the little duke-第7章

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One　day；　as　they　were　returning　from　the　ice；　they　were　surprised；　even　before　they　entered　the　Castle　court；　by　hearing　the　trampling　of　horses'　feet；　and　a　sound　of　voices。

〃What　may　this　mean？〃　said　Osmond。　　〃There　must　surely　be　a　great　arrival　of　the　vassals。　　The　Duke　of　Brittany；　perhaps。〃

〃Oh；〃　said　Richard；　piteously；　〃we　have　had　one　council　already　this　week。　　I　hope　another　is　not　coming！〃

〃It　must　import　something　extraordinary；〃　proceeded　Osmond。　　〃It　is　a　mischance　that　the　Count　of　Harcourt　is　not　at　Rouen　just　now。〃

Richard　thought　this　no　mischance　at　all；　and　just　then；　Alberic；　who　had　run　on　a　little　before；　came　back　exclaiming；　〃They　are　French。　It　is　the　Frank　tongue；　not　the　Norman；　that　they　speak。〃

〃So　please　you；　my　Lord；〃　said　Osmond；　stopping　short；　〃we　go　not　rashly　into　the　midst　of　them。　　I　would　I　knew　what　were　best　to　do。〃

Osmond　rubbed　his　forehead　and　stood　considering；　while　the　two　boys　looked　at　him　anxiously。　　In　a　few　seconds；　before　he　had　come　to　any　conclusion；　there　came　forth　from　the　gate　a　Norman　Squire；　accompanied　by　two　strangers。

〃My　Lord　Duke；〃　said　he　to　Richard；　in　French；　〃Sir　Eric　has　sent　me　to　bring　you　tidings　that　the　King　of　France　has　arrived　to　receive　your　homage。〃

〃The　King！〃　exclaimed　Osmond。

〃Ay！〃　proceeded　the　Norman；　in　his　own　tongue；　〃Louis　himself；　and　with　a　train　looking　bent　on　mischief。　　I　wish　it　may　portend　good　to　my　Lord　here。　　You　see　I　am　accompanied。　　I　believe　from　my　heart　that　Louis　meant　to　prevent　you　from　receiving　a　warning；　and　taking　the　boy　out　of　his　clutches。〃

〃Ha！　what？〃　said　Richard；　anxiously。　　〃Why　is　the　King　come？　　What　must　I　do？〃

〃Go　on　now；　since　there　is　no　help　for　it；〃　said　Osmond。

〃Greet　the　king　as　becomes　you；　bend　the　knee；　and　pay　him　homage。〃

Richard　repeated　over　to　himself　the　form　of　homage　that　he　might　be　perfect　in　it；　and　walked　on　into　the　court；　Alberic；　Osmond；　and　the　rest　falling　back　as　he　entered。　　The　court　was　crowded　with　horses　and　men；　and　it　was　only　by　calling　out　loudly；　〃The　Duke；　the　Duke；〃　that　Osmond　could　get　space　enough　made　for　them　to　pass。　　In　a　few　moments　Richard　had　mounted　the　steps　and　stood　in　the　great　hall。

In　the　chair　of　state；　at　the　upper　end　of　the　room；　sat　a　small　spare　man；　of　about　eight　or　nine…and…twenty；　pale；　and　of　a　light　complexion；　with　a　rich　dress　of　blue　and　gold。　　Sir　Eric　and　several　other　persons　stood　respectfully　round　him；　and　he　was　conversing　with　the　Archbishop；　who；　as　well　as　Sir　Eric；　cast　several　anxious　glances　at　the　little　Duke　as　he　advanced　up　the　hall。　　He　came　up　to　the　King；　put　his　knee　to　the　ground；　and　was　just　beginning；　〃Louis；　King　of　France；　I〃　when　he　found　himself　suddenly　lifted　from　the　ground　in　the　King's　arms；　and　kissed　on　both　cheeks。　　Then　setting　him　on　his　knee；　the　King　exclaimed；　〃And　is　this　the　son　of　my　brave　and　noble　friend；　Duke　William？　　Ah！　　I　should　have　known　it　from　his　likeness。　　Let　me　embrace　you　again；　dear　child；　for　your　father's　sake。〃

Richard　was　rather　overwhelmed；　but　he　thought　the　King　very　kind；　especially　when　Louis　began　to　admire　his　height　and　free…spirited　bearing；　and　to　lament　that　his　own　sons；　Lothaire　and　Carloman；　were　so　much　smaller　and　more　backward。　　He　caressed　Richard　again　and　again；　praised　every　word　he　saidFru　Astrida　was　nothing　to　him；　and　Richard　began　to　say　to　himself　how　strange　and　unkind　it　was　of　Bernard　de　Harcourt　to　like　to　find　fault　with　him；　when；　on　the　contrary；　he　deserved　all　this　praise　from　the　King　himself。



CHAPTER　V



Duke　Richard　of　Normandy　slept　in　the　room　which　had　been　his　father's；　Alberic　de　Montemar；　as　his　page；　slept　at　his　feet；　and　Osmond　de　Centeville　had　a　bed　on　the　floor；　across　the　door；　where　he　lay　with　his　sword　close　at　hand；　as　his　young　Lord's　guard　and　protector。

All　had　been　asleep　for　some　little　time；　when　Osmond　was　startled　by　a　slight　movement　of　the　door；　which　could　not　be　pushed　open　without　awakening　him。　　In　an　instant　he　had　grasped　his　sword；　while　he　pressed　his　shoulder　to　the　door　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。