men of iron(铁人)-第51章
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〃Your Majesty；〃 said he； 〃here am I； your brother； who beseech you as
your brother not to judge over…hastily in this matter。 It is true that this man
has been adjudged a traitor； but he has been so adjudged without a hearing。
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I beseech thee to listen patiently to whatsoever he may have to say。
The King fixed the Bishop with a look of the bitterest； deepest anger；
holding his nether lip tightly under his teetha trick he had when strongly
moved with angerand the Bishop's eyes fell under the look。 Meantime
the Earl of Alban stood calm and silent。 No doubt he saw that the King's
anger was likely to befriend him more than any words that he himself
could say； and he perilled his case with no more speech which could only
prove superfluous。
At last the King turned a face red and swollen with anger to the blind
Lord； who still kneeled before him。
〃What hast thou to say？〃 he said； in a deep and sullen voice。
〃Gracious and merciful Lord；〃 said the blind nobleman； 〃I come to
thee； the fountain…head of justice； craving justice。 Sire； I do now and here
deny my treason； which denial I could not before make； being blind and
helpless； and mine enemies strong and malignant。 But now； sire； Heaven
hath sent me help； and therefore I do acclaim before thee that my accuser；
William Bushy Brookhurst； Earl of Alban； is a foul and an attainted liar in
all that he hath accused me of。 To uphold which allegation； and to defend
me； who am blinded by his unknightliness； I do offer a champion to prove
all that I say with his body in combat。〃
The Earl of Mackworth darted a quick look at Myles； who came
forward the moment his father had ended； and kneeled beside him。 The
King offered no interruption to his speech； but he bent a look heavy with
anger upon the young man。
〃My gracious Lord and King；〃 said Myles； 〃I； the son of the accused；
do offer myself as his champion in this cause； beseeching thee of thy grace
leave to prove the truth of the same； being a belted knight by thy grace and
of thy creation and the peer of any who weareth spurs。〃 Thereupon； rising；
he drew his iron gauntlet from his girdle； and flung it clashing down upon
the floor； and with his heart swelling within him with anger and
indignation and pity of his blind father； he cried； in a loud voice； 〃I do
accuse thee； William of Alban； that thou liest vilely as aforesaid； and here
cast down my gage； daring thee to take it up。
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The Earl of Alban made as though he would accept the challenge； but
the King stopped him hastily。
〃Stop！〃 he cried； harshly。 〃Touch not the gage！ Let it lielet it lie； I tell
thee； my Lord！ Now then；〃 said he； turning to the others； 〃tell me what
meaneth all this coil？ Who brought this man hither？〃
He looked from one to another of those who stood silently around； but
no one answered。
〃I see；〃 said he； 〃ye all have had to do with it。 It is as my Lord of
Alban sayeth； ye are his enemies； and ye are my enemies as well。 In this I
do smell a vile plot。 I cannot undo what I have done； and since I have
made this young man a knight with mine own hands； I cannot deny that he
is fit to challenge my Lord of Alban。 Ne'theless； the High Court of
Chivalry shall adjudge this case。 Meantime；〃 said he； turning to the Earl
Marshal； who was present； 〃I give thee this attainted Lord in charge。
Convey him presently to the Tower； and let him abide our pleasure there。
Also； thou mayst take up yon gage； and keep it till it is redeemed
according to our pleasure。〃
He stood thoughtfully for a moment； and then raising his eyes； looked
fixedly at the Earl of Mackworth。 〃I know；〃 he said； 〃that I be a right sick
man； and there be some who are already plotting to overthrow those who
have held up my hand with their own strength for all these years。〃 Then
speaking more directly： 〃My Lord Earl of Mackworth； I see your hand in
this before all others。 It was thou who so played upon me as to get me to
knight this young man； and thus make him worthy to challenge my Lord
of Alban。 It was thy doings that brought him here to…day； backed by mine
own sons and my brother and by these noblemen。〃 Then turning suddenly
to the Earl of Alban： 〃Come； my Lord；〃 said he； 〃I am aweary with all this
coil。 Lend me thine arm to leave this place。〃 So it was that he left the room；
leaning upon the Earl of Alban's arm； and followed by the two or three of
the Alban faction who were present。
〃Your Royal Highness；〃 said the Earl Marshal； 〃I must e'en do the
King's bidding； and take this gentleman into arrest。〃
〃Do thy duty；〃 said the Prince。 〃We knew it must come to this。
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Meanwhile he is to be a prisoner of honor； and see that he be well lodged
and cared for。 Thou wilt find my barge at the stairs to convey him down
the river； and I myself will come this afternoon to visit him。〃
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CHAPTER 31
It was not until the end of July that the High Court of Chivalry
rendered its judgment。 There were many unusual points in the case； some
of which bore heavily against Lord Falworth； some of which were in his
favor。 He was very ably defended by the lawyers whom the Earl of
Mackworth had engaged upon his side； nevertheless； under ordinary
circumstances； the judgment； no doubt； would have been quickly rendered
against him。 As it was； however； the circumstances were not ordinary； and
it was rendered in his favor。 The Court besought the King to grant the
ordeal by battle； to accept Lord Falworth's champion； and to appoint the
time and place for the meeting。
The decision must have been a most bitter； galling one for the sick
King。 He was naturally of a generous； forgiving nature； but Lord Falworth
in his time of power had been an unrelenting and fearless opponent； and
his Majesty who； like most generous men； could on occasions be very
cruel and intolerant； had never forgiven him。 He had steadily thrown the
might of his influence with the Court against the Falworths' case； but that
influence was no longer all…powerful for good or ill。 He was failing in
health； and it could only be a matter of a few years； probably of only a few
months； before his successor sat upon the throne。
Upon the other hand； the Prince of Wales's faction had been steadily；
and of late rapidly； increasing in power； and in the Earl of Mackworth； its
virtual head； it possessed one of the most capable politicians and astute
intriguers in Europe。 So； as the outcome of all the plotting and counter…
plotting； scheming and counter…scheming； the case was decided in Lord
Falworth's favor。 The knowledge of the ultimate result was known to the
Prince of Wales's circle almost a week before it was finally decided。
Indeed； the Earl of Mackworth had made pretty sure of that
