to have and to hold-第12章

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ith　respect　I　gulled　and　cheated。　I　let　him；　a　stranger；　give　me　his　name。　I　shelter　myself　now　behind　his　name。　I　have　foisted　on　him　my　quarrel。　I　have　…　Oh；　despise　me；　if　you　will！　You　cannot　despise　me　more　than　I　despise　myself！〃

I　stood　with　my　hand　upon　the　table　and　my　eyes　studying　the　shadow　of　the　vines　upon　the　floor。　All　that　she　said　was　perfectly　true；　and　yet　…　I　had　a　vision　of　a　scarlet　and　black　figure　and　a　dark　and　beautiful　face。　I　too　hated　my　Lord　Carnal。

〃I　do　not　despise　you；　madam；〃　I　said　at　last。　〃What　was　done　two　weeks　ago　in　the　meadow　yonder　is　past　recall。　Let　it　rest。　What　is　mine　is　yours：　it's　little　beside　my　sword　and　my　name。　The　one　is　naturally　at　my　wife's　service；　for　the　other；　I　have　had　some　pride　in　keeping　it　untarnished。　It　is　now　in　your　keeping　as　well　as　my　own。　I　do　not　fear　to　leave　it　there；　madam。〃

I　had　spoken　with　my　eyes　upon　the　garden　outside　the　window；　but　now　I　looked　at　her；　to　see　that　she　was　trembling　in　every　limb；　…　trembling　so　that　I　　thought　she　would　fall。　I　hastened　to　her。　〃The　roses；〃　she　said；　…　〃the　roses　are　too　heavy。　Oh；　I　am　tired　…　and　the　room　goes　round。〃

I　caught　her　as　she　fell；　and　laid　her　gently　upon　the　floor。　There　was　water　on　the　table；　and　I　dashed　some　in　her　face　and　moistened　her　lips；　then　turned　to　the　door　to　get　woman's　help；　and　ran　against　Diccon。

〃I　got　that　bag　of　bones　here　at　last；　sir；〃　he　began。　〃If　ever　I〃　…　His　eyes　traveled　past　me；　and　he　broke　off。

〃Don't　stand　there　staring；〃　I　ordered。　〃Go　bring　the　first　woman　you　meet。〃

〃Is　she　dead？〃　he　asked　under　his　breath。　〃Have　you　killed　her？〃

〃Killed　her；　fool！〃　I　cried。　〃Have　you　never　seen　a　woman　swoon？〃

〃She　looks　like　death；〃　he　muttered。　〃I　thought〃　…

〃You　thought！〃　I　exclaimed。　〃You　have　too　many　thoughts。　Begone；　and　call　for　help！〃

〃Here　is　Angela；〃　he　said　sullenly　and　without　offering　to　move；　as；　light　of　foot；　soft　of　voice；　ox…eyed　and　docile；　the　black　woman　entered　the　room。　When　I　saw　her　upon　her　knees　beside　the　motionless　figure；　the　head　pillowed　on　her　arm；　her　hand　busy　with　the　fastenings　about　throat　and　bosom；　her　dark　face　as　womanly　tender　as　any　English　mother's　bending　over　her　nursling；　and　when　I　saw　my　wife；　with　a　little　moan；　creep　further　into　the　encircling　arms；　I　was　satisfied。

〃Come　away！〃　I　said；　and；　followed　by　Diccon；　went　out　and　shut　the　door。

My　Lord　Carnal　was　never　one　to　let　the　grass　ILLUSTRATION　　　　grow　beneath　his　feet。　An　hour　later　came　his　cartel；　borne　by　no　less　a　personage　than　the　Secretary　of　the　colony。

I　took　it　from　the　point　of　that　worthy's　rapier。　It　ran　thus：　〃SIR；　…　At　what　hour　to…morrow　and　at　what　place　do　you　prefer　to　die？　And　with　what　weapon　shall　I　kill　you？〃

〃Captain　Percy　will　give　me　credit　for　the　profound　reluctance　with　which　I　act　in　this　affair　against　a　gentleman　and　an　officer　so　high　in　the　esteem　of　the　colony；〃　said　Master　Pory；　with　his　hand　upon　his　heart。　〃When　I　tell　him　that　I　once　fought　at　Paris　in　a　duel　of　six　on　the　same　side　with　my　late　Lord　Carnal；　and　that　when　I　was　last　at　court　my　Lord　Warwick　did　me　the　honor　to　present　me　to　the　present　lord；　he　will　see　that　I　could　not　well　refuse　when　the　latter　requested　my　aid。〃

〃Master　Pory's　disinterestedness　is　perfectly　well　known；〃　I　said；　without　a　smile。　〃If　he　ever　chooses　the　stronger　side；　sure　he　has　strong　reasons　for　so　doing。　He　will　oblige　me　by　telling　his　principal　that　I　ever　thought　sunrise　a　pleasant　hour　for　dying；　and　that　there　could　be　no　fitter　place　than　the　field　behind　the　church；　convenient　as　it　is　to　the　graveyard。　As　for　weapons；　I　have　heard　that　he　is　a　good　swordsman；　but　I　have　some　little　reputation　that　way　myself。　If　he　prefers　pistols　or　daggers；　so　be　it。〃

〃I　think　we　may　assume　the　sword；〃　said　Master　Pory。

I　bowed。

〃You'll　bring　a　friend？〃　he　asked。

〃I　do　not　despair　of　finding　one；〃　I　answered；　〃though　my　second；　Master　Secretary；　will　put　himself　in　some　jeopardy。〃

〃It　is　combat　…　outrance；　I　believe？〃

〃I　understand　it　so。〃

〃Then　we'd　better　have　Bohun。　The　survivor　may　need　his　services。〃

〃As　you　please；〃　I　replied；　〃though　my　man　Diccon　dresses　my　scratches　well　enough。〃

He　bit　his　lip；　but　could　not　hide　the　twinkle　in　his　eye。

〃You　are　cocksure；〃　he　said。　〃Curiously　enough；　so　is　my　lord。　There　are　no　further　formalities　to　adjust；　I　believe？　To…morrow　at　sunrise；　behind　the　church；　and　with　rapiers？〃

〃Precisely。〃

He　slapped　his　blade　back　into　its　sheath。　〃Then　that's　over　and　done　with；　for　the　nonce　at　least！　Sufficient　unto　the　day；　etcetera。　'S　life！　I'm　hot　and　dry！　You've　sacked　cities；　Ralph　Percy；　now　sack　me　the　minister's　closet　and　bring　out　his　sherris　I'll　be　at　charges　for　the　next　communion。〃

We　sat　us　down　upon　the　doorstep　with　a　tankard　of　sack　between　us；　and　Master　Pory　drank；　and　drank；　and　drank　again。

〃How's　the　crop？〃　he　asked。　〃Martin　reports　it　poorer　in　quality　than　ever；　but　Sir　George　will　have　it　that　it　is　very　Varinas。〃

〃It's　every　whit　as　good　as　the　Spanish；〃　I　answered。　〃You　may　tell　my　Lord　Warwick　so；　when　next　you　write。〃

He　laughed。　If　he　was　a　timeserver　and　leagued　with　my　Lord　Warwick's　faction　in　the　Company；　he　was　a　jovial　sinner。　Traveler　and　student；　much　of　a　philosopher；　more　of　a　wit；　and　boon　companion　to　any　beggar　with　a　pottle　of　ale；　…　while　the　drink　lasted；　…　we　might　look　askance　at　his　dealings；　but　　we　liked　his　company　passing　well。　If　he　took　half　a　poor　rustic's　crop　for　his　fee；　he　was　ready　enough　to　toss　him　sixpence　for　drink　money；　and　if　he　made　the　tenants　of　the　lands　allotted　to　his　office　leave　their　tobacco　uncared　for　whilst　they　rowed　him　on　his　innumerable　roving　expeditions　up　creeks　and　rivers；　he　at　least　lightened　their　labors　with　most　side…splitting　tales；　and　with　bottle　songs　learned　in　a　thousand　taverns。

〃After　to…morrow　there'll　be　more　interesting　news　to　write；〃　he　announced。　〃You're　a　bold　man；　Captain　Percy。〃

He　looked　at　me　out　of　the　corners　of　his　little　twinkling　eyes。　I　sat　and　smoked　in　silence。

〃The　King　begins　to　dote　upon　him；〃　he　said；　〃leans　on　his　arm；　plays　with　his　hand；　touches　his　cheek。　Buckingham　stands　by；　biting　his　lip；　his　brow　like　a　thundercloud。　You'll　find　in　to…morrow's　antagonist；　Ralph　Percy；　as　potent　a　conjurer　as　your　cousin　Hotspur　found　in　Glendower。　He'll　conjure　you　up　the　Tower；　and　a　hanging；　drawing；　and　quartering。　Who　touches　the　King's　favorite　had　safer　touch　the　King。　It's　l？se…majest？　you　contemplate。〃

He　lit　his　pipe　and　blew　out　a　great　cloud　of　smoke；　then　burst　into　a　roar　of　laughter。　〃My　Lord　High　Admiral　may　see　you　through。　Zooks！　there'll　be　a　raree…show　worth　the　penny；　behind　the　church　to…morrow；　a　Percy　striving　with　all　his　might　and　main　to　serve　a　Villiers！　Eureka！　There　is　something　new　under　the　sun；　despite　the　Preacher！〃　He　blew　out　another　cloud　of　smoke。　By　this　the　tankard　was　empty；　and　his　cheeks　were　red；　his　eyes　moist；　and　his　laughter　very　ready。

〃Where's　the　Lady　Jocelyn　Leigh？〃　he　asked。　　〃May　I　not　have　the　honor　to　kiss　her　hand　before　I　go？〃

I　stared　at　him。　〃I　do　not　understand　you；〃　I　said　coldly。　〃There　's　none　within　but　Mistress　Percy。　She　is　weary；　and　rests　after　her　journey。　We　came　from　Weyanoke　this　morning。〃

He　shook　with　laughter。　〃Ay；　ay；　brave　it　out！〃　he　cried。　〃It's　what　every　man　Jack　of　us　said　you　would　do！　But　all's　known；　man！　The　Governor　read　the　King's　letters　in　full　Council　an　hour　ago。　She's　the　Lady　Jocelyn　Leigh；　she　's　a　ward　of　the　King's；　she　and　her　lands　are　to　wed　my　Lord　Carnal！〃

〃She　was　all　that；〃　I　replied。　〃Now　she　's　my　wife。〃

〃You'll　find　that　the　Court　of　High　Commission　will　not　agree　with　you。〃

My　rapier　lay　across　my　knees；　and　I　ran　my　hand　down　its　worn　scabbard。　〃Here　's　one　that　agrees　with　me；〃　I　said。　〃And　up　there　is　Another；〃　and　I　lifted　my　hat。

He　stared。　〃God　and　my　good　sword！〃　he　cried。　〃A　very　knightly　dependence；　but　not　to　be　mentioned　nowadays　in　the　same　breath　with　gold　and　the　King's　favor。　Better　bend　to　the　storm；　man；　sing　low　while　it　roars　past。　You　can　swear　that　you　did　n't　know　her　to　be　of　finer　weave　than　dowlas。　Oh；　they'll　call　it　in　some　sort　a　marriage；　for　the　lady's　own　sake；　but　they'll　find　flaws　enough　to　crack　a　thousand　such　mad　matches。　The　divorce　is　the　thing！　There's　precedent；　you　know。　A　fair　lady　was　parted　from　a　brave　man　not　a　thousand　years　ago；　because　a　favorite　wanted　her。　True；　Frances　Howard　wanted　the　favorite；　whilst　this　beauty　of　yours〃　…

〃You　will　please　not　couple　the　name　of　my　wife　with　the　name　of　that　adulteress！〃　I　interrupted　fiercely。

He　started；　then　cried　out　somewhat　hurriedly：　〃No　offense；　no　offense！　I　meant　no　comparisons；　comparisons　are　odorous；　saith　Dogberry。　All　at　court　know　the　Lady　Jocelyn　Leigh　for　a　very　Britomart；　a　maid　as　cold　as　Dian！〃

I　rose；　and　began　to　pace　up　and　down　the　bit　of　green　before　the　door。　〃Master　Pory；〃　I　said　at　last；　coming　to　a　stop　before　him；　〃if；　without　breach　of　faith；　you　can　tell　me　what　was　said　or　done　at　the　Council　to…day　anent　this　matter；　you　will　lay　me　under　an　obligation　that　I　shall　not　forget。〃

He　studied　the　lace　on　his　sleeve　in　silence　for　a　while；　then　glanced　up　at　me　out　of　those　small；　sly；　merry　eyes。　〃Why；〃　he　answered；　〃the　King　demands　that　the　lady　be　sent　home　forthwith；　on　the　ship　that　gave　us　such　a　turn　to…day；　in　fact；　with　a　couple　of　women　to　attend　her；　and　under　the　protection　of　the　only　other　passenger　of　quality；　to　wit；　my　Lord　Carnal。　His　Majesty　cannot　conceive　it　possible　that　she　hath　so　far　forgotten　her　birth；　rank；　and　duty　as　to　have　maintained　in　Virginia　this　mad　masquerade；　throwing　herself　into　the　arms　of　any　petty　planter　or　broken　adventurer　who　hath　chanced　to　have　an　hundred　and　twenty　pounds　of　filthy　tobacco　with　which　to　buy　him　a　wife。　If　she　hath　been　so　mad；　she　is　to　be　sent　home　none　the　less；　where　she　will　be　tenderly　dealt　with　as　one　surely　in　this　sole　matter　under　the　spell　of　witchcraft。　The　ship　is　to　bring　home　also　…　and　in　irons　…　the　man　who　married　her。　If　he　swears　to　have　been　ignorant　of　her　quality；　and　places　no　straws　in　the　way　of　the　King's　　Commissioners；　then　shall　he　be　sent　honorably　back　to　Virginia　with　enough　in　his　hand　to　get　him　another　wife。　　Per　contra；　if　he　erred　with　open　eyes；　and　if　he　remain　contumacious；　he　will　have　to　deal　with　the　King　and　with　the　Court　of　High　Commission；　to　say　nothing　of　the　King's　favorite。　That's　the　sum　and　substance；　Ralph　Percy。〃

〃Why　was　my　Lord　Carnal　sent？〃　I　asked。

〃Probably　because　my　Lord　Carnal　would　come。　He　hath　a　will；　hath　my　Lord；　and　the　King　is　more　indulgent　than　Eli　to　those　upon　whom　he　dotes。　Doubtless；　my　Lord　High　Admiral　sped　him　on　his　way；　gave　him　the　King's　best　ship；　wished　him　a　favorable　wind　…　to　hell。〃

〃I　was　not　ignorant　that　she　was　other　than　she　seemed；　and　I　remain　contumacious。〃

〃Then；〃　he　said　shamelessly；　〃you'll　forgive　me　if　in　public；　at　least；　I　forswear　your　company？　You're　plague…spotted；　Captain　Percy；　and　your　friends　may　wish　you　well；　but　they　must　stay　at　home　and　burn　juniper　before　their　own　doors。〃

〃I'll　forgive　you；〃　I　said；　〃wh