men of iron(铁人)-第30章
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childhood。 It was not until then that he knew all the circumstances of his
father's blindness； that he had been overthrown in the melee at the great
tournament at York； and that that same Lord Brookhurst had ridden his
iron…shod war…horse twice over his enemy's prostrate body before his
squire could draw him from the press； and had then and there given him
the wound from which he afterwards went blind。 The Earl swore to Myles
that Lord Brookhurst had done what he did wilfully； and had afterwards
boasted of it。 Then； with some hesitation； he told Myles the reason of Lord
Brookhurst's enmity； and that it had arisen on account of Lady Falworth；
whom he had one time sought in marriage； and that he had sworn
vengeance against the man who had won her。
Piece by piece the Earl of Mackworth recounted every circumstance
and detail of the revenge that the blind man's enemy had afterwards
wreaked upon him。 He told Myles how； when his father was attainted of
high…treason； and his estates forfeited to the crown； the King had granted
the barony of Easterbridge to the then newly… created Earl of Alban in
spite of all the efforts of Lord Falworth's friends to the contrary； that when
he himself had come out from an audience with the King； with others of
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his father's friends； the Earl of Alban had boasted in the anteroom； in a
loud voice； evidently intended for them all to hear； that now that he had
Falworth's fat lands； he would never rest till he had hunted the blind man
out from his hiding； and brought his head to the block。
〃Ever since then；〃 said the Earl of Mackworth 〃he hath been striving
by every means to discover thy father's place of concealment。 Some time；
haply； he may find it； and then〃
Myles had felt for a long time that he was being moulded and shaped；
and that the Earl of Mackworth's was the hand that was making him what
he was growing to be； but he had never realized how great were the things
expected of him should he pass the first great test； and show himself what
his friends hoped to see him。 Now he knew that all were looking upon him
to act； sometime； as his father's champion； and when that time should
come； to challenge the Earl of Alban to the ordeal of single combat； to
purge his father's name of treason； to restore him to his rank； and to set the
house of Falworth where it stood before misfortune fell upon it。
But it was not alone concerning his and his father's affairs that the Earl
of Mackworth talked to Myles。 He told him that the Earl of Alban was the
Earl of Mackworth's enemy also； that in his younger days he had helped
Lord Falworth； who was his kinsman； to win his wife； and that then； Lord
Brookhurst had sworn to compass his ruin as he had sworn to compass the
ruin of his friend。 He told Myles how； now that Lord Brookhurst was
grown to be Earl of Alban； and great and powerful； he was forever plotting
against him； and showed Myles how； if Lord Falworth were discovered
and arrested for treason； he also would be likely to suffer for aiding and
abetting him。 Then it dawned upon Myles that the Earl looked to him to
champion the house of Beaumont as well as that of Falworth。
〃Mayhap；〃 said the Earl； 〃thou didst think that it was all for the
pleasant sport of the matter that I have taken upon me this toil and
endeavor to have thee knighted with honor that thou mightst fight the
Dauphiny knight。 Nay； nay； Myles Falworth； I have not labored so hard for
such a small matter as that。 I have had the King； unknown to himself； so
knight thee that thou mayst be the peer of Alban himself； and now I would
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have thee to hold thine own with the Sieur de la Montaigne； to try whether
thou be'st Alban's match； and to approve thyself worthy of the honor of thy
knighthood。 I am sorry； ne'theless；〃 he added； after a moment's pause； 〃that
this could not have been put off for a while longer； for my plans for
bringing thee to battle with that vile Alban are not yet ripe。 But such a
chance of the King coming hither haps not often。 And then I am glad of
this muchthat a good occasion offers to get thee presently away from
England。 I would have thee out of the King's sight so soon as may be after
this jousting。 He taketh a liking to thee； and I fear me lest he should
inquire more nearly concerning thee and so all be discovered and spoiled。
My brother George goeth upon the first of next month to France to take
service with the Dauphin； having under his command a company of
tenscore menknights and archers； thou shalt go with him； and there stay
till I send for thee to return。〃
With this； the protracted interview concluded； the Earl charging Myles
to say nothing further about the French expedition for the presenteven to
his friendfor it was as yet a matter of secrecy； known only to the King
and a few nobles closely concerned in the venture。
Then Myles arose to take his leave。 He asked and obtained permission
for Gascoyne to accompany him to France。 Then he paused for a moment
or two； for it was strongly upon him to speak of a matter that had been
lying in his mind all daya matter that he had dreamed of much with open
eyes during the long vigil of the night before。
The Earl looked up inquiringly。 〃What is it thou wouldst ask？〃 said he。
Myles's heart was beating quickly within him at the thought of his own
boldness； and as he spoke his cheeks burned like fire。 〃Sir；〃 said he；
mustering his courage at last； 〃haply thou hast forgot it； but I have not；
ne'theless； a long time since when I spoke of serving thethe Lady Alice
as her true knight； thou didst wisely laugh at my words； and bade me wait
first till I had earned my spurs。 But now； sir； I have gotten my spurs； and
and do now crave thy gracious leave that I may serve that lady as her true
knight。〃
A space of dead silence fell； in which Myles's heart beat tumultuously
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within him。
〃I know not what thou meanest；〃 said the Earl at last； in a somewhat
constrained voice。 〃How wouldst thou serve her？ What wouldst thou
have？〃
〃I would have only a little matter just now；〃 answered Myles。 〃I would
but crave of her a favor for to wear in the morrow's battle； so that she may
know that I hold her for my own true lady； and that I may have the
courage to fight more boldly； having that favor to defend。〃
The Earl sat looking at him for a while in brooding silence； stroking
his beard the while。 Suddenly his brow cleared。 〃So be it；〃 said he。 〃I grant
thee my leave to ask the Lady Alice for a favor； and if she is pleased to
give it to thee； I shall not say thee nay。 But I set this upon thee as a
provision： that thou shalt not see her without the Lady Anne be present。
Thus it was； as I remember； thou saw her first； and with it thou must now
be satisfied。 Go thou to the Long Gallery； and thither they will come anon
if naught hinder them。〃
Myles waited in the Long Gallery perhaps some fifteen or twenty
minutes。 No one was there but himself。 It was a part of the castle
connecting the Earl's and the Countess's apartments； and was used but
little。 During that time he stood looking absently out of the open casement
into the stony court…yard beyond； trying to put into words that which he
had to say； wondering； with anxiety； how soon the young ladies would
come； wondering whether they would come at all。 At last the door at the
farther end of the gallery opened； and turning sharply at the sound； he saw
the two young ladies enter； Lady Alice leaning upon Lady Anne's arm。 It
was the first time that he had seen them since the ceremony of the morning；
and as he advanced to meet them； the Lady Anne came frankly forward；
and gave him her hand； which Myles raised to his lips。
〃I give thee joy of thy knighthood； Sir Myles；〃 said she； 〃and do
believe； in good sooth； that if any one deserveth such an honor； thou art
he。〃
At first little Lady Alice hung back behind her cousin； saying nothing
until the Lady Anne； turning suddenly； said： 〃Come； coz； has thou naught
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to say to our new…made knight？ Canst thou not also wish him joy of his
knighthood？〃
Lady Alice hesitated a minute； then gave Myles a timid hand； which he；
with a strange mixture of joy and confusion； took as timidly as it was
offered。 He raised the hand； and set it lightly and for an instant to his lips；
as he had done with the Lady Anne's hand； but with very different
emotions。
〃I give you joy of your knighthood； sir；〃 said Lady Alice； in a voice so
low that Myles could hardly hear it。
Both flushed red； and as he raised his head again； Myles saw that the
Lady Anne had withdrawn to one side。 Then he knew that it was to give
him the opportunity to proffer his request。
A little space of silence followed； the while he strove to key his
courage to the saying of that which lay at his mind。 〃Lady；〃 said he at last；
and then again〃Lady； Ihave a favor for to ask thee。〃
〃What is it thou wouldst have； Sir Myles？〃 she murmured； in reply。
〃Lady；〃 said he； 〃ever sin I first saw thee I have thought that if I might
choose of all the world； thou only wouldst I choose forfor my true lady；
to serve as a right knight should。〃 Here he stopped； frightened at his own
boldness。 Lady Alice stood quite still； with her face turned away。 〃Thou
thou art not angered at what I say？〃 he said。
She shook her head。
〃I have longed and longed for the time；〃 said he； to ask a boon of thee；
and now hath that time come。 Lady； to…morrow I go to meet a right good
knight； an
