the little duke-第10章

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〃My　Lord　the　King　is　waiting　for　the　Duke；〃　said　a　Frenchman；　coming　forward。

〃Farewell　then；　Fru　Astrida。　　Do　not　weep。　　I　shall　soon　come　back。　Farewell；　Alberic。　　Take　the　bar…tailed　falcon　back　to　Montemar；　and　keep　him　for　my　sake。　　Farewell；　Sir　EricFarewell；　Count　Bernard。　When　the　Normans　come　to　conquer　Arnulf　you　will　lead　them。　　O　dear；　dear　Fru　Astrida；　farewell　again。〃

〃Farewell；　my　own　darling。　　The　blessing　of　Heaven　go　with　you；　and　bring　you　safe　home！　　Farewell；　Osmond。　　Heaven　guard　you　and　strengthen　you　to　be　his　shield　and　his　defence！〃



CHAPTER　VI



Away　from　the　tall　narrow　gateway　of　Rollo's　Tower；　with　the　cluster　of　friendly；　sorrowful　faces　looking　forth　from　it；　away　from　the　booth…like　shops　of　Rouen；　and　the　stout　burghers　shouting　with　all　the　power　of　their　lungs；　〃Long　live　Duke　Richard！　　Long　live　King　Louis！　　Death　to　the　Fleming！〃away　from　the　broad　Seineaway　from　home　and　friends；　rode　the　young　Duke　of　Normandy；　by　the　side　of　the　palfrey　of　the　King　of　France。

The　King　took　much　notice　of　him；　kept　him　by　his　side；　talked　to　him；　admired　the　beautiful　cattle　grazing　in　security　in　the　green　pastures；　and；　as　he　looked　at　the　rich　dark　brown　earth　of　the　fields；　the　Castles　towering　above　the　woods；　the　Convents　looking　like　great　farms；　the　many　villages　round　the　rude　Churches；　and　the　numerous　population　who　came　out　to　gaze　at　the　party；　and　repeat　the　cry　of　〃Long　live　the　King！　　Blessings　on　the　little　Duke！〃　he　told　Richard；　again　and　again；　that　his　was　the　most　goodly　duchy　in　France　and　Germany　to　boot。

When　they　crossed　the　Epte；　the　King　would　have　Richard　in　the　same　boat　with　him；　and　sitting　close　to　Louis；　and　talking　eagerly　about　falcons　and　hounds；　the　little　Duke　passed　the　boundary　of　his　own　dukedom。

The　country　beyond　was　not　like　Normandy。　　First　they　came　to　a　great　forest；　which　seemed　to　have　no　path　through　it。　　The　King　ordered　that　one　of　the　men；　who　had　rowed　them　across；　should　be　made　to　serve　as　guide；　and　two　of　the　men…at…arms　took　him　between　them；　and　forced　him　to　lead　the　way；　while　others；　with　their　swords　and　battle…axes；　cut　down　and　cleared　away　the　tangled　branches　and　briars　that　nearly　choked　the　path。　　All　the　time；　every　one　was　sharply　on　the　look…out　for　robbers；　and　the　weapons　were　all　held　ready　for　use　at　a　moment's　notice。　　On　getting　beyond　the　forest　a　Castle　rose　before　them；　and；　though　it　was　not　yet　late　in　the　day；　they　resolved　to　rest　there；　as　a　marsh　lay　not　far　before　them；　which　it　would　not　have　been　safe　to　traverse　in　the　evening　twilight。

The　Baron　of　the　Castle　received　them　with　great　respect　to　the　King；　but　without　paying　much　attention　to　the　Duke　of　Normandy；　and　Richard　did　not　find　the　second　place　left　for　him　at　the　board。　　He　coloured　violently；　and　looked　first　at　the　King；　and　then　at　Osmond；　but　Osmond　held　up　his　finger　in　warning；　he　remembered　how　he　had　lost　his　temper　before；　and　what　had　come　of　it；　and　resolved　to　try　to　bear　it　better；　and　just　then　the　Baron's　daughter；　a　gentle…　looking　maiden　of　fifteen　or　sixteen；　came　and　spoke　to　him；　and　entertained　him　so　well；　that　he　did　not　think　much　more　of　his　offended　dignity。When　they　set　off　on　their　journey　again；　the　Baron　and　several　of　his　followers　came　with　them　to　show　the　only　safe　way　across　the　morass；　and　a　very　slippery；　treacherous；　quaking　road　it　was；　where　the　horses'　feet　left　pools　of　water　wherever　they　trod。　　The　King　and　the　Baron　rode　together；　and　the　other　French　Nobles　closed　round　them；　Richard　was　left　quite　in　the　background；　and　though　the　French　men…at…arms　took　care　not　to　lose　sight　of　him；　no　one　offered　him　any　assistance；　excepting　Osmond；　who；　giving　his　own　horse　to　Sybald；　one　of　the　two　Norman　grooms　who　accompanied　him；　led　Richard's　horse　by　the　bridle　along　the　whole　distance　of　the　marshy　path；　a　business　that　could　scarcely　have　been　pleasant；　as　Osmond　wore　his　heavy　hauberk；　and　his　pointed；　iron…guarded　boots　sunk　deep　at　every　step　into　the　bog。　　He　spoke　little；　but　seemed　to　be　taking　good　heed　of　every　stump　of　willow　or　stepping…stone　that　might　serve　as　a　note　of　remembrance　of　the　path。

At　the　other　end　of　the　morass　began　a　long　tract　of　dreary…looking；　heathy　waste；　without　a　sign　of　life。　　The　Baron　took　leave　of　the　King；　only　sending　three　men…at…arms；　to　show　him　the　way　to　a　monastery；　which　was　to　be　the　next　halting…place。　　He　sent　three；　because　it　was　not　safe　for　one；　even　fully　armed；　to　ride　alone；　for　fear　of　the　attacks　of　the　followers　of　a　certain　marauding　Baron；　who　was　at　deadly　feud　with　him；　and　made　all　that　border　a　most　perilous　region。　　Richard　might　well　observe　that　he　did　not　like　the　Vexin　half　as　well　as　Normandy；　and　that　the　people　ought　to　learn　Fru　Astrida's　story　of　the　golden　bracelets；　which；　in　his　grandfather's　time；　had　hung　untouched　for　a　year；　in　a　tree　in　a　forest。

It　was　pretty　much　the　same　through　the　whole　journey；　waste　lands；　marshes；　and　forests　alternated。　　The　Castles　stood　on　high　mounds　frowning　on　the　country　round；　and　villages　were　clustered　round　them；　where　the　people　either　fled　away；　driving　off　their　cattle　with　them　at　the　first　sight　of　an　armed　band；　or　else；　if　they　remained；　proved　to　be　thin；　wretched…looking　creatures；　with　wasted　limbs；　aguish　faces；　and　often　iron　collars　round　their　necks。　Wherever　there　was　anything　of　more　prosperous　appearance；　such　as　a　few　cornfields；　vineyards　on　the　slopes　of　the　hills；　fat　cattle；　and　peasantry　looking　healthy　and　secure；　there　was　sure　to　be　seen　a　range　of　long　low　stone　buildings；　surmounted　with　crosses；　with　a　short　square　Church　tower　rising　in　the　midst；　and　interspersed　with　gnarled　hoary　old　apple…trees；　or　with　gardens　of　pot…herbs　spreading　before　them　to　the　meadows。　　If；　instead　of　two　or　three　men…at…arms　from　a　Castle；　or　of　some　trembling　serf　pressed　into　the　service；　and　beaten；　threatened；　and　watched　to　prevent　treachery；　the　King　asked　for　a　guide　at　a　Convent；　some　lay　brother　would　take　his　staff；　or　else　mount　an　ass；　and　proceed　in　perfect　confidence　and　security　as　to　his　return　homewards；　sure　that　his　poverty　and　his　sacred　character　would　alike　protect　him　from　any　outrage　from　the　most　lawless　marauder　of　the　neighbourhood。

Thus　they　travelled　until　they　reached　the　royal　Castle　of　Laon；　where　the　Fleur…de…Lys　standard　on　the　battlements　announced　the　presence　of　Gerberge；　Queen　of　France；　and　her　two　sons。　　The　King　rode　first　into　the　court　with　his　Nobles；　and　before　Richard　could　follow　him　through　the　narrow　arched　gateway；　he　had　dismounted；　entered　the　Castle；　and　was　out　of　sight。　　Osmond　held　the　Duke's　stirrup；　and　followed　him　up　the　steps　which　led　to　the　Castle　Hall。　It　was　full　of　people；　but　no　one　made　way；　and　Richard；　holding　his　Squire's　hand；　looked　up　in　his　face；　inquiring　and　bewildered。

〃Sir　Seneschal；〃　said　Osmond；　seeing　a　broad　portly　old　man；　with　grey　hair　and　a　golden　chain；　〃this　is　the　Duke　of　NormandyI　pray　you　conduct　him　to　the　King's　presence。〃

Richard　had　no　longer　any　cause　to　complain　of　neglect；　for　the　Seneschal　instantly　made　him　a　very　low　bow；　and　calling　〃Place　place　for　the　high　and　mighty　Prince；　my　Lord　Duke　of　Normandy！〃　ushered　him　up　to　the　dais　or　raised　part　of　the　floor；　where　the　King　and　Queen　stood　together　talking。　　The　Queen　looked　round；　as　Richard　was　announced；　and　he　saw　her　face；　which　was　sallow；　and　with　a　sharp　sour　expression　that　did　not　please　him；　and　he　backed　and　looked　reluctant；　while　Osmond；　with　a　warning　hand　pressed　on　his　shoulder；　was　trying　to　remind　him　that　he　ought　to　go　forward；　kneel　on　one　knee；　and　kiss　her　hand。

〃There　he　is；〃　said　the　King。

〃One　thing　secure！〃　said　the　Queen；　〃but　what　makes　that　northern　giant　keep　close　to　his　heels？〃

Louis　answered　something　in　a　low　voice；　and；　in　the　meantime；　Osmond　tried　in　a　whisper　to　induce　his　young　Lord　to　go　forward　and　perform　his　obeisance。

〃I　tell　you　I　will　not；〃　said　Richard。　　〃She　looks　cross；　and　I　do　not　like　her。〃

Luckily　he　spoke　his　own　language；　but　his　look　and　air　expressed　a　good　deal　of　what　he　said；　and　Gerberge　looked　all　the　more　unattractive。

〃A　thorough　little　Norwegian　bear；〃　said　the　King；　〃fierce　and　unruly　as　the　rest。　　Come；　and　perform　your　courtesydo　you　forget　where　you　are？〃　he　added；　sternly。

Richard　bowed；　partly　because　Osmond　forced　down　his　shoulder；　but　he　thought　of　old　Rollo　and　Charles　the　Simple；　and　his　proud　heart　resolved　that　he　would　never　kiss　the　hand　of　that　sour…looking　Queen。　　It　was　a　determination　made　in　pride　and　defiance；　and　he　suffered　for　it　afterwards；　but　no　more　passed　now；　for　the　Queen　only　saw　in　his　behaviour　that　of　an　unmannerly　young　Northman：　　and　though　she　disliked　and　despised　him；　she　did　not　care　enough　about　his　courtesy　to　insist　on　its　being　paid。　　She　sat　down；　and　so　did　the　King；　and　they　went　on　talking；　the　King　probably　telling　her　his　adventures　at　Rouen；　while　Richard　stood　on　the　step　of　the　dais；　swelling　with　sullen　pride。

Nearly　a　quarter　of　an　hour　had　passed　in　this　manner　when　the　servants　came　to　set　the　table　for　supper；　and　Richard；　in　spite　of　his　indignant　looks；　was　forced　to　stand　aside。　　He　wondered　that　all　this　time　he　had　not　seen　the　two　Princes；　thinking　how　strange　he　should　have　thought　it；　to　let　his　own　dear　father　be　in　the　house　so　long　without　coming　to　welcome　him。　　At　last；　just　as　the　supper　had　been　served　up；　a　side　door　opened；　and　the　Seneschal　called；　〃Place　for　the　high　and　mighty　Princes；　my　Lord　Lothaire　and　my　Lord　Carloman！〃　and　in　walked　two　boys；　one　about　the　same　age　as　Richard；　the　other　rather　less　than　a　year　younger。　　They　were　both　thin；　pale；　sharp…featured　children；　and　Richard　drew　himself　up　to　his　full　height；　with　great　satisfaction　at　being　so　much　taller　than　Lothaire。

They　came　up　ceremoniously　to　their　father　and　kissed　his　hand；　while　he　kissed　their　foreheads；　and　then　said　to　them；　〃There　is　a　new　play…fellow　for　you。〃

〃Is　that　the　little　Northman？〃　said　Carloman；　turning　to　stare　at　Richard　with　a　look　of　curiosity；　while　Richard　in　his　turn　felt　considerably　affronted　that　a　boy　so　much　less　than　himself　should　call　him　little。

〃Yes；〃　said　the　Queen；　〃your　father　has　brought　him　home　with　him。〃

Carloman　stepped　forward；　shyly　holding　out　his　hand　to　the　stranger；　but　his　brother　pushed　him　rudely　aside。　　〃I　am　the　eldest；　it　is　my　business　to　be　first。　　So；　young　Northman；　you　are　come　here　for　us　to　play　with。〃

Richard　was　too　much　amazed　at　being　spoken　to　in　this　imperious　way　to　make　any　answer。　　He　was　completely　taken　by　surprise；　and　only　opened　his　great　blue　eyes　to　their　utmost　extent。

〃Ha！　why　don't　you　answer？　　Don't　you　hear？　　Can　you　speak　only　your　own　heathen　tongue？〃　continued　Lothaire。

〃The　Norman　is　no　heathen　tongue！〃　said　Richard；　at　once　breaking　silence　in　a　loud　voice。　　〃We　are　as　good　Christians　as　you　areay；　and　better　too。〃

〃Hush！　hush！　my　Lord！〃　said　Osmond。

〃What　now；　Sir　Duke；〃　again　interfered　the　King；　in　an　angry　tone；　〃are　you　brawling　already？　　Time；　indeed；　I　should　take　you　from　your　own　savage　court。　　Sir　Squire；　look　to　it；　that　you　keep　your　charge　i