Gaffer　Fox！〃　he　cried；　as　soon　as　he　caught　sight　of　the　Earl　of　Mackworth；　〃what　wind　blows　thee　hither　among　us　wild　mallard　drakes？　I　warrant　it　is　not　for　love　of　us；　but　only　to　fill　thine　own　larder　after　the　manner　of　Sir　Fox　among　the　drakes。　Whom　hast　thou　with　thee？　Some　gosling　thou　art　about　to　pluck？〃

A　sudden　hush　fell　upon　the　company；　and　all　faces　were　turned　towards　the　visitors。

The　Earl　bowed　with　a　soft　smile。　〃Your　Highness；〃　said　he；　smoothly；　〃is　pleased　to　be　pleasant。　Sir；　I　bring　you　the　young　knight　of　whom　I　spoke　to　you　some　time　sinceSir　Myles　Falworth。　You　may　be　pleased　to　bring　to　mind　that　you　so　condescended　as　to　promise　to　take　him　into　your　train　until　the　fitting　time　arrived　for　that　certain　matter　of　which　we　spoke。〃

〃Sir　Myles；〃　said　the　Prince　of　Wales；　with　a　frank；　pleasant　smile；　〃I　have　heard　great　reports　of　thy　skill　and　prowess　in　France；　both　from　Mackworth　and　from　others。　It　will　pleasure　me　greatly　to　have　thee　in　my　household；　more　especially；〃　he　added；　〃as　it　will　get　thee；　callow　as　thou　art；　out　of　my　Lord　Fox's　clutches。　Our　faction　cannot　do　without　the　Earl　of　Mackworth's　cunning　wits；　Sir　Myles；　ne'theless　I　would　not　like　to　put　all　my　fate　and　fortune　into　his　hands　without　bond。　I　hope　that　thou　dost　not　rest　thy　fortunes　entirely　upon　his　aid　and　countenance。〃

All　who　were　present　felt　the　discomfort　of　the　Prince's　speech；　It　was　evident　that　one　of　his　mad；　wild　humors　was　upon　him。　In　another　case　the　hare…brained　young　courtiers　around　might　have　taken　their　cue　from　him；　but　the　Earl　of　Mackworth　was　no　subject　for　their　gibes　and　witticisms。　A　constrained　silence　fell；　in　which　the　Earl　alone　maintained　a　perfect　ease　of　manner。

Myles　bowed　to　hide　his　own　embarrassment。　〃Your　Highness；〃　said　he；　evasively；　〃I　rest　my　fortune；　first　of　all；　upon　God；　His　strength　and　justice。〃

〃Thou　wilt　find　safer　dependence　there　than　upon　the　Lord　of　Mackworth；〃　said　the　Prince；　dryly。　〃But　come；〃　he　added；　with　a　sudden　change　of　voice　and　manner；　〃these　be　jests　that　border　too　closely　upon　bitter　earnest　for　a　merry　breakfast。　It　is　ill　to　idle　with　edged　tools。　Wilt　thou　not　stay　and　break　thy　fast　with　us；　my　Lord？〃

〃Pardon　me；　your　Highness；〃　said　the　Earl；　bowing；　and　smiling　the　same　smooth　smile　his　lips　had　worn　from　the　firstsuch　a　smile　as　Myles　had　never　thought　to　have　seen　upon　his　haughty　face；　〃I　crave　your　good　leave　to　decline。　I　must　return　home　presently；　for　even　now；　haply；　your　uncle；　his　Grace　of　Winchester；　is　awaiting　my　coming　upon　the　business　you　wot　of。　Haply　your　Highness　will　find　more　joyance　in　a　lusty　young　knight　like　Sir　Myles　than　in　an　old　fox　like　myself。　So　I　leave　him　with　you；　in　your　good　care。〃

Such　was　Myles's　introduction　to　the　wild　young　madcap　Prince　of　Wales；　afterwards　the　famous　Henry　V；　the　conqueror　of　France。

For　a　month　or　more　thereafter　he　was　a　member　of　the　princely　household；　and；　after　a　little　while；　a　trusted　and　honored　member。　Perhaps　it　was　the　calm　sturdy　strength；　the　courage　of　the　young　knight；　that　first　appealed　to　the　Prince's　royal　heart；　perhaps　afterwards　it　was　the　more　sterling　qualities　that　underlaid　that　courage　that　drew　him　to　the　young　man；　certain　it　was　that　in　two　weeks　Myles　was　the　acknowledged　favorite。　He　made　no　protestation　of　virtue；　he　always　accompanied　the　Prince　in　those　madcap　ventures　to　London；　where　he　beheld　all　manner　of　wild　revelry；　he　never　held　himself　aloof　from　his　gay　comrades；　but　he　looked　upon　all　their　mad　sports　with　the　same　calm　gaze　that　had　carried　him　without　taint　through　the　courts　of　Burgundy　and　the　Dauphin。　The　gay；　roistering　young　lords　and　gentlemen　dubbed　him　Saint　Myles；　and　jested　with　him　about　hair…cloth　shirts　and　flagellations；　but　witticism　and　jest　alike　failed　to　move　Myles's　patient　virtue；　he　went　his　own　gait　in　the　habits　of　his　life；　and　in　so　going　knew　as　little　as　the　others　of　the　mad　court　that　the　Prince's　growing　liking　for　him　was；　perhaps；　more　than　all　else；　on　account　of　that　very　temperance。

Then；　by…and…by；　the　Prince　began　to　confide　in　him　as　he　did　in　none　of　the　others。　There　was　no　great　love　betwixt　the　King　and　his　son；　it　has　happened　very　often　that　the　Kings　of　England　have　felt　bitter　jealousy　towards　the　heirs…apparent　as　they　have　grown　in　power；　and　such　was　the　case　with　the　great　King　Henry　IV。　The　Prince　often　spoke　to　Myles　of　the　clashing　and　jarring　between　himself　and　his　father；　and　the　thought　began　to　come　to　Myles's　mind　by　degrees　that　maybe　the　King's　jealousy　accounted　not　a　little　for　the　Prince's　reckless　intemperance。

Once；　for　instance；　as　the　Prince　leaned　upon；　his　shoulder　waiting；　whilst　the　attendants　made　ready　the　barge　that　was　to　carry　them　down　the　river　to　the　city；　he　said；　abruptly：　〃Myles；　what　thinkest　thou　of　us　all？　Doth　not　thy　honesty　hold　us　in　contempt？〃

〃Nay；　Highness；〃　said　Myles。　〃How　could　I　hold　contempt？〃

〃Marry；〃　said　the　Prince；　〃I　myself　hold　contempt；　and　am　not　as　honest　a　man　as　thou。　But；　prithee；　have　patience　with　me；　Myles。　Some　day；　perhaps；　I　too　will　live　a　clean　life。　Now；　an　I　live　seriously；　the　King　will　be　more　jealous　of　me　than　ever；　and　that　is　not　a　little。　Maybe　I　live　thus　so　that　he　may　not　know　what　I　really　am　in　soothly　earnest。〃

The　Prince　also　often　talked　to　Myles　concerning　his　own　affairs；　of　the　battle　he　was　to　fight　for　his　father's　honor；　of　how　the　Earl　of　Mackworth　had　plotted　and　planned　to　bring　him　face　to　face　with　the　Earl　of　Alban。　He　spoke　to　Myles　more　than　once　of　the　many　great　changes　of　state　and　party　that　hung　upon　the　downfall　of　the　enemy　of　the　house　of　Falworth；　and　showed　him　how　no　hand　but　his　own　could　strike　that　enemy　down；　if　he　fell；　it　must　be　through　the　son　of　Falworth。　Sometimes　it　seemed　to　Myles　as　though　he　and　his　blind　father　were　the　centre　of　a　great　web　of　plot　and　intrigue；　stretching　far　and　wide；　that　included　not　only　the　greatest　houses　of　England；　but　royalty　and　the　political　balance　of　the　country　as　well；　and　even　before　the　greatness　of　it　all　he　did　not　flinch。

Then；　at　last；　came　the　beginning　of　the　time　for　action。　It　was　in　the　early　part　of　May；　and　Myles　had　been　a　member　of　the　Prince's　household　for　a　little　over　a　month。　One　morning　he　was　ordered　to　attend　the　Prince　in　his　privy　cabinet；　and；　obeying　the　summons；　he　found　the　Prince；　his　younger　brother；　the　Duke　of　Bedford；　and　his　uncle；　the　Bishop　of　Winchester；　seated　at　a　table；　where　they　had　just　been　refreshing　themselves　with　a　flagon　of　wine　and　a　plate　of　wafers。

〃My　poor　Myles；〃　said　the　Prince；　smiling；　as　the　young　knight　bowed　to　the　three；　and　then　stood　erect；　as　though　on　duty。　〃It　shames　my　heart；　brotherand　thou；　uncleit　shames　my　heart　to　be　one　privy　to　this　thing　which　we　are　set　upon　to　do。　Here　be　we；　the　greatest　Lords　of　England；　making　a　cat's…paw　of　this　ladfor　he　is　only　yet　a　boyand　of　his　blind　father；　for　to　achieve　our　ends　against　Alban's　faction。　It　seemeth　not　over…honorable　to　my　mind。〃

〃Pardon　me；　your　Highness；〃　said　Myles；　blushing　to　the　roots　of　his　hair；　〃but；　an　I　may　be　so　bold　as　to　speak；　I　reck　nothing　of　what　your　aims　may　be；　I　only　look　to　restoring　my　father's　honor　and　the　honor　of　our　house。〃

〃Truly；〃　said　the　Prince；　smiling；　〃that　is　the　only　matter　that　maketh　me　willing　to　lay　my　hands　to　this　business。　Dost　thou　know　why　I　have　sent　for　thee？　It　is　because　this　day　thou　must　challenge　the　Duke　of　Alban　before　the　King。　The　Earl　of　Mackworth　has　laid　all　his　plans　and　the　time　is　now　ripe。　Knowest　that　thy　father　is　at　Mackworth　House？〃

〃Nay；〃　said　Myles；　〃I　knew　it　not。〃

〃He　hath　been　there　for　nearly　two　days；〃　said　the　Prince。　〃Just　now　the　Earl　hath　sent　for　us　to　come　first　to　Mackworth　House。　Then　to　go　to　the　palace；　for　he　hath　gained　audience　with　the　King；　and　hath　so　arranged　it　that　the　Earl　of　Alban　is　to　be　there　as　well。　We　all　go　straightway；　so　get　thyself　ready　as　soon　as　may　be。〃

Perhaps　Myles's　heart　began　beating　more　quic