the little duke-第11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！


your　own　savage　court。　　Sir　Squire；　look　to　it；　that　you　keep　your　charge　in　better　rule；　or　I　shall　send　him　instantly　to　bed；　supperless。〃

〃My　Lord；　my　Lord；〃　whispered　Osmond；　〃see　you　not　that　you　are　bringing　discredit　on　all　of　us？〃

〃I　would　be　courteous　enough；　if　they　would　be　courteous　to　me；〃　returned　Richard；　gazing　with　eyes　full　of　defiance　at　Lothaire；　who；　returning　an　angry　look；　had　nevertheless　shrunk　back　to　his　mother。　She　meanwhile　was　saying；　〃So　strong；　so　rough；　the　young　savage　is；　he　will　surely　harm　our　poor　boys！〃

〃Never　fear；〃　said　Louis；　〃he　shall　be　watched。　　And；〃　he　added　in　a　lower　tone；　〃for　the　present；　at　least；　we　must　keep　up　appearances。　Hubert　of　Senlis；　and　Hugh　of　Paris；　have　their　eyes　on　us；　and　were　the　boy　to　be　missed；　the　grim　old　Harcourt　would　have　all　the　pirates　of　his　land　on　us　in　the　twinkling　of　an　eye。　　We　have　him；　and　there　we　must　rest　content　for　the　present。　　Now　to　supper。〃

At　supper；　Richard　sat　next　little　Carloman；　who　peeped　at　him　every　now　and　then　from　under　his　eyelashes；　as　if　he　was　afraid　of　him；　and　presently；　when　there　was　a　good　deal　of　talking　going　on；　so　that　his　voice　could　not　be　heard；　half　whispered；　in　a　very　grave　tone；　〃Do　you　like　salt　beef　or　fresh？〃

〃I　like　fresh；〃　answered　Richard；　with　equal　gravity；　〃only　we　eat　salt　all　the　winter。〃

There　was　another　silence；　and　then　Carloman；　with　the　same　solemnity；　asked；　〃How　old　are　you？〃

〃I　shall　be　nine　on　the　eve　of　St。　Boniface。　　How　old　are　you？〃

〃Eight。　　I　was　eight　at　Martinmas；　and　Lothaire　was　nine　three　days　since。〃

Another　silence；　then；　as　Osmond　waited　on　Richard；　Carloman　returned　to　the　charge；　〃Is　that　your　Squire？〃

〃Yes；　that　is　Osmond　de　Centeville。〃

〃How　tall　he　is！〃

〃We　Normans　are　taller　than　you　French。〃

〃Don't　say　so　to　Lothaire；　or　you　will　make　him　angry。〃

〃Why？　it　is　true。〃

〃Yes；　but〃　and　Carloman　sunk　his　voice〃there　are　some　things　which　Lothaire　will　not　hear　said。　　Do　not　make　him　cross；　or　he　will　make　my　mother　displeased　with　you。　　She　caused　Thierry　de　Lincourt　to　be　scourged；　because　his　ball　hit　Lothaire's　face。〃

〃She　cannot　scourge　meI　am　a　free　Duke；〃　said　Richard。　　〃But　why？　Did　he　do　it　on　purpose？〃

〃Oh；　no！〃

〃And　was　Lothaire　hurt？〃

〃Hush！　you　must　say　Prince　Lothaire。　　No；　it　was　quite　a　soft　ball。〃

〃Why？〃　again　asked　Richard〃why　was　he　scourged？〃

〃I　told　you；　because　he　hit　Lothaire。〃

〃Well；　but　did　he　not　laugh；　and　say　it　was　nothing？　　Alberic　quite　knocked　me　down　with　a　great　snowball　the　other　day；　and　Sir　Eric　laughed；　and　said　I　must　stand　firmer。〃

〃Do　you　make　snowballs？〃

〃To　be　sure　I　do！　　Do　not　you？〃

〃Oh；　no！　the　snow　is　so　cold。〃

〃Ah！　you　are　but　a　little　boy；〃　said　Richard；　in　a　superior　manner。　Carloman　asked　how　it　was　done；　and　Richard　gave　an　animated　description　of　the　snowballing；　a　fortnight　ago；　at　Rouen；　when　Osmond　and　some　of　the　other　young　men　built　a　snow　fortress；　and　defended　it　against　Richard；　Alberic；　and　the　other　Squires。　Carloman　listened　with　delight；　and　declared　that　next　time　it　snowed；　they　would　have　a　snow　castle；　and　thus；　by　the　time　supper　was　over；　the　two　little　boys　were　very　good　friends。

Bedtime　came　not　long　after　supper。　　Richard's　was　a　smaller　room　than　he　had　been　used　to　at　Rouen；　but　it　amazed　him　exceedingly　when　he　first　went　into　it：　　he　stood　gazing　in　wonder；　because；　as　he　said；　〃It　was　as　if　he　had　been　in　a　church。〃

〃Yes；　truly！〃　said　Osmond。　　〃No　wonder　these　poor　creatures　of　French　cannot　stand　before　a　Norman　lance；　if　they　cannot　sleep　without　glass　to　their　windows。　　Well！　what　would　my　father　say　to　this？〃

〃And　see！　see；　Osmond！　they　have　put　hangings　up　all　round　the　walls；　just　like　our　Lady's　church　on　a　great　feast…day。　　They　treat　us　just　as　if　we　were　the　holy　saints；　and　here　are　fresh　rushes　strewn　about　the　floor；　too。　　This　must　be　a　mistakeit　must　be　an　oratory；　instead　of　my　chamber。〃

〃No；　no；　my　Lord；　here　is　our　gear；　which　I　bade　Sybald　and　Henry　see　bestowed　in　our　chamber。　　Well；　these　Franks　are　come　to　a　pass；　indeed！　　My　grandmother　will　never　believe　what　we　shall　have　to　tell　her。　　Glass　windows　and　hangings　to　sleeping　chambers！　I　do　not　like　it　I　am　sure　we　shall　never　be　able　to　sleep；　closed　up　from　the　free　air　of　heaven　in　this　way：　　I　shall　be　always　waking；　and　fancying　I　am　in　the　chapel　at　home；　hearing　Father　Lucas　chanting　his　matins。　Besides；　my　father　would　blame　me　for　letting　you　be　made　as　tender　as　a　Frank。　　I'll　have　out　this　precious　window；　if　I　can。〃

Luxurious　as　the　young　Norman　thought　the　King；　the　glazing　of　Laon　was　not　permanent。　　It　consisted　of　casements；　which　could　be　put　up　or　removed　at　pleasure；　for；　as　the　court　possessed　only　one　set　of　glass　windows；　they　were　taken　down；　and　carried　from　place　to　place；　as　often　as　Louis　removed　from　Rheims　to　Soissons；　Laon；　or　any　other　of　his　royal　castles；　so　that　Osmond　did　not　find　much　difficulty　in　displacing　them；　and　letting　in　the　sharp；　cold；　wintry　breeze。　　The　next　thing　he　did　was　to　give　his　young　Lord　a　lecture　on　his　want　of　courtesy；　telling　him　that　〃no　wonder　the　Franks　thought　he　had　no　more　culture　than　a　Viking　（or　pirate）；　fresh　caught　from　Norway。　　A　fine　notion　he　was　giving　them　of　the　training　he　had　at　Centeville；　if　he　could　not　even　show　common　civility　to　the　Queena　lady！　　Was　that　the　way　Alberic　had　behaved　when　he　came　to　Rouen？〃

〃Fru　Astrida　did　not　make　sour　faces　at　him；　nor　call　him　a　young　savage；〃　replied　Richard。

〃No；　and　he　gave　her　no　reason　to　do　so；　he　knew　that　the　first　teaching　of　a　young　Knight　is　to　be　courteous　to　ladiesnever　mind　whether　fair　and　young；　or　old　and　foul　of　favour。　　Till　you　learn　and　note　that；　Lord　Richard；　you　will　never　be　worthy　of　your　golden　spurs。〃

〃And　the　King　told　me　she　would　treat　me　as　a　mother；〃　exclaimed　Richard。　　〃Do　you　think　the　King　speaks　the　truth；　Osmond？〃

〃That　we　shall　see　by　his　deeds；〃　said　Osmond。

〃He　was　very　kind　while　we　were　in　Normandy。　　I　loved　him　so　much　better　than　the　Count　de　Harcourt；　but　now　I　think　that　the　Count　is　best！　　I'll　tell　you；　Osmond；　I　will　never　call　him　grim　old　Bernard　again。〃

〃You　had　best　not；　sir；　for　you　will　never　have　a　more　true…hearted　vassal。〃

〃Well；　I　wish　we　were　back　in　Normandy；　with　Fru　Astrida　and　Alberic。　I　cannot　bear　that　Lothaire。　　He　is　proud；　and　unknightly；　and　cruel。　I　am　sure　he　is；　and　I　will　never　love　him。〃

〃Hush；　my　Lord！beware　of　speaking　so　loud。　　You　are　not　in　your　own　Castle。〃

〃And　Carloman　is　a　chicken…heart；〃　continued　Richard；　unheeding。　　〃He　does　not　like　to　touch　snow；　and　he　cannot　even　slide　on　the　ice；　and　he　is　afraid　to　go　near　that　great　dogthat　beautiful　wolf…hound。〃

〃He　is　very　little；〃　said　Osmond。

〃I　am　sure　I　was　not　as　cowardly　at　his　age；　now　was　I；　Osmond？　Don't　you　remember？〃

〃Come；　Lord　Richard；　I　cannot　let　you　wait　to　remember　everything；　tell　your　beads　and　pray　that　we　may　be　brought　safe　back　to　Rouen；　and　that　you　may　not　forget　all　the　good　that　Father　Lucas　and　holy　Abbot　Martin　have　laboured　to　teach　you。〃

So　Richard　told　the　beads　of　his　rosaryblack　polished　wood；　with　amber　at　certain　spaceshe　repeated　a　prayer　with　every　bead；　and　Osmond　did　the　same；　then　the　little　Duke　put　himself　into　a　narrow　crib　of　richly　carved　walnut；　while　Osmond；　having　stuck　his　dagger　so　as　to　form　an　additional　bolt　to　secure　the　door；　and　examined　the　hangings　that　no　secret　entrance　might　be　concealed　behind　them；　gathered　a　heap　of　rushes　together；　and　lay　down　on　them；　wrapped　in　his　mantle；　across　the　doorway。　　The　Duke　was　soon　asleep；　but　the　Squire　lay　long　awake；　musing　on　the　possible　dangers　that　surrounded　his　charge；　and　on　the　best　way　of　guarding　against　them。



CHAPTER　VII



Osmond　de　Centeville　was　soon　convinced　that　no　immediate　peril　threatened　his　young　Duke　at　the　Court　of　Laon。　　Louis　seemed　to　intend　to　fulfil　his　oaths　to　the　Normans　by　allowing　the　child　to　be　the　companion　of　his　own　sons；　and　to　be　treated　in　every　respect　as　became　his　rank。　　Richard　had　his　proper　place　at　table；　and　all　due　attendance；　he　learnt；　rode；　and　played　with　the　Princes；　and　there　was　nothing　to　complain　of；　excepting　the　coldness　and　inattention　with　which　the　King　and　Queen　treated　him；　by　no　means　fulfilling　the　promise　of　being　as　parents　to　their　orphan　ward。　　Gerberge；　who　had　from　the　first　dreaded　his　superior　strength　and　his　roughness　with　her　puny　boys；　and　who　had　been　by　no　means　won　by　his　manners　at　their　first　meeting；　was　especially　distant　and　severe　with　him；　hardly　ever　speaking　to　him　except　with　some　rebuke；　which；　it　must　be　confessed；　Richard　often　deserved。

As　to　the　boys；　his　constant　companions；　Richard　was　on　very　friendly　terms　with　Carlo…man；　a　gentle；　timid；　weakly　child。　　Richard　looked　down　upon　him；　but　he　was　kind；　as　a　generous…tempered　boy　could　not　fail　to　be；　to　one　younger　and　weaker　than　himself。　　He　was　so　much　kinder　than　Lothaire；　that　Carloman　was　fast　growing　very　fond　of　him；　and　looked　up　to　his　strength　and　courage　as　something　noble　and　marvellous。

It　was　very　different　with　Lothaire；　the　person　from　whom；　above　all　others；　Richard　would　have　most　expected　to　meet　with　affection；　as　his　father's　god…son；　a　relationship　which　in　those　times　was　thought　almost　as　near　as　kindred　by　blood。　　Lothaire　had　been　brought　up　by　an　indulgent　mother；　and　by　courtiers　who　never　ceased　flattering　him；　as　the　heir　to　the　crown；　and　he　had　learnt　to　think　that　to　give　way　to　his　naturally　imperious　and　violent　disposition　was　the　way　to　prove　his　power　and　assert　his　rank。　　He　had　always　had　his　own　way；　and　nothing　had　ever　been　done　to　check　his　faults；　somewhat　weakly　health　had　made　him　fretful　and　timid；　and　a　latent　consciousness　of　this　fearfulness　made　him　all　the　more　cruel；　sometimes　because　he　was　frightened；　sometimes　because　he　fancied　it　manly。

He　treated　his　little　brother　in　a　way　which　in　these　times　boys　would　call　bullying；　and；　as　no　one　ever　dared　to　oppose　the　King's　eldest　son；　it　was　pretty　much　the　same　with　every　one　else；　except　now　and　then　some　dumb　creature；　and　then　all　Lothaire's　cruelty　was　shown。　　When　his　horse　kicked；　and　ended　by　throwing　him；　he　stood　by；　and　caused　it　to　be　beaten　till　the　poor　creature's　back　streamed　with　blood；　when　his　dog　bit　his　hand　in　trying　to　seize　the　meat　with　which　he　was　teazing　it；　he　insisted　on　having　it　killed；　and　it　was　worse　still　when　a　falcon　pecked　one　of　his　fingers。　　It　really　hurt　him　a　good　deal；　and；　in　a　furious　rage；　he　caused　two　nails　to　be　heated　red　hot　in　the　fire；　intending　to　have　them　thrust　into　the　poor　bird's　eyes。

〃I　will　not　have　it　done！〃　exclaimed　Richard；　expecting　to　be　obeyed　as　he　was　at　home；　but　Lothaire　only　laughed　scornfully；　saying；　〃Do　you　think　you　are　master　here；　Sir　pirate？〃

〃I　will　not　have　it　done！〃　repeated　Richard。　　〃Shame　on　you；　shame　on　you；　for　thinking　of　such　an　unkingly　deed。〃

〃Shame　on　me！　Do　you　know　to　whom　you　speak；　master　savage？〃　cried　Lothaire；　red　with　passion。

〃I　know　who　is　the　savage　now！〃　said　Richard。　　〃Hold！〃　to　the　servant　who　was　bringing　the　red…hot　irons　in　a　pair　of　tongs。

〃Hold？〃　exclaime