the caged lion-第26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！
was farewell。 King Henry had persuaded the Queen to seclude herself for one evening from Madame of Hainault； for his sake。 King James was pacing the gardens on the Thames banks； with Joan Beaufort's hand for once allowed to repose in his； many a noble gentleman was exchanging last words with his wifemany a young squire whispering what he had never ventured to say beforemany a silver mark was clovenmany a bright tress was exchanged。 Even Ralf Percy was in the midst of something very like a romp with the handsome Bessie Nevil for a knot of ribbon to carry to the wars。
Malcolm felt a certain exaltation in being enough like other people to have a lady…love； but there was not much comfort otherwise； indeed； he could so little have addressed Esclairmonde that it was almost a satisfaction that she was the centre of a group of maidens whose lovers or brothers either had been sent off beforehand； or who saw their attentions paid elsewhere； and who all alike gravitated towards the Demoiselle de Luxemburg for sympathy。 He could but hover on the outskirts； conscious that he must cut a ridiculous figure； but unable to detach himself from the neighbourhood of the magnet。 As he looked back on the happy weeks of unconstrained intercourse； when he came to her as freely as did these young girls with all his troubles； he felt as if the King had destroyed all his joy and peace； and yet that these flutterings of heart and agonies of shame and fits of despair were worth all that childish calm。
He durst say nothing； only now and then to gaze on her with his great brown wistful eyes； which he dropped whenever she looked towards him； until at last； when the summer evening was closing in； and the last signal was given for the break…up of the party； Malcolm ventured on one faltering murmur； 'Lady； lady； you are not offended with me？'
'Nay；' said Esclairmonde； kindly； 'nothing has passed between us that should offend me。'
His eye lighted。 'May I still be remembered in your prayers； lady？'
'As I shall remember all who have been my friends here；' she said。
'And oh； lady； if I shouldshould win honour； may I lay it at your feet？'
'Whatever you achieve as a good man and true will gladden me；' said Esclairmonde； 'as it will all others that wish you well。 Both you and your sister in her loneliness shall have my best prayers。 Farewell； Lord Malcolm； may the Saints bless and guard you； whether in the world or the Church。'
Malcolm knew why she spoke of his sister； and felt as if there were no hope for him。 Esclairmonde's grave kindness was a far worse sign than would have been any attempt to evade him； but at any rate she had spoken with him； and his heart could not but be cheered。 What might he not do in the glorious future？ As the foremost champion of a crusading king； bearing St。 Andrew's cross through the very gates of Jerusalem； what maiden； however saintly； could refuse him his guerdon？
And he knew that； for the present； Esclairmonde was safe from retiring into any convent； since her high birth and great possessions would make any such establishment expect a large dower with her as a right； and few abbesses would have ventured to receive a runaway foreigner； especially as one of her guardians was the Bishop of Therouenne。
CHAPTER VII： THE SIEGE OF MEAUX
Wintry winds and rains were sweeping over the English tents on the banks of the Marne； where Henry V。 was besieging Meaux； then the stronghold of one of those terrible freebooters who were always the offspring of a lengthened war。 Jean de Gast； usually known as the Bastard de Vaurus； nominally was of the Armagnac or patriotic party； but； in fact； pillaged indiscriminately； especially capturing travellers on their way to Paris； and setting on their heads a heavy price； failing which he hung them upon the great elm…tree in the market…place。 The very suburbs of Paris were infested by the forays of this desperate routier； as such highway robbers were called； the supplies of previsions were cut off； and the citizens had petitioned King Henry that he would relieve them from so intolerable an enemy。
The King intended to spend the winter months with his queen in England； and at once attacked the place in October； hoping to carry it by a coup de main。 He took the lower city； containing the market… place and several large convents； with no great difficulty； but the upper city； on a rising ground above the river； was strongly fortified； well victualled； and bravely defended； and he found himself forced to invest it； and make a regular siege； though at the expense of severe toil and much sickness and suffering。 Both his own prestige in France and the welfare of the capital depended on his success； and he had therefore fixed himself before Meaux to take it at whatever cost。
The greater part of the army were here encamped； together with the chief nobles； March； Somerset； Salisbury； Warwick； and likewise the King of Scots。 James had for a time had the command of the army which besieged and took Dreux while Henry was elsewhere engaged； but in general he acted as a sort of volunteer aide…de…camp to his brother king； and Malcolm Stewart of Glenuskie was always with him as his squire。 A great change had come over Malcolm in these last few months。 His feeble； sickly boyhood seemed to have been entirely cast off； and the warm genial summer sun of France to have strengthened his frame and developed his powers。 He had shot up suddenly to a fair height； had almost lost his lameness； and gained much more appearance of health and power of enduring fatigue。 His nerves had become less painfully sensitive； and when after his first skirmish； during which he had kept close to King James； far too much terrified to stir an inch from him； he had not only found himself perfectly safe； but had been much praised for his valour； he had been so much pleased with himself that he quite wished for another occasion of displaying his bravery； and； what with use； and what with the increasing spirit of pugnacity； he was as sincere as Ralf Percy in abusing the French for never coming to a pitched battle。 Perhaps； indeed； Malcolm spoke even more eagerly than Ralf； in his own surprise and gratification at finding himself no coward； and his fear lest Percy should detect that he ever had been supposed to be such。
So far the King of Scots had succeeded in awakening martial fire in the boy； but he found him less the companion in other matters than he had intended。 When at Paris； James would have taken him to explore the learned hoards of the already venerable University of Paris； where young James Kennedyson to Sir James Kennedy of Dunure； and to Mary； an elder sister of the Kingwas studying with exceeding zeal。 Both James and Dr。 Bennet were greatly interested in this famous abode of hearingthe King； indeed； was already sketching out designs in his own mind for a similar institution in Scotland； designs that were destined to be carried out after his death by Kennedy； and Malcolm perforce heard many inquiries and replies； but he held aloof from friendship with his clerkly cousin Kennedy； and closed his ears as much as might be； hanging back as if afraid of returning to his books。 There was in this some real dread of Ralf Percy's mockery of his clerkliness； but there was more real distaste for all that appertained to the past days that he now despised。
The tide of vitality and physical vigour； so long deficient； had； whom it had fairly set in； carried him away with it： and in the activity of body newly acquired； mental activity had well…nigh ceased。 And therewith went much of the tenderness of conscience and devout habits of old。 They dropped from him； sometimes for lack of time； sometimes from false shame； and by and by from very weariness and distaste。 He was soldier now； and not monkay； and even the observances that such soldiers as Henry and James never failed in； and always enforced； were becoming a burthen to him。 They wakened misgivings that he did not like； and that must wait till his next general shrift。
And Esclairmonde？ Out of her sight； Malcolm dreamt a good deal about her； but more as the woman； less as the saint； and the hopes； so low in her presence； burnt brighter in her
