men of iron(铁人)-第35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！
〃Thou speakest very boldly；〃 said the Earl。 〃I do hope that thy deeds
be as bold as thy words。〃
〃That；〃 said Myles； 〃thou must ask other men。 Methinks no one may
justly call me coward。〃
〃By my troth！〃 said the Earl； smiling； 〃looking upon theelimbs and
girth； bone and sinewI would not like to be the he that would dare accuse
thee of such a thing。 As for thy surmise； I may tell thee plain that thou art
right； and that it was to fight the Earl of Alban I sent for thee hither。 The
time is now nearly ripe； and I will straightway send for thy father to come
to London。 Meantime it would not be safe either for thee or for me to keep
thee in my service。 I have spoken to his Highness the Prince of Wales；
who； with other of the Princes； is upon our side in this quarrel。 He hath
promised to take thee into his service until the fitting time comes to bring
thee and thine enemy together； and to…morrow I shall take thee to Scotland
160
… Page 161…
MEN OF IRON
Yard； where his Highness is now lodging。〃
As the Earl ended his speech； Myles bowed； but did not speak。 The
Earl waited for a little while； as though to give him the opportunity to
answer。
〃Well； sirrah；〃 said he at last； with a shade of impatience； 〃hast thou
naught to say？ Meseems thou takest all this with marvellous coolness。〃
〃Have I then my Lord's permission to speak my mind？〃
〃Aye；〃 said the Earl； 〃say thy say。〃
〃Sir；〃 said Myles； 〃I have thought and pondered this matter much
while abroad； and would now ask thee a plain question in all honest an I
ha' thy leave。 〃
The Earl nodded his head。
〃Sir； am I not right in believing that thou hast certain weighty purposes
and aims of thine own to gain an I win this battle against the Earl of
Alban？〃
〃Has my brother George been telling thee aught to such a purpose？〃
said the Earl； after a moment or two of silence。
Myles did not answer。
〃No matter；〃 added Lord Mackworth。 〃I will not ask thee who told
thee such a thing。 As for thy questionwell； sin thou ask it frankly； I will
be frank with thee。 Yea； I have certain ends to gain in having the Earl of
Alban overthrown。〃
Myles bowed。 〃Sir；〃 said he； 〃haply thine ends are as much beyond
aught that I can comprehend as though I were a little child； only this I
know； that they must be very great。 Thou knowest well that in any case I
would fight me this battle for my father's sake and for the honor of my
house； nevertheless； in return for all that it will so greatly advantage thee；
wilt thou not grant me a boon in return should I overcome mine enemy？〃
〃What is thy boon； Sir Myles？〃
〃That thou wilt grant me thy favor to seek the Lady Alice de Mowbray
for my wife。〃
The Earl of Mackworth started up from his seat。 〃Sir Myles Falworth〃…
…he began； violently； and then stopped short； drawing his bushy eyebrows
161
… Page 162…
MEN OF IRON
together into a frown stern； if not sinister。
Myles withstood his look calmly and impassively； and presently the
Earl turned on his heel； and strode to the open window。 A long time passed
in silence while he stood there； gazing out of the window into the garden
beyond with his back to the young man。
Suddenly he swung around again。 〃Sir Myles；〃 said he； 〃the family of
Falworth is as good as any in Derbyshire。 Just now it is poor and fallen in
estate； but if it is again placed in credit and honor； thou； who art the son of
the house； shalt have thy suit weighed with as much respect and
consideration as though thou wert my peer in all things； Such is my
answer。 Art thou satisfied？〃
〃I could ask no more；〃 answered Myles。
162
… Page 163…
MEN OF IRON
CHAPTER 29
That night Myles lodged at Mackworth House。 The next morning； as
soon as he had broken his fast； which he did in the privacy of his own
apartments； the Earl bade him and Gascoyne to make ready for the barge；
which was then waiting at the river stairs to take them to Scotland Yard。
The Earl himself accompanied them； and as the heavy snub…nosed boat；
rowed by the six oarsmen in Mackworth livery； slid slowly and heavily 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
163
… Page 164…
MEN OF IRON
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
164
… Page 165…
MEN OF IRON
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
bitte
