men of iron(铁人)-第26章
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motionless as a statue； holding the bascinet and the bridle…rein of Lord
George's horse。
What Myles saw was a plain； rather stout man； with a face fat； smooth；
and waxy； with pale…blue eyes； and baggy in the lids； clean shaven； except
for a mustache and tuft covering lips and chin。 Somehow he felt a deep
disappointment。 He had expected to see something lion…like； something
regal； and； after all； the great King Henry was commonplace； fat；
unwholesome…looking。 It came to him with a sort of a shock that； after all；
a King was in nowise different from other men。
Meanwhile the Earl and his brother replaced their bascinets； and
presently the whole party moved forward upon the way to Mackworth。
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CHAPTER 23
That same afternoon the squires' quarters were thrown into such a
ferment of excitement as had； perhaps； never before stirred them。 About
one o'clock in the afternoon the Earl himself and Lord George came
walking slowly across the Armory Court wrapped in deep conversation；
and entered Sir James Lee's office。
All the usual hubbub of noise that surrounded the neighborhood of the
dormitory and the armory was stilled at their coming； and when the two
noblemen had entered Sir James's office； the lads and young men gathered
in knots discussing with an almost awesome interest what that visit might
portend。
After some time Sir James Lee came to the door at the head of the long
flight of stone steps； and whistling； beckoned one of the smaller pages to
him。 He gave a short order that sent the little fellow flying on some
mission。 In the course of a few minutes he returned； hurrying across the
stony court with Myles Falworth； who presently entered Sir James's office。
It was then and at this sight that the intense half…suppressed excitement
reached its height of fever…heat。 What did it all mean？ The air was filled
with a thousand vague； wild rumorsbut the very wildest surmises fell
short of the real truth。
Perhaps Myles was somewhat pale when he entered the office；
certainly his nerves were in a tremor； for his heart told him that something
very portentous was about to befall him。 The Earl sat at the table； and in
the seat that Sir James Lee usually occupied； Lord George half sat； half
leaned in the window…place。 Sir James stood with his back to the empty
fireplace； and his hands clasped behind him。 All three were very serious。
〃Give thee good den； Myles Falworth；〃 said the Earl； as Myles bowed
first to him and then to the others； 〃and I would have thee prepare thyself
for a great happening。〃 Then； continuing directly to the point： 〃Thou
knowest； sirrah； why we have been training thee so closely these three
years gone； it is that thou shouldst be able to hold thine own in the world。
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Nay； not only hold thine own； but to show thyself to be a knight of
prowess shouldst it come to a battle between thee and thy father's enemy；
for there lieth no half…way place for thee； and thou must be either great or
else nothing。 Well； sir； the time hath now come for thee to show thy mettle。
I would rather have chosen that thou hadst labored a twelvemonth longer；
but now； as I said； hath come a chance to prove thyself that may never
come again。 Sir James tells me that thou art passably ripe in skill。 Thou
must now show whether that be so or no。 Hast thou ever heard of the Sieur
de la Montaigne？〃
〃Yea； my Lord。 I have heard of him often；〃 answered Myles。 〃It was he
who won the prize at the great tourney at Rochelle last year。〃
〃I see that thou hast his fame pat to thy tongue's end；〃 said the Earl；
〃he is the chevalier of whom I speak； and he is reckoned the best knight of
Dauphiny。 That one of which thou spokest was the third great tourney in
which he was adjudged the victor。 I am glad that thou holdest his prowess
highly。 Knowest thou that he is in the train of the Comte de Vermoise？〃
〃Nay；〃 said Myles； flushing； 〃I did hear news he was in England； but
knew not that he was in this place。〃
〃Yea；〃 said Lord Mackworth； 〃he is here。〃 He paused for a moment；
then said； suddenly。 〃Tell me； Myles Falworth； an thou wert a knight and
of rank fit to run a joust with the Sieur de la Montaigne； wouldst thou dare
encounter him in the lists？〃
The Earl's question fell upon Myles so suddenly and unexpectedly that
for a moment or so he stood staring at the speaker with mouth agape。
Meanwhile the Earl sat looking calmly back at him； slowly stroking his
beard the while。
It was Sir James Lee's voice that broke the silence。 〃Thou heardst thy
Lord speak；〃 said he； harshly。 〃Hast thou no tongue to answer； sirrah？〃
〃Be silent； Lee；〃 said Lord Mackworth； quietly。 〃Let the lad have time
to think before he speaketh。〃
The sound of the words aroused Myles。 He advanced to the table； and
rested his hand upon it。 〃My Lordmy Lord；〃 said he； 〃I know not what to
say； II am amazed and afeard。〃
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〃How！ how！〃 cried Sir James Lee； harshly。 〃Afeard； sayst thou？ An
thou art afeard； thou knave； thou needst never look upon my face or speak
to me more！ I have done with thee forever an thou art afeard even were the
champion a Sir Alisander。〃
〃Peace； peace； Lee；〃 said the Earl； holding up his hand。 〃Thou art too
hasty。 The lad shall have his will in this matter； and thou and no one shall
constrain him。 Methinks； also； thou dost not understand him。 Speak from
thy heart； Myles； why art thou afraid？〃
〃Because；〃 said Myles； 〃I am so young； sir； I am but a raw boy。 How
should I dare be so hardy as to venture to set lance against such an one as
the Sieur de la Montaigne？ What would I be but a laughing…stock for all
the world who would see me so foolish as to venture me against one of
such prowess and skill？〃
〃Nay； Myles；〃 said Lord George； 〃thou thinkest not well enough of
thine own skill and prowess。 Thinkest thou we would undertake to set thee
against him； an we did not think that thou couldst hold thine own fairly
well？〃
〃Hold mine own？〃 cried Myles； turning to Lord George。 〃Sir； thou
dost not meanthou canst not mean； that I may hope or dream to hold
mine own against the Sieur de la Montaigne。〃
〃Aye；〃 said Lord George； 〃that was what I did mean。〃
〃Come； Myles；〃 said the Earl； 〃now tell me： wilt thou fight the Sieur
de la Montaigne？〃
〃Yea；〃 said Myles； drawing himself to his full height and throwing out
his chest。 〃Yea；〃 and his cheeks and forehead flushed red； 〃an thou bid me
do so； I will fight him。〃
〃There spake my brave lad！〃 cried Lord George heartily。
〃I give thee joy； Myles；〃 said the Earl； reaching him his hand； which
Myles took and kissed。 〃And I give thee double joy。 I have talked with the
King concerning thee this morning； and he hath consented to knight thee
yea； to knight thee with all honors of the Bathprovided thou wilt match
thee against the Sieur de la Montaigne for the honor of England and
Mackworth。 Just now the King lieth to sleep for a little while after his
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dinner； have thyself in readiness when he cometh forth； and I will have
thee presented。〃
Then the Earl turned to Sir James Lee； and questioned him as to how
the bachelors were fitted with clothes。 Myles listened； only half hearing
the words through the tumbling of his thoughts。 He had dreamed in his
day…dreams that some time he might be knighted； but that time always
seemed very； very distant。 To be knighted now； in his boyhood； by the
King； with the honors of the Bath； and under the patronage of the Earl of
Mackworth； to joustto actually joustwith the Sieur de la Montaigne；
one of the most famous chevaliers of France！ No wonder he only half
heard the words； half heard the Earl's questions concerning his clothes and
the discussion which followed； half heard Lord George volunteer to array
him in fitting garments from his own wardrobe。
〃Thou mayst go now；〃 said the Earl； at last turning to him。 〃But be
thou at George's apartments by two of the clock to be dressed fittingly for
the occasion。〃
Then Myles went out stupefied； dazed； bewildered。 He looked around；
but he did not see Gascoyne。 He said not a word to any of the others in
answer to the eager questions poured upon him by his fellow…squires； but
walked straight away。 He hardly knew where he went； but by…and…by he
found himself in a grassy angle below the end of the south stable； a spot
overlooking the outer wall and the river beyond。 He looked around； no one
was near； and he flung himself at length； burying his face in his arms。 How
long he lay there he did not know； but suddenly some one touched him
upon the shoulder； and he sprang up quickly。 It was Gascoyne。
〃What is to do； Myles？〃 said his friend； anxiously。 〃What is all this
talk I hear concerning thee up yonder at the armory？〃
〃Oh； Francis！〃 cried Myles； with a husky choking voice： 〃I am to be
knightedby the Kingby the King himself； and II am to fight the Sieur
de la Montaigne。〃
He reached out his hand； and Gascoyne took it。 They stood for a while
quite silent； and when at last the stillness was broken； it was Gascoyne
who spoke； in a choking voice。
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〃Thou art going to be great； Myles；〃 said he。 〃I always knew that it
must be so with thee； and now the time hath come。 Yea； thou wilt be great；
and live at court amongst noble folk； and Kings haply。 Prese
