the little duke-第15部分

快捷操作: 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! 如果本书没有阅读完，想下次继续接着阅读，可使用上方 "收藏到我的浏览器" 功能 和 "加入书签" 功能！


se；　which　flowed　along　some　meadow　ground　about　a　quarter　of　a　mile　from　the　Castle；　but　they　had　hardly　set　forth　before　three　or　four　attendants　came　running　after　them；　with　express　orders　from　the　Queen　that　they　should　return　immediately。　　They　obeyed；　and　found　her　standing　in　the　Castle　hall；　looking　greatly　incensed。

〃What　means　this？〃　she　asked；　angrily。　　〃Knew　you　not　that　the　King　has　left　commands　that　the　Duke　quits　not　the　Castle　in　his　absence？〃

〃I　was　only　going　as　far　as　the　river〃　began　Richard；　but　Gerberge　cut　him　short。　　〃Silence；　childI　will　hear　no　excuses。　　Perhaps　you　think；　Sieur　de　Centeville；　that　you　may　take　liberties　in　the　King's　absence；　but　I　tell　you　that　if　you　are　found　without　the　walls　again；　it　shall　be　at　your　peril；　ay；　and　his！　　I'll　have　those　haughty　eyes　put　out；　if　you　disobey！〃

She　turned　away；　and　Lothaire　looked　at　them　with　his　air　of　gratified　malice。　　〃You　will　not　lord　it　over　your　betters　much　longer；　young　pirate！〃　said　he；　as　he　followed　his　mother；　afraid　to　stay　to　meet　the　anger　he　might　have　excited　by　the　taunt　he　could　not　deny　himself　the　pleasure　of　making；　but　Richard；　who；　six　months　ago　could　not　brook　a　slight　disappointment　or　opposition；　had；　in　his　present　life　of　restraint；　danger；　and　vexation；　learnt　to　curb　the　first　outbreak　of　temper；　and　to　bear　patiently　instead　of　breaking　out　into　passion　and　threats；　and　now　his　only　thought　was　of　his　beloved　Squire。

〃Oh；　Osmond！　　Osmond！〃　he　exclaimed；　〃they　shall　not　hurt　you。　　I　will　never　go　out　again。　　I　will　never　speak　another　hasty　word。　　I　will　never　affront　the　Prince；　if　they　will　but　leave　you　with　me！〃



CHAPTER　VIII



It　was　a　fine　summer　evening；　and　Richard　and　Carloman　were　playing　at　ball　on　the　steps　of　the　Castle…gate；　when　a　voice　was　heard　from　beneath；　begging　for　alms　from　the　noble　Princes　in　the　name　of　the　blessed　Virgin；　and　the　two　boys　saw　a　pilgrim　standing　at　the　gate；　wrapt　in　a　long　robe　of　serge；　with　a　staff　in　his　hand；　surmounted　by　a　Cross；　a　scrip　at　his　girdle；　and　a　broad　shady　hat；　which　he　had　taken　off；　as　he　stood；　making　low　obeisances；　and　asking　charity。

〃Come　in；　holy　pilgrim；〃　said　Carloman。　　〃It　is　late；　and　you　shall　sup　and　rest　here　to…night。〃

〃Blessings　from　Heaven　light　on　you；　noble　Prince；〃　replied　the　pilgrim；　and　at　that　moment　Richard　shouted　joyfully；　〃A　Norman；　a　Norman！　'tis　my　own　dear　speech！　　Oh；　are　you　not　from　Normandy？　Osmond；　Osmond！　he　comes　from　home！〃

〃My　Lord！　my　own　Lord！〃　exclaimed　the　pilgrim；　and；　kneeling　on　one　knee　at　the　foot　of　the　steps；　he　kissed　the　hand　which　his　young　Duke　held　out　to　him〃This　is　joy　unlooked　for！〃

〃Walter！Walter；　the　huntsman！〃　cried　Richard。　　〃Is　it　you？　　Oh；　how　is　Fru　Astrida；　and　all　at　home？〃

〃Well；　my　Lord；　and　wearying　to　know　how　it　is　with　you〃　began　Walterbut　a　very　different　tone　exclaimed　from　behind　the　pilgrim；　〃What　is　all　this？　　Who　is　stopping　my　way？　　What！　　Richard　would　be　King；　and　more；　would　he？　　More　insolence！〃　　It　was　Lothaire；　returning　with　his　attendants　from　the　chase；　in　by　no　means　an　amiable　mood；　for　he　had　been　disappointed　of　his　game。

〃He　is　a　Normana　vassal　of　Richard's　own；〃　said　Carloman。

〃A　Norman；　is　he？　　I　thought　we　had　got　rid　of　the　robbers！　　We　want　no　robbers　here！　　Scourge　him　soundly；　Perron；　and　teach　him　how　to　stop　my　way！〃

〃He　is　a　pilgrim；　my　Lord；〃　suggested　one　of　the　followers。

〃I　care　not；　I'll　have　no　Normans　here；　coming　spying　in　disguise。　Scourge　him；　I　say；　dog　that　he　is！　　Away　with　him！　　A　spy；　a　spy！〃

〃No　Norman　is　scourged　in　my　sight！〃　said　Richard；　darting　forwards；　and　throwing　himself　between　Walter　and　the　woodsman；　who　was　preparing　to　obey　Lothaire；　just　in　time　to　receive　on　his　own　bare　neck　the　sharp；　cutting　leathern　thong；　which　raised　a　long　red　streak　along　its　course。　　Lothaire　laughed。

〃My　Lord　Duke！　　What　have　you　done？　　Oh；　leave　methis　befits　you　not！〃　cried　Walter；　extremely　distressed；　but　Richard　had　caught　hold　of　the　whip；　and　called　out；　〃Away；　away！　run！　haste；　haste！〃　and　the　words　were　repeated　at　once　by　Osmond；　Carloman；　and　many　of　the　French；　who；　though　afraid　to　disobey　the　Prince；　were　unwilling　to　violate　the　sanctity　of　a　pilgrim's　person；　and　the　Norman；　seeing　there　was　no　help　for　it；　obeyed：　　the　French　made　way　for　him　and　he　effected　his　escape；　while　Lothaire；　after　a　great　deal　of　storming　and　raging；　went　up　to　his　mother　to　triumph　in　the　cleverness　with　which　he　had　detected　a　Norman　spy　in　disguise。

Lothaire　was　not　far　wrong；　Walter　had　really　come　to　satisfy　himself　as　to　the　safety　of　the　little　Duke；　and　try　to　gain　an　interview　with　Osmond。　　In　the　latter　purpose　he　failed；　though　he　lingered　in　the　neighbourhood　of　Laon　for　several　days；　for　Osmond　never　left　the　Duke　for　an　instant；　and　he　was；　as　has　been　shown；　a　close　prisoner；　in　all　but　the　name；　within　the　walls　of　the　Castle。　　The　pilgrim　had；　however；　the　opportunity　of　picking　up　tidings　which　made　him　perceive　the　true　state　of　things：　　he　learnt　the　deaths　of　Sybald　and　Henry；　the　alliance　between　the　King　and　Arnulf；　and　the　restraint　and　harshness　with　which　the　Duke　was　treated；　and　with　this　intelligence　he　went　in　haste　to　Normandy。

Soon　after　his　arrival；　a　three　days'　fast　was　observed　throughout　the　dukedom；　and　in　every　church；　from　the　Cathedral　of　Bayeux　to　the　smallest　and　rudest　village　shrine；　crowds　of　worshippers　were　kneeling；　imploring；　many　of　them　with　tears；　that　God　would　look　on　them　in　His　mercy；　restore　to　them　their　Prince；　and　deliver　the　child　out　of　the　hands　of　his　enemies。　　How　earnest　and　sorrowful　were　the　prayers　offered　at　Centeville　may　well　be　imagined；　and　at　Montemar　sur　Epte　the　anxiety　was　scarcely　less。　　Indeed；　from　the　time　the　evil　tidings　arrived；　Alberic　grew　so　restless　and　unhappy；　and　so　anxious　to　do　something；　that　at　last　his　mother　set　out　with　him　on　a　pilgrimage　to　the　Abbey　of　Jumieges；　to　pray　for　the　rescue　of　his　dear　little　Duke。

In　the　meantime；　Louis　had　sent　notice　to　Laon　that　he　should　return　home　in　a　week's　time；　and　Richard　rejoiced　at　the　prospect；　for　the　King　had　always　been　less　unkind　to　him　than　the　Queen；　and　he　hoped　to　be　released　from　his　captivity　within　the　Castle。　　Just　at　this　time　he　became　very　unwell；　it　might　have　been　only　the　effect　of　the　life　of　unwonted　confinement　which　he　had　lately　led　that　was　beginning　to　tell　on　his　health；　but；　after　being　heavy　and　uncomfortable　for　a　day　or　two；　without　knowing　what　was　the　matter　with　him；　he　was　one　night　attacked　with　high　fever。

Osmond　was　dreadfully　alarmed；　knowing　nothing　at　all　of　the　treatment　of　illness；　and；　what　was　worse；　fully　persuaded　that　the　poor　child　had　been　poisoned；　and　therefore　resolved　not　to　call　any　assistance；　he　hung　over　him　all　night；　expecting　each　moment　to　see　him　expireready　to　tear　his　hair　with　despair　and　fury；　and　yet　obliged　to　restrain　himself　to　the　utmost　quietness　and　gentleness；　to　soothe　the　suffering　of　the　sick　child。

Through　that　night；　Richard　either　tossed　about　on　his　narrow　bed；　or；　when　his　restlessness　desired　the　change；　sat；　leaning　his　aching　head　on　Osmond's　breast；　too　oppressed　and　miserable　to　speak　or　think。　　When　the　day　dawned　on　them；　and　he　was　still　too　ill　to　leave　the　room；　messengers　were　sent　for　him；　and　Osmond　could　no　longer　conceal　the　fact　of　his　sickness；　but　parleyed　at　the　door；　keeping　out　every　one　he　could；　and　refusing　all　offers　of　attendance。　　He　would　not　even　admit　Carloman；　though　Richard；　hearing　his　voice；　begged　to　see　him；　and　when　a　proposal　was　sent　from　the　Queen；　that　a　skilful　old　nurse　should　visit　and　prescribe　for　the　patient；　he　refused　with　all　his　might；　and　when　he　had　shut　the　door；　walked　up　and　down；　muttering；　〃Ay；　ay；　the　witch！　coming　to　finish　what　she　has　begun！〃

All　that　day　and　the　next；　Richard　continued　very　ill；　and　Osmond　waited　on　him　very　assiduously；　never　closing　his　eyes　for　a　moment；　but　constantly　telling　his　beads　whenever　the　boy　did　not　require　his　attendance。　　At　last　Richard　fell　asleep；　slept　long　and　soundly　for　some　hours；　and　waked　much　better。　　Osmond　was　in　a　transport　of　joy：　〃Thanks　to　Heaven；　they　shall　fail　for　this　time　and　they　shall　never　have　another　chance！　　May　Heaven　be　with　us　still！〃　　Richard　was　too　weak　and　weary　to　ask　what　he　meant；　and　for　the　next　few　days　Osmond　watched　him　with　the　utmost　care。　　As　for　food；　now　that　Richard　could　eat　again；　Osmond　would　not　hear　of　his　touching　what　was　sent　for　him　from　the　royal　table；　but　always　went　down　himself　to　procure　food　in　the　kitchen；　where　he　said　he　had　a　friend　among　the　cooks；　who　would；　he　thought；　scarcely　poison　him　intentionally。　　When　Richard　was　able　to　cross　the　room；　he　insisted　on　his　always　fastening　the　door　with　his　dagger；　and　never　opening　to　any　summons　but　his　own；　not　even　Prince　Carloman's。　　Richard　wondered；　but　he　was　obliged　to　obey；　and　he　knew　enough　of　the　perils　around　him　to　perceive　the　reasonableness　of　Osmond's　caution。

Thus　several　days　had　passed；　the　King　had　returned；　and　Richard　was　so　much　recovered；　that　he　had　become　very　anxious　to　be　allowed　to　go　down　stairs　again；　instead　of　remaining　shut　up　there；　but　still　Osmond　would　not　consent；　though　Richard　had　done　nothing　all　day　but　walk　round　the　room；　to　show　how　strong　he　was。

〃Now；　my　Lord；　guard　the　doortake　care；〃　said　Osmond；　〃you　have　no　loss　to…day；　for　the　King　has　brought　home　Herluin　of　Montreuil；　whom　you　would　be　almost　as　loth　to　meet　as　the　Fleming。　　And　tell　your　beads　while　I　am　gone；　that　the　Saints　may　bring　us　out　of　our　peril。〃

Osmond　was　absent　nearly　half　an　hour；　and；　when　he　returned；　brought　on　his　shoulders　a　huge　bundle　of　straw。　　〃What　is　this　for？〃　exclaimed　Richard。　　〃I　wanted　my　supper；　and　you　have　brought　straw！〃

〃Here　is　your　supper；〃　said　Osmond；　throwing　down　the　straw；　and　producing　a　bag　with　some　bread　and　meat。　　〃What　should　you　say；　my　Lord；　if　we　should　sup　in　Normandy　to…morrow　night？〃

〃In　Normandy！〃　cried　Richard；　springing　up　and　clapping　his　hands。　〃In　Normandy！　　Oh；　Osmond；　did　you　say　in　Normandy？　　Shall　we；　shall　we　really？　　Oh；　joy！　joy！　　Is　Count　Bernard　come？　　Will　the　King