the little duke-第8部分

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　to　keep　it　closed；　but　it　was　his　father's　voice　that　answered　him　with　a　few　whispered　words　in　the　Norse　tongue；　〃It　is　I；　open。〃　　He　made　way　instantly；　and　old　Sir　Eric　entered；　treading　cautiously　with　bare　feet；　and　sat　down　on　the　bed　motioning　him　to　do　the　same；　so　that　they　might　be　able　to　speak　lower。　　〃Right；　Osmond；〃　he　said。　　〃It　is　well　to　be　on　the　alert；　for　peril　enough　is　around　himThe　Frank　means　mischief！　　I　know　from　a　sure　hand　that　Arnulf　of　Flanders　was　in　council　with　him　just　before　he　came　hither；　with　his　false　tongue；　wiling　and　coaxing　the　poor　child！〃

〃Ungrateful　traitor！〃　murmured　Osmond。　　〃Do　you　guess　his　purpose？〃

〃Yes；　surely；　to　carry　the　boy　off　with　him；　and　so　he　trusts　doubtless　to　cut　off　all　the　race　of　Rollo！　　I　know　his　purpose　is　to　bear　off　the　Duke；　as　a　ward　of　the　Crown　forsooth。　　Did　you　not　hear　him　luring　the　child　with　his　promises　of　friendship　with　the　Princes？　　I　could　not　understand　all　his　French　words；　but　I　saw　it　plain　enough。〃

〃You　will　never　allow　it？〃

〃If　he　does；　it　must　be　across　our　dead　bodies；　but　taken　as　we　are　by　surprise；　our　resistance　will　little　avail。　　The　Castle　is　full　of　French；　the　hall　and　court　swarm　with　them。　　Even　if　we　could　draw　our　Normans　together；　we　should　not　be　more　than　a　dozen　men；　and　what　could　we　do　but　die？　　That　we　are　ready　for；　if　it　may　not　be　otherwise；　rather　than　let　our　charge　be　thus　borne　off　without　a　pledge　for　his　safety；　and　without　the　knowledge　of　the　states。〃

〃The　king　could　not　have　come　at　a　worse　time；〃　said　Osmond。

〃No；　just　when　Bernard　the　Dane　is　absent。　　If　he　only　knew　what　has　befallen；　he　could　raise　the　country；　and　come　to　the　rescue。〃

〃Could　we　not　send　some　one　to　bear　the　tidings　to…night？〃

〃I　know　not；〃　said　Sir　Eric；　musingly。　　〃The　French　have　taken　the　keeping　of　the　doors；　indeed　they　are　so　thick　through　the　Castle　that　I　can　hardly　reach　one　of　our　men；　nor　could　I　spare　one　hand　that　may　avail　to　guard　the　boy　to…morrow。〃

〃Sir　Eric；〃　a　bare　little　foot　was　heard　on　the　floor；　and　Alberic　de　Montemar　stood　before　him。　　〃I　did　not　mean　to　listen；　but　I　could　not　help　hearing　you。　　I　cannot　fight　for　the　Duke　yet；　but　I　could　carry　a　message。〃

〃How　would　that　be？〃　said　Osmond；　eagerly。　　〃Once　out　of　the　Castle；　and　in　Rouen；　he　could　easily　find　means　of　sending　to　the　Count。　　He　might　go　either　to　the　Convent　of　St。　Ouen；　or；　which　would　be　better；　to　the　trusty　armourer；　Thibault；　who　would　soon　find　man　and　horse　to　send　after　the　Count。〃

〃Ha！　let　me　see；〃　said　Sir　Eric。　　〃It　might　be。　　But　how　is　he　to　get　out？〃

〃I　know　a　way；〃　said　Alberic。　　〃I　scrambled　down　that　wide　buttress　by　the　east　wall　last　week；　when　our　ball　was　caught　in　a　branch　of　the　ivy；　and　the　drawbridge　is　down。〃

〃If　Bernard　knew；　it　would　be　off　my　mind；　at　least！〃　said　Sir　Eric。　〃Well；　my　young　Frenchman；　you　may　do　good　service。〃

〃Osmond；〃　whispered　Alberic；　as　he　began　hastily　to　dress　himself；　〃only　ask　one　thing　of　Sir　Ericnever　to　call　me　young　Frenchman　again！〃

Sir　Eric　smiled；　saying；　〃Prove　yourself　Norman；　my　boy。〃

〃Then；〃　added　Osmond；　〃if　it　were　possible　to　get　the　Duke　himself　out　of　the　castle　to…morrow　morning。　　If　I　could　take　him　forth　by　the　postern；　and　once　bring　him　into　the　town；　he　would　be　safe。　　It　would　be　only　to　raise　the　burghers；　or　else　to　take　refuge　in　the　Church　of　Our　Lady　till　the　Count　came　up；　and　then　Louis　would　find　his　prey　out　of　his　hands　when　he　awoke　and　sought　him。〃

〃That　might　be；〃　replied　Sir　Eric；　〃but　I　doubt　your　success。　　The　French　are　too　eager　to　hold　him　fast；　to　let　him　slip　out　of　their　hands。　　You　will　find　every　door　guarded。〃

〃Yes；　but　all　the　French　have　not　seen　the　Duke；　and　the　sight　of　a　squire　and　a　little　page　going　forth；　will　scarcely　excite　their　suspicion。〃

〃Ay；　if　the　Duke　would　bear　himself　like　a　little　page；　but　that　you　need　not　hope　for。　　Besides；　he　is　so　taken　with　this　King's　flatteries；　that　I　doubt　whether　he　would　consent　to　leave　him　for　the　sake　of　Count　Bernard。　　Poor　child；　he　is　like　to　be　soon　taught　to　know　his　true　friends。〃

〃I　am　ready；〃　said　Alberic；　coming　forward。

The　Baron　de　Centeville　repeated　his　instructions；　and　then　undertook　to　guard　the　door；　while　his　son　saw　Alberic　set　off　on　his　expedition。　　Osmond　went　with　him　softly　down　the　stairs；　then　avoiding　the　hall；　which　was　filled　with　French；　they　crept　silently　to　a　narrow　window；　guarded　by　iron　bars；　placed　at　such　short　intervals　apart　that　only　so　small　and　slim　a　form　as　Alberic's　could　have　squeezed　out　between　them。　　The　distance　to　the　ground　was　not　much　more　than　twice　his　own　height；　and　the　wall　was　so　covered　with　ivy；　that　it　was　not　a　very　dangerous　feat　for　an　active　boy；　so　that　Alberic　was　soon　safe　on　the　ground；　then　looking　up　to　wave　his　cap；　he　ran　on　along　the　side　of　the　moat；　and　was　soon　lost　to　Osmond's　sight　in　the　darkness。

Osmond　returned　to　the　Duke's　chamber；　and　relieved　his　father's　guard；　while　Richard　slept　soundly　on；　little　guessing　at　the　plots　of　his　enemies；　or　at　the　schemes　of　his　faithful　subjects　for　his　protection。

Osmond　thought　this　all　the　better；　for　he　had　small　trust　in　Richard's　patience　and　self…command；　and　thought　there　was　much　more　chance　of　getting　him　unnoticed　out　of　the　Castle；　if　he　did　not　know　how　much　depended　on　it；　and　how　dangerous　his　situation　was。

When　Richard　awoke；　he　was　much　surprised　at　missing　Alberic；　but　Osmond　said　he　was　gone　into　the　town　to　Thibault　the　armourer；　and　this　was　a　message　on　which　he　was　so　likely　to　be　employed　that　Richard's　suspicion　was　not　excited。　　All　the　time　he　was　dressing　he　talked　about　the　King；　and　everything　he　meant　to　show　him　that　day；　then；　when　he　was　ready；　the　first　thing　was　as　usual　to　go　to　attend　morning　mass。

〃Not　by　that　way；　to…day；　my　Lord；〃　said　Osmond；　as　Richard　was　about　to　enter　the　great　hall。　　〃It　is　crowded　with　the　French　who　have　been　sleeping　there　all　night；　come　to　the　postern。〃

Osmond　turned；　as　he　spoke；　along　the　passage；　walking　fast；　and　not　sorry　that　Richard　was　lingering　a　little；　as　it　was　safer　for　him　to　be　first。　　The　postern　was；　as　he　expected；　guarded　by　two　tall　steel…cased　figures；　who　immediately　held　their　lances　across　the　door…way；　saying；　〃None　passes　without　warrant。〃

〃You　will　surely　let　us　of　the　Castle　attend　to　our　daily　business；〃　said　Osmond。　　〃You　will　hardly　break　your　fast　this　morning　if　you　stop　all　communication　with　the　town。〃

〃You　must　bring　warrant；〃　repeated　one　of　the　men…at…arms。　　Osmond　was　beginning　to　say　that　he　was　the　son　of　the　Seneschal　of　the　Castle；　when　Richard　came　hastily　up。　　〃What？　　Do　these　men　want　to　stop　us？〃　he　exclaimed　in　the　imperious　manner　he　had　begun　to　take　up　since　his　accession。　　〃Let　us　go　on；　sirs。〃

The　men…at…arms　looked　at　each　other；　and　guarded　the　door　more　closely。　　Osmond　saw　it　was　hopeless；　and　only　wanted　to　draw　his　young　charge　back　without　being　recognised；　but　Richard　exclaimed　loudly；　〃What　means　this？〃

〃The　King　has　given　orders　that　none　should　pass　without　warrant；〃　was　Osmond's　answer。　　〃We　must　wait。〃

〃I　will　pass！〃　said　Richard；　impatient　at　opposition；　to　which　he　was　little　accustomed。　　〃What　mean　you；　Osmond？　　This　is　my　Castle；　and　no　one　has　a　right　to　stop　me。　　Do　you　hear；　grooms？　let　me　go。　　I　am　the　Duke！〃

The　sentinels　bowed；　but　all　they　said　was；　〃Our　orders　are　express。〃

〃I　tell　you　I　am　Duke　of　Normandy；　and　I　will　go　where　I　please　in　my　own　city！〃　exclaimed　Richard；　passionately　pressing　against　the　crossed　staves　of　the　weapons；　to　force　his　way　between　them；　but　he　was　caught　and　held　fast　in　the　powerful　gauntlet　of　one　of　the　men…　at…arms。　　〃Let　me　go；　villain！〃　cried　he；　struggling　with　all　his　might。　　〃Osmond；　Osmond；　help！〃

Even　as　he　spoke　Osmond　had　disengaged　him　from　the　grasp　of　the　Frenchman；　and　putting　his　hand　on　his　arm；　said；　〃Nay；　my　Lord；　it　is　not　for　you　to　strive　with　such　as　these。〃

〃I　will　strive！〃　cried　the　boy。　　〃I　will　not　have　my　way　barred　in　my　own　Castle。　　I　will　tell　the　King　how　these　rogues　of　his　use　me。　　I　will　have　them　in　the　dungeon。　　Sir　Eric！　where　is　Sir　Eric？〃

Away　he　rushed　to　the　stairs；　Osmond　hurrying　after　him；　lest　he　should　throw　himself　into　some　fresh　danger；　or　by　his　loud　calls　attract　the　French；　who　might　then　easily　make　him　prisoner。　However；　on　the　very　first　step　of　the　stairs　stood　Sir　Eric；　who　was　too　anxious　for　the　success　of　the　attempt　to　escape；　to　be　very　far　off。　　Richard；　too　angry　to　heed　where　he　was　going；　dashed　up　against　him　without　seeing　him；　and　as　the　old　Baron　took　hold　of　him；　began；　〃Sir　Eric；　Sir　Eric；　those　French　are　villains！　they　will　not　let　me　pass〃

〃Hush；　hush！　my　Lord；〃　said　Sir　Eric。　　〃Silence！　come　here。〃

However　imperious　with　others；　Richard　from　force　of　habit　always　obeyed　Sir　Eric；　and　now　allowed　himself　to　be　dragged　hastily　and　silently　by　him；　Osmond　following　closely；　up　the　stairs；　up　a　second　and　a　third　winding　flight；　still　narrower；　and　with　broken　steps；　to　a　small　round；　thick…walled　turret　chamber；　with　an　extremely　small　door；　and　loop…holes　of　windows　high　up　in　the　tower。　　Here；　to　his　great　surprise；　he　found　Dame　Astrida；　kneeling　and　telling　her　beads；　two　or　three　of　her　maidens；　and　about　four　of　the　Norman　Squires　and　men…at…arms。

〃So　you　have　failed；　Osmond？〃　said　the　Baron。

〃But　what　is　all　this？　　How　did　Fru　Astrida　come　up　here？　　May　I　not　go　to　the　King　and　have　those　insolent　Franks　punished？〃

〃Listen　to　me；　Lord　Richard；〃　said　Sir　Eric：　　〃that　smooth…spoken　King　whose　words　so　charmed　you　last　night　is　an　ungrateful　deceiver。　The　Franks　have　always　hated　and　feared　the　Normans；　and　not　being　able　to　conquer　us　fairly；　they　now　take　to　foul　means。　　Louis　came　hither　from　Flanders；　he　has　brought　this　great　troop　of　French　to　surprise　us；　claim　you　as　a　ward　of　the　crown；　and　carry　you　away　with　him　to　some　prison　of　his　own。〃

〃You　will　not　let　me　go？〃　said　Richard。

〃Not　while　I　live；〃　said　Sir　Eric。　　〃Alberic　is　gone　to　warn　the　Count　of　Harcourt；　to　call　the　Normans　together；　and　here　we　are　ready　to　defend　this　chamber　to　our　last　breath；　but　we　are　few；　the　French　are　m