the little duke-第12章

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〃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？〃　exclaimed　Lothaire。　　〃No　one　commands　here　but　I　and　my　father。　　Go　on　Charlotwhere　is　the　bird？　　Keep　her　fast；　Giles。〃

〃Osmond。　　You　I　can　command〃

〃Come　away；　my　Lord；〃　said　Osmond；　interrupting　Richard's　order；　before　it　was　issued。　〃We　have　no　right　to　interfere　here；　and　cannot　hinder　it。　　Come　away　from　such　a　foul　sight。〃

〃Shame　on　you　too；　Osmond；　to　let　such　a　deed　be　done　without　hindering　it！〃　exclaimed　Richard；　breaking　from　him；　and　rushing　on　the　man　who　carried　the　hot　irons。　　The　French　servants　were　not　very　willing　to　exert　their　strength　against　the　Duke　of　Normandy；　and　Richard's　onset；　taking　the　man　by　surprise；　made　him　drop　the　tongs。　Lothaire；　both　afraid　and　enraged；　caught　them　up　as　a　weapon　of　defence；　and；　hardly　knowing　what　he　did；　struck　full　at　Richard's　face　with　the　hot　iron。　　Happily　it　missed　his　eye；　and　the　heat　had　a　little　abated；　but；　as　it　touched　his　cheek；　it　burnt　him　sufficiently　to　cause　considerable　pain。　　With　a　cry　of　passion；　he　flew　at　Lothaire；　shook　him　with　all　his　might；　and　ended　by　throwing　him　at　his　length　on　the　pavement。　　But　this　was　the　last　of　Richard's　exploits；　for　he　was　at　the　same　moment　captured　by　his　Squire；　and　borne　off；　struggling　and　kicking　as　if　Osmond　had　been　his　greatest　foe；　but　the　young　Norman's　arms　were　like　iron　round　him；　and　he　gave　over　his　resistance　sooner；　because　at　that　moment　a　whirring　flapping　sound　was　heard；　and　the　poor　hawk　rose　high；　higher；　over　their　heads　in　ever　lessening　circles；　far　away　from　her　enemies。　　The　servant　who　held　her；　had　relaxed　his　grasp　in　the　consternation　caused　by　Lothaire's　fall；　and　she　was　mounting　up　and　up；　spying；　it　might　be；　her　way　to　her　native　rocks　in　Iceland；　with　the　yellow　eyes　which　Richard　had　saved。

〃Safe！　safe！〃　cried　Richard；　joyfully；　ceasing　his　struggles。　　〃Oh；　how　glad　I　am！　　That　young　villain　should　never　have　hurt　her。　　Put　me　down；　Osmond；　what　are　you　doing　with　me？〃

〃Saving　you　from　yourno；　I　cannot　call　it　folly；I　would　hardly　have　had　you　stand　still　to　see　suchbut　let　me　see　your　face。〃

〃It　is　nothing。　　I　don't　care　now　the　hawk　is　safe；〃　said　Richard；　though　he　could　hardly　keep　his　lips　in　order；　and　was　obliged　to　wink　very　hard　with　his　eyes　to　keep　the　tears　out；　now　that　he　had　leisure　to　feel　the　smarting；　but　it　would　have　been　far　beneath　a　Northman　to　complain；　and　he　stood　bearing　it　gallantly；　and　pinching　his　fingers　tightly　together；　while　Osmond　knelt　down　to　examine　the　hurt。　　〃'Tis　not　much；〃　said　he；　talking　to　himself；　〃half　bruise；　half　burnI　wish　my　grandmother　was　herehowever；　it　can't　last　long！　　'Tis　right；　you　bear　it　like　a　little　Berserkar；　and　it　is　no　bad　thing　that　you　should　have　a　scar　to　show；　that　they　may　not　be　able　to　say　you　did　ALL　the　damage。〃

〃Will　it　always　leave　a　mark？〃　said　Richard。　　〃I　am　afraid　they　will　call　me　Richard　of　the　scarred　cheek；　when　we　get　back　to　Normandy。〃

〃Never　mind；　if　they　doit　will　not　be　a　mark　to　be　ashamed　of；　even　if　it　does　last；　which　I　do　not　believe　it　will。〃

〃Oh；　no；　I　am　so　glad　the　gallant　falcon　is　out　of　his　reach！〃　replied　Richard；　in　a　somewhat　quivering　voice。

〃Does　it　smart　much？　　Well；　come　and　bathe　it　with　cold　wateror　shall　I　take　you　to　one　of　the　Queen's　women？〃

〃Nothe　water；〃　said　Richard；　and　to　the　fountain　in　the　court　they　went；　but　Osmond　had　only　just　begun　to　splash　the　cheek　with　the　half…frozen　water；　with　a　sort　of　rough　kindness；　afraid　at　once　of　teaching　the　Duke　to　be　effeminate；　and　of　not　being　as　tender　to　him　as　Dame　Astrida　would　have　wished；　when　a　messenger　came　in　haste　from　the　King；　commanding　the　presence　of　the　Duke　of　Normandy　and　his　Squire。

Lothaire　was　standing　between　his　father　and　mother　on　their　throne…　like　seat；　leaning　against　the　Queen；　who　had　her　arm　round　him；　his　face　was　red　and　glazed　with　tears；　and　he　still　shook　with　subsiding　sobs。　　It　was　evident　he　was　just　recovering　from　a　passionate　crying　fit。

〃How　is　this？〃　began　the　King；　as　Richard　entered。　　〃What　means　this　conduct；　my　Lord　of　Normandy？　　Know　you　what　you　have　done　in　striking　the　heir　of　France？　　I　might　imprison　you　this　instant　in　a　dungeon　where　you　would　never　see　the　light　of　day。〃

〃Then　Bernard　de　Harcourt　would　come　and　set　me　free；〃　fearlessly　answered　Richard。

〃Do　you　bandy　words　with　me；　child？　Ask　Prince　Lothaire's　pardon　instantly；　or　you　shall　rue　it。〃

〃I　have　done　nothing　to　ask　his　pardon　for。　　It　would　have　been　cruel　and　cowardly　in　me　to　let　him　put　out　the　poor　hawk's　eyes；〃　said　Richard；　with　a　Northman's　stern　contempt　for　pain；　disdaining　to　mention　his　own　burnt　cheek；　which　indeed　the　King　might　have　seen　plainly　enough。

〃Hawk's　eyes！〃　repeated　the　King。　　〃Speak　the　truth；　Sir　Duke；　do　not　add　slander　to　your　other　faults。〃

〃I　have　spoken　the　truthI　always　speak　it！〃　cried　Richard。　〃Whoever　says　otherwise　lies　in　his　throat。〃

Osmond　here　hastily　interfered；　and　desired　permission　to　tell　the　whole　story。　　The　hawk　was　a　valuable　bird；　and　Louis's　face　darkened　when　he　heard　what　Lothaire　had　purposed；　for　the　Prince　had；　in　telling　his　own　story；　made　it　appear　that　Richard　had　been　the　aggressor　by　insisting　on　letting　the　falcon　fly。　　Osmond　finished　by　pointing　to　the　mark　on　Richard's　cheek；　so　evidently　a　burn；　as　to　be　proof　that　hot　iron　had　played　a　part　in　the　matter。　　The　King　looked　at　one　of　his　own　Squires　and　asked　his　account；　and　he　with　some　hesitation　could　not　but　reply　that　it　was　as　the　young　Sieur　de　Centeville　had　said。　　Thereupon　Louis　angrily　reproved　his　own　people　for　having　assisted　the　Prince　in　trying　to　injure　the　hawk；　called　for　the　chief　falconer；　rated　him　for　not　better　attending　to　his　birds；　and　went　forth　with　him　to　see　if　the　hawk　could　yet　be　recaptured；　leaving　the　two　boys　neither　punished　nor　pardoned。

〃So　you　have　escaped　for　this　once；〃　said　Gerberge；　coldly；　to　Richard；　〃you　had　better　beware　another　time。　　Come　with　me；　my　poor　darling　Lothaire。〃　　She　led　her　son　away　to　her　own　apartments；　and　the　French　Squires　began　to　grumble　to　each　other　complaints　of　the　impossibility　of　pleasing　their　Lords；　since；　if　they　contradicted　Prince　Lothaire；　he　was　so　spiteful　that　he　was　sure　to　set　the　Queen　against　them；　and　that　was　far　worse　in　the　end　than　the　King's　displeasure。　　Osmond；　in　the　meantime；　took　Richard　to　re…commence　bathing　his　face；　and　presently　Carloman　ran　out　to　pity　him；　wonder　at　him　for　not　crying；　and　say　he　was　glad　the　poor　hawk　had　escaped。

The　cheek　continued　inflamed　and　painful　for　some　time；　and　there　was　a　deep　scar　long　after　the　pain　had　ceased；　but　Richard　thought　little　of　it　after　the　first；　and　would　have　scorned　to　bear　ill…will　to　Lothaire　for　the　injury。

Lothaire　left　off　taunting　Richard　with　his　Norman　accent；　and　calling　him　a　young　Sea…king。　　He　had　felt　his　strength；　and　was　afraid　of　him；　but　he　did　not　like　him　the　betterhe　never　played　with　him　willinglyscowled；　and　looked　dark　and　jealous；　if　his　father；　or　if　any　of　the　great　nobles　took　the　least　notice　of　the　little　Duke；　and　whenever　he　was　out　of　hearing；　talked　against　him　with　all　his　natural　spitefulness。

Richard　liked　Lothaire　quite　as　little；　contemning　almost　equally　his　cowardly　ways　and　his　imperious　disposition。　　Since　he　had　been　Duke；　Richard　had　been　somewhat　inclined　to　grow　imperious　himself；　though　always　kept　under　restraint　by　Fru　Astrida's　good　training；　and　Count　Bernard's　authority；　and　his　whole　generous　nature　would　have　revolted　against　treating　Alberic；　or　indeed　his　meanest　vassal；　as　Lothaire　used　the　unfortunate　children　who　were　his　playfellows。　Perhaps　this　made　him　look　on　with　great　horror　at　the　tyranny　which　Lothaire　exercised；　at　any　rate　he　learnt　to　abhor　it　more；　and　to　make　many　resolutions　against　ordering　people　about　uncivilly　when　once　he　should　be　in　Normandy　again。　　He　often　interfered　to　protect　the　poor　boys；　and　generally　with　success；　for　the　Prince　was　afraid　of　provoking　such　another　shake　as　Richard　had　once　given　him；　and　though　he　generally　repaid　himself　on　his　victim　in　the　end；　he　yielded　for　the　time。

Carloman；　whom　Richard　often　saved　from　his　brother's　unkindness；　clung　closer　and　closer　to　him；　went　with　him　everywhere；　tried　to　do　all　he　did；　grew　very　fond　of　Osmond；　and　liked　nothing　better　than　to　sit　by　Richard　in　some　wide　window…seat；　in　the　evening；　after　supper；　and　listen　to　Richard's　version　of　some　of　Fru　Astrida's　favourite　tales；　or　hear　the　never…ending　history　of　sports　at　Centeville；　or　at　Rollo's　Tower；　or　settle　what　great　things　they　would　both　do　when　they　were　grown　up；　and　Richard　was　ruling　Normandyperhaps　go　to　the　Holy　Land　together；　and　slaughter　an　unheard…of　host　of　giants　and　dragons　on　the　way。　　In　the　meantime；　however；　poor　Carloman　gave　small　promise　of　being　able　to　perform　great　exploits；　for　he　was　very　small　for　his　age　and　often　ailing；　soon　tired；　and　never　able　to　bear　much　rough　play。　　Richard；　who　had　never　had　any　reason　to　learn　to　forbear；　did　not　at　first　understand　this；　and　made　Carloman　cry　several　times　with　his　roughness　and　violence；　but　this　always　vexed　him　so　much　that　he　grew　careful　to　avoid　such　things　for　the　future；　and　gradually　learnt　to　treat　his　poor　little　weakly　friend　with　a　gentleness　and　patience　at　which　Osmond　used　to　marvel；　and　which　he　would　hardly　have　been　taught　in　his　prosperity　at　home。

Between　Carloman　and　Osmond　he　was　thus　tolerably　happy　at　Laon；　but　he　missed　his　own　dear　friends；　and　the　loving　greetings　of　his　vassals；　and　longed　earnestly　to　be　at　Rouen；　asking　Osmond　almost　every　night　when　they　should　go　back；　to　which　Osmond　could　only　answer　that　he　must　pray　that　Heaven　would　be　pleased　to　bring　them　home　safely。

Osmond；　in　the　meantime；　kept　a　vigilant　watch　for　anything　that　might　seem　to　threaten　danger　to　his　Lord；　but　at　present　there　was　no　token　of　any　evil　being　intended；　the　only　point　in　which　Louis　did　not　seem　to　be　fulfilling　his　promises　to　the　Normans　was；　that　no　preparations　were　made　for　attacking　the　Count　of　Flanders。

At　Easter　the　court　was　visited　by　Hugh　the　White；　the　great　Count　of　Paris；　the　most　powerful　man　in　France；　and　who　was　only　prevented　by　his　own　loyalty　and　forbearance；　from　taking　the　crown　from　the　feeble　and　degenerate　race　of　Charlemagne。　　He　had　been　a　firm　friend　of　William　Longsword；　and　Osmond　remarked　how；　on　his　arrival；　the　King　took　care　to　bring　Richard　forward；　talk　of　him　affectionately；　and　caress　him　almost　as　much　as　he　had　done　at　Rouen。　　The　Count　himself　was　really　kind　and　affectionate　to　the　little　Duke；　he　kept　him　by　his　side；　and　seemed　to　like　to　stroke　down　his　long　flaxen　hair；　looking　in　his　face　with　a　grave　mournful　expression；　as　if　seeking　for　a　likeness　to　his　father。　　He　soon　asked　about　the　scar　which　the　burn　had　left；　and　the　King　was　obliged　to　answer　hastily；　it　was　an　accident；　a　disaster　that　had　chanced　in　a　boyish　quarrel。　Louis；　in　fact；　was　uneasy；　and　appeared　to　be　watching　the　Count　of　Paris　the　whole　time　of　his　visit；　so　as　to　prevent　him　from　having　any　conversat