the little duke-第3章

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　open　wide；　and　deep　oppressed　breathing；　to　what　was　passing　between　the　four　nobles；　who　spoke　earnestly　among　themselves；　without　much　heed　of　him。

〃The　Duke　dead！〃　repeated　Sir　Eric　de　Centeville；　like　one　stunned　and　stupefied。

〃Even　so；〃　said　Rainulf；　slowly　and　sadly；　and　the　silence　was　only　broken　by　the　long…drawn　sobs　of　old　Count　Bernard。

〃But　how？　when？　where？〃　broke　forth　Sir　Eric；　presently。　　〃There　was　no　note　of　battle　when　you　went　forth。　　Oh；　why　was　not　I　at　his　side？〃

〃He　fell　not　in　battle；〃　gloomily　replied　Sir　Rainulf。

〃Ha！　could　sickness　cut　him　down　so　quickly？〃

〃It　was　not　sickness；〃　answered　Ferrieres。　　〃It　was　treachery。　　He　fell　in　the　Isle　of　Pecquigny；　by　the　hand　of　the　false　Fleming！〃

〃Lives　the　traitor　yet？〃　cried　the　Baron　de　Centeville；　grasping　his　good　sword。

〃He　lives　and　rejoices　in　his　crime；〃　said　Ferrieres；　〃safe　in　his　own　merchant　towns。〃

〃I　can　scarce　credit　you；　my　Lords！〃　said　Sir　Eric。　　〃Our　Duke　slain；　and　his　enemy　safe；　and　you　here　to　tell　the　tale！〃

〃I　would　I　were　stark　and　stiff　by　my　Lord's　side！〃　said　Count　Bernard；　〃but　for　the　sake　of　Normandy；　and　of　that　poor　child；　who　is　like　to　need　all　that　ever　were　friends　to　his　house。　　I　would　that　mine　eyes　had　been　blinded　for　ever；　ere　they　had　seen　that　sight！　　And　not　a　sword　lifted　in　his　defence！　　Tell　you　how　it　passed；　Rainulf！　　My　tongue　will　not　speak　it！〃

He　threw　himself　on　a　bench　and　covered　his　face　with　his　mantle；　while　Rainulf　de　Ferrieres　proceeded：　　〃You　know　how　in　an　evil　hour　our　good　Duke　appointed　to　meet　this　caitiff；　Count　of　Flanders；　in　the　Isle　of　Pecquigny；　the　Duke　and　Count　each　bringing　twelve　men　with　them；　all　unarmed。　　Duke　Alan　of　Brittany　was　one　on　our　side；　Count　Bernard　here　another；　old　Count　Bothon　and　myself；　we　bore　no　weaponwould　that　we　hadbut　not　so　the　false　Flemings。　　Ah　me！　　I　shall　never　forget　Duke　William's　lordly　presence　when　he　stepped　ashore；　and　doffed　his　bonnet　to　the　knave　Arnulf。〃

〃Yes；〃　interposed　Bernard。　　〃And　marked　you　not　the　words　of　the　traitor；　as　they　met？　　'My　Lord；'　quoth　he；　'you　are　my　shield　and　defence。'　｛6｝　　Would　that　I　could　cleave　his　treason…hatching　skull　with　my　battle…axe。〃

〃So；〃　continued　Rainulf；　〃they　conferred　together；　and　as　words　cost　nothing　to　Arnulf；　he　not　only　promised　all　restitution　to　the　paltry　Montreuil；　but　even　was　for　offering　to　pay　homage　to　our　Duke　for　Flanders　itself；　but　this　our　William　refused；　saying　it　were　foul　wrong　to　both　King　Louis　of　France；　and　Kaiser　Otho　of　Germany；　to　take　from　them　their　vassal。　　They　took　leave　of　each　other　in　all　courtesy；　and　we　embarked　again。　　It　was　Duke　William's　pleasure　to　go　alone　in　a　small　boat；　while　we　twelve　were　together　in　another。　Just　as　we　had　nearly　reached　our　own　bank；　there　was　a　shout　from　the　Flemings　that　their　Count　had　somewhat　further　to　say　to　the　Duke；　and　forbidding　us　to　follow　him；　the　Duke　turned　his　boat　and　went　back　again。　　No　sooner　had　he　set　foot　on　the　isle；〃　proceeded　the　Norman；　clenching　his　hands；　and　speaking　between　his　teeth；　〃than　we　saw　one　Fleming　strike　him　on　the　head　with　an　oar；　he　fell　senseless；　the　rest　threw　themselves　upon　him；　and　the　next　moment　held　up　their　bloody　daggers　in　scorn　at　us！　　You　may　well　think　how　we　shouted　and　yelled　at　them；　and　plied　our　oars　like　men　distracted；　but　all　in　vain；　they　were　already　in　their　boats；　and　ere　we　could　even　reach　the　isle；　they　were　on　the　other　side　of　the　river；　mounted　their　horses；　fled　with　coward　speed；　and　were　out　of　reach　of　a　Norman's　vengeance。〃

〃But　they　shall　not　be　so　long！〃　cried　Richard；　starting　forward；　for　to　his　childish　fancy　this　dreadful　history　was　more　like　one　of　Dame　Astrida's　legends　than　a　reality；　and　at　the　moment　his　thought　was　only　of　the　blackness　of　the　treason。　　〃Oh；　that　I　were　a　man　to　chastise　them！　　One　day　they　shall　feel〃

He　broke　off　short；　for　he　remembered　how　his　father　had　forbidden　his　denunciations　of　vengeance；　but　his　words　were　eagerly　caught　up　by　the　Barons；　who；　as　Duke　William　had　said；　were　far　from　possessing　any　temper　of　forgiveness；　thought　revenge　a　duty；　and　were　only　glad　to　see　a　warlike　spirit　in　their　new　Prince。

〃Ha！　say　you　so；　my　young　Lord？〃　exclaimed　old　Count　Bernard；　rising。　〃Yes；　and　I　see　a　sparkle　in　your　eye　that　tells　me　you　will　one　day　avenge　him　nobly！〃

Richard　drew　up　his　head；　and　his　heart　throbbed　high　as　Sir　Eric　made　answer；　〃Ay；　truly；　that　will　he！　　You　might　search　Normandy　through；　yea；　and　Norway　likewise；　ere　you　would　find　a　temper　more　bold　and　free。　　Trust　my　word；　Count　Bernard；　our　young　Duke　will　be　famed　as　widely　as　ever　were　his　forefathers！〃

〃I　believe　it　well！〃　said　Bernard。　　〃He　hath　the　port　of　his　grandfather；　Duke　Rollo；　and　much；　too；　of　his　noble　father！　　How　say　you；　Lord　Richard；　will　you　be　a　valiant　leader　of　the　Norman　race　against　our　foes？〃

〃That　I　will！〃　said　Richard；　carried　away　by　the　applause　excited　by　those　few　words　of　his。　　〃I　will　ride　at　your　head　this　very　night　if　you　will　but　go　to　chastise　the　false　Flemings。〃

〃You　shall　ride　with　us　to…morrow；　my　Lord；〃　answered　Bernard；　〃but　it　must　be　to　Rouen；　there　to　be　invested　with　your　ducal　sword　and　mantle；　and　to　receive　the　homage　of　your　vassals。〃

Richard　drooped　his　head　without　replying；　for　this　seemed　to　bring　to　him　the　perception　that　his　father　was　really　gone；　and　that　he　should　never　see　him　again。　　He　thought　of　all　his　projects　for　the　day　of　his　return；　how　he　had　almost　counted　the　hours；　and　had　looked　forward　to　telling　him　that　Father　Lucas　was　well　pleased　with　him！　　And　now　he　should　never　nestle　into　his　breast　again；　never　hear　his　voice；　never　see　those　kind　eyes　beam　upon　him。　　Large　tears　gathered　in　his　eyes；　and　ashamed　that　they　should　be　seen；　he　sat　down　on　a　footstool　at　Fru　Astrida's　feet；　leant　his　forehead　on　his　hands；　and　thought　over　all　that　his　father　had　done　and　said　the　last　time　they　were　together。　　He　fancied　the　return　that　had　been　promised；　going　over　the　meeting　and　the　greeting；　till　he　had　almost　persuaded　himself　that　this　dreadful　story　was　but　a　dream。　　But　when　he　looked　up；　there　were　the　Barons；　with　their　grave　mournful　faces；　speaking　of　the　corpse；　which　Duke　Alan　of　Brittany　was　escorting　to　Rouen；　there　to　be　buried　beside　the　old　Duke　Rollo；　and　the　Duchess　Emma；　Richard's　mother。　　Then　he　lost　himself　in　wonder　how　that　stiff　bleeding　body　could　be　the　same　as　the　father　whose　arm　was　so　lately　around　him；　and　whether　his　father's　spirit　knew　how　he　was　thinking　of　him；　and　in　these　dreamy　thoughts；　the　young　orphan　Duke　of　Normandy；　forgotten　by　his　vassals　in　their　grave　councils；　fell　asleep；　and　scarce　wakened　enough　to　attend　to　his　prayers；　when　Fru　Astrida　at　length　remembered　him；　and　led　him　away　to　bed。

When　Richard　awoke　the　next　morning；　he　could　hardly　believe　that　all　that　had　passed　in　the　evening　was　true；　but　soon　he　found　that　it　was　but　too　real；　and　all　was　prepared　for　him　to　go　to　Rouen　with　the　vassals；　indeed；　it　was　for　no　other　purpose　than　to　fetch　him　that　the　Count　of　Harcourt　had　come　to　Bayeux。　　Fru　Astrida　was　quite　unhappy　that　〃the　child；〃　as　she　called　him；　should　go　alone　with　the　warriors；　but　Sir　Eric　laughed　at　her；　and　said　that　it　would　never　do　for　the　Duke　of　Normandy　to　bring　his　nurse　with　him　in　his　first　entry　into　Rouen；　and　she　must　be　content　to　follow　at　some　space　behind　under　the　escort　of　Walter　the　huntsman。

So　she　took　leave　of　Richard；　charging　both　Sir　Eric　and　Osmond　to　have　the　utmost　care　of　him；　and　shedding　tears　as　if　the　parting　was　to　be　for　a　much　longer　space；　then　he　bade　farewell　to　the　servants　of　the　castle；　received　the　blessing　of　Father　Lucas；　and　mounting　his　pony；　rode　off　between　Sir　Eric　and　Count　Bernard。　　Richard　was　but　a　little　boy；　and　he　did　not　think　so　much　of　his　loss；　as　he　rode　along　in　the　free　morning　air；　feeling　himself　a　Prince　at　the　head　of　his　vassals；　his　banner　displayed　before　him；　and　the　people　coming　out　wherever　he　passed　to　gaze　on　him；　and　call　for　blessings　on　his　name。　　Rainulf　de　Ferrieres　carried　a　large　heavy　purse　filled　with　silver　and　gold；　and　whenever　they　came　to　these　gazing　crowds；　Richard　was　well　pleased　to　thrust　his　hands　deep　into　it；　and　scatter　handfuls　of　coins　among　the　gazers；　especially　where　he　saw　little　children。

They　stopped　to　dine　and　rest　in　the　middle　of　the　day；　at　the　castle　of　a　Baron；　who；　as　soon　as　the　meal　was　over；　mounted　his　horse；　and　joined　them　in　their　ride　to　Rouen。　　So　far　it　had　not　been　very　different　from　Richard's　last　journey；　when　he　went　to　keep　Christmas　there　with　his　father；　but　now　they　were　beginning　to　come　nearer　the　town；　he　knew　the　broad　river　Seine　again；　and　saw　the　square　tower　of　the　Cathedral；　and　he　remembered　how　at　that　very　place　his　father　had　met　him；　and　how　he　had　ridden　by　his　side　into　the　town；　and　had　been　led　by　his　hand　up　to　the　hall。

His　heart　was　very　heavy；　as　he　recollected　there　was　no　one　now　to　meet　and　welcome　him；　scarcely　any　one　to　whom　he　could　even　tell　his　thoughts；　for　those　tall　grave　Barons　had　nothing　to　say　to　such　a　little　boy；　and　the　very　respect　and　formality　with　which　they　treated　him；　made　him　shrink　from　them　still　more；　especially　from　the　grim…faced　Bernard；　and　Osmond；　his　own　friend　and　playfellow；　was　obliged　to　ride　far　behind；　as　inferior　in　rank。

They　entered　the　town　just　as　it　was　growing　dark。　　Count　Bernard　looked　back　and　arrayed　the　procession；　Eric　de　Centeville　bade　Richard　sit　upright　and　not　look　weary；　and　then　all　the　Knights　held　back　while　the　little　Duke　rode　alone　a　little　in　advance　of　them　through　the　gateway。　　There　was　a　loud　shout　of　〃Long　live　the　little　Duke！〃　and　crowds　of　people　were　standing　round　to　gaze　upon　his　entry；　so　many　that　the　bag　of　coins　was　soon　emptied　by　his　largesses。　　The　whole　city　was　like　one　great　castle；　shut　in　by　a　wall　and　moat；　and　with　Rollo's　Tower　rising　at　one　end　like　the　keep　of　a　castle；　and　it　was　thither　that　Richard　was　turning　his　horse；　when　the　Count　of　Harcourt　said；　〃Nay；　my　Lord；　to　the　Church　of　our　Lady。〃　｛7｝

It　was　then　considered　a　duty　to　be　paid　to　the　deceased；　that　their　relatives　and　friends　should　visit　them　as　they　lay　in　state；　and　sprinkle　them　with　drops　of　holy　water；　and　Richard　was　now　to　pay　this　token　of　respect。　　He　trembled　a　little；　and　yet　it　did　not　seem　quite　so　dreary；　since　he　should　once　more　look　on　his　father's　face；　and　he　accordingly　rode　towards　the　Cathedral。　　It　was　then　very　unlike　what　it　is　now；　the　walls　were　very　thick；　the　windows　small　and　almost　buried　in　heavy　carved　arches；　the　columns　within　were　low；　clumsy；　and　circular；　and　it　was　usually　so　dark　that　the　vaulting　of　the　roof　could　scarcely　be　seen。

Now；　however；　a　whole　flood　of　light　poured　forth　from　every　window；　and　when　Richard　came　to　the　door；　he　saw　not　only　the　two　tall　thick　candles　that　always　burnt　on　each　side　of　the　Altar；　but　in　the　Chancel　stood　a　double　row　ranged　in　a　square；　shedding　a　pure；　quiet　brilliancy　throughout　the　building；　and　chiefly　on　the　silver　and　gold　ornaments　of　the　Altar。　　Outside　these　lights　knelt　a　row　of　priests　in　dark　garments；　their　h