the path of the king-第14部分

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〃So　be　it；〃　said　Houlagou；　and　turned　to　his　hounds。　

。　　。　　。　　。　　。　　。　　。　　。　　。　　。　　。　　。　　。　　。　　。　　。　　。　　。　　。　　。

The　damoiseau　of　Beaumanoir　sat　on　a　ridge　commanding　for　fifty　miles　the　　snow…sprinkled　uplands。　The　hum　of　the　Tartars　came　faint　from　a　hollow　to　　the　west；　but　where　he　sat　he　was　in　quiet　and　alone。　

He　had　forgotten　the　ache　of　loss　which　had　preyed　on　　　　　him。　。　。　。　His　　youth　had　not　been　squandered。　The　joy　of　young　manhood　which　had　been　　always　like　a　tune　in　his　heart　had　risen　to　a　nobler　song。　For　now；　as　it　　seemed　to　him；　he　stood　beside　his　King；　and　had　found　a　throne　in　the　　desert。　Alone　among　all　Christian　men　he　had　carried　the　Cross　to　a　new　　world；　and　had　been　judged　worthy　to　walk　in　the　footprints　of　his　captain　　Christ。　A　great　gladness　and　a　great　humility　possessed　him。　

He　had　ridden　beyond　the　ken　of　his　own　folk；　and　no　tale　of　his　end　would　　ever　be　told　in　that　northern　hall　of　his　when　the　hearth…fire　flickered　　on　the　rafters。　That　seemed　small　loss；　for　they　would　know　that　he　had　　ridden　the　King's　path；　and　that　can　have　but　the　one　ending。　。　。　。　Most　　clear　in　his　memory　now　were　the　grey　towers　by　Canche；　where　all　day　long　　the　slow　river　made　a　singing　among　the　reeds。　He　saw　Alix　his　wife；　the　　sun　on　her　hair；　playing　in　the　close　with　his　little　Philip。　Even　now　in　　the　pleasant　autumn　weather　that　curly…pate　would　be　scrambling　in　the　　orchard　for　the　ripe　apples　which　his　mother　rolled　to　him。　He　had　thought　　himself　born　for　a　high　destiny。　Well；　that　destiny　had　been　accomplished。　　He　would　not　die；　but　live　in　the　son　of　his　body；　and　his　sacrifice　would　　be　eternally　a　spirit　moving　in　the　hearts　of　his　seed。　He　saw　the　thing　　clear　and　sharp；　as　if　in　a　magic　glass。　There　was　a　long　road　before　the　　house　of　Beaumanoir；　and　on　the　extreme　horizon　a　great　brightness。　

Now　he　remembered　that　he　had　always　known　it；　known　it　even　when　his　head　　had　been　busy　with　ardent　hopes。　He　had　loved　life　and　had　won　life　　everlasting。　He　had　known　it　when　he　sought　learning　from　wise　books。　When　　he　kept　watch　by　his　armour　in　the　Abbey　church　of　Corbie　and　questioned　　wistfully　the　darkness；　that　was　the　answer　he　had　got。　In　the　morning；　　when　he　had　knelt　in　snow…white　linen　and　crimson　and　steel　before　the　　high　altar　and　received　back　his　sword　from　God；　the　message　had　been　　whispered　to　his　heart。　In　the　June　dawn　when；　barefoot；　he　was　given　the　　pilgrim's　staff　and　entered　on　his　southern　journey；　he　had　had　a　　premonition　of　his　goal。　But　now　what　had　been　dim；　like　a　shadow　in　a　　mirror；　was　as　clear　as　the　colours　in　a　painted　psaltery。　〃Jerusalem；　　Jerusalem；〃　he　sighed；　as　his　King　was　wont　to　sigh。　For　he　was　crossing　　the　ramparts　of　the　secret　city。　

He　tried　to　take　the　ring　from　his　finger　that　he　might　bury　it；　for　it　　irked　him　that　his　father's　jewel　should　fall　to　his　enemies。　But　the　　wound　had　swollen　his　left　hand；　and　he　could　not　move　the　ring。　

He　was　looking　westward；　for　that　way　lay　the　Holy　Places；　and　likewise　　Alix　and　Picardy。　His　minutes　were　few　now；　for　he　heard　the　bridles　of　　the　guards；　as　they　closed　in　to　carry　him　to　his　last　fight。　。　。　。　He　had　　with　him　a　fragment　of　rye…cake　and　beside　him　on　the　ridge　was　a　little　　spring。　In　his　helmet　he　filled　a　draught；　and　ate　a　morsel。　For；　by　the　　grace　of　the　Church　to　the　knight　in　extremity；　he　was　now　sealed　of　the　　priesthood；　and　partook　of　the　mystic　body　and　blood　of　his　Lord。　。　。　。　

Somewhere　far　off　there　was　a　grass　fire　licking　the　hills；　and　the　sun　　was　setting　in　fierce　scarlet　and　gold。　The　hollow　of　the　sky　seemed　a　　vast　chapel　ablaze　with　lights；　like　the　lifting　of　the　Host　at　Candlemas。

。　　。　　。　　。　　。　　。　　。　　。　　。　　。　　。　　。　　。　　。　　。　　。　　。　　。　　。　　。　　。　

The　tale　is　not　finished。　For；　as　it　chanced；　one　Maffeo　of　Venice；　a　　merchant　who　had　strayed　to　the　court　of　Cambaluc　and　found　favour　there；　　was　sent　by　Kublai　the　next　year　on　a　mission　to　Europe；　and　his　way　lay　　through　the　camp　of　Houlagou。　He　was　received　with　honour；　and　shown　the　　riches　of　the　Tartar　armies。　Among　other　things　he　heard　of　a　Frankish　　knight　who　had　fallen　in　battle　with　Houlagou's　champions；　and　won　much　　honour；　they　said；　having　slain　three。　He　was　shown　the　shrivelled　arm　of　　this　knight；　with　a　gold　ring　on　the　third　finger。　Maffeo　was　a　man　of　　sentiment；　and　begged　for　and　was　given　the　poor　fragment；　meaning　to　　accord　it　burial　in　consecrated　ground　when　he　should　arrive　in　Europe。　He　　travelled　to　Bussorah；　whence　he　came　by　sea　to　Venice。　Now　at　Venice　　there　presently　arrived　the　Count　of　St。　Pol　with　a　company　of　Frenchmen；　　bound　on　a　mission　to　the　Emperor。　Maffeo；　of　whom　one　may　still　read　in　　the　book　of　Messer　Marco　Polo；　was　become　a　famous　man　in　the　city；　and　　strangers　resorted　to　his　house　to　hear　his　tales　and　see　his　treasures。　　From　him　St。　Pol　learned　of　the　dead　knight；　and；　reading　the　cognisance　　on　the　ring；　knew　the　fate　of　his　friend。　On　his　return　journey　he　bore　　the　relic　to　Louis　at　Paris；　who　venerated　it　as　the　limb　of　a　saint；　and　　thereafter　took　it　to　Beaumanoir；　where　the　Lady　Alix　kissed　it　with　proud　　tears。　The　arm　in　a　rich　casket　she　buried　below　the　chapel　altar；　and　the　　ring　she　wore　till　her　death。　



CHAPTER　5。　THE　MAID

The　hostel　of　the　Ane　Raye　poured　from　its　upper　and　lower　windows　a　flood　of　light　into　the　gathering　August　dusk。　It　stood；　a　little　withdrawn　among　its　beeches；　at　a　cross…roads；　where　the　main　route　southward　from　the　Valois　cut　the　highway　from　Paris　to　Rheims　and　Champagne。　The　roads　at　that　hour　made　ghostly　white　ribbons；　and　the　fore…court　of　dusty　grasses　seemed　of　a　verdure　which　daylight　would　disprove。　Weary　horses　nuzzled　at　a　watertrough；　and　serving…men　in　a　dozen　liveries　made　a　bustle　around　the　stables；　which　formed　two　sides　of　the　open　quadrangle。　At　the　foot　of　the　inn　signpost　beggars　squattedhere　a　leper　whining　monotonously；　there　lustier　vagrants　dicing　for　supper。　At　the　main　door　a　knot　of　young　squires　stood　talking　in　whispersimpatient；　if　one　judged　from　the　restless　clank　of　metal；　but　on　duty；　as　appeared　when　a　new…comer　sought　entrance　and　was　brusquely　denied。　For　in　an　upper　room　there　was　business　of　great　folk；　and　the　commonalty　must　keep　its　distance。

That　upper　room　was　long　and　low…ceiled；　with　a　canopied　bed　in　a　corner　and　an　oaken　table　heaped　with　saddle…bags。　A　woman　sat　in　a　chair　by　the　empty　hearth；　very　bright　and　clear　in　the　glow　of　the　big　iron　lantern　hung　above　the　chimney。　She　was　a　tall　girl；　exquisitely　dressed；　from　the　fine　silk　of　her　horned　cap　to　the　amethyst　buckles　on　her　Spanish　shoes。　The　saddle…bags　showed　that　she　was　fresh　from　a　journey；　but　her　tirewoman's　hands　must　have　been　busy；　for　she　bore　no　marks　of　the　road。

Her　chin　was　in　her　hands；　and　the　face　defined　by　the　slim　fingers　was　small　and　delicate；　pale　with　the　clear　pallor　of　perfect　health；　and　now　slowly　flushing　to　some　emotion。　The　little　chin　was　firm；　but　the　mouth　was　pettish。　Her　teeth　bit　on　a　gold　chain；　which　encircled　her　neck　and　held　a　crystal　reliquary。　A　spoiled　pretty　child；　she　looked；　and　in　a　mighty　ill　temper。

The　cause　of　it　was　a　young　man　who　stood　disconsolately　by　a　settle　a　little　way　out　of　the　lantern's　glow。　The　dust　of　the　white　roads　lay　on　his　bodyarmour　and　coated　the　scabbard　of　his　great　sword。　He　played　nervously　with　the　plume　of　a　helmet　which　lay　on　the　settle；　and　lifted　his　face　now　and　then　to　protest　a　word。　It　was　an　honest　face；　ruddy　with　wind　and　sun　and　thatched　with　hair　which　his　mislikers　called　red　but　his　friends　golden。

The　girl　seemed　to　have　had　her　say。　She　turned　wearily　aside；　and　drew　the　chain　between　her　young　lips　with　a　gesture　of　despair。

〃Since　when　have　you　become　Burgundian；　Catherine？〃　the　young　man　asked　timidly。　The　Sieur　Guy　de　Laval　was　most　notable　in　the　field　but　he　had　few　arts　for　a　lady's　chamber。

〃I　am　no　Burgundian；〃　she　said；　〃but　neither　am　I　Armagnac。　What　concern　have　we　in　these　quarrels？　Let　the　Kings　who　seek　thrones　do　the　fighting。　What　matters　it　to　us　whether　knock…kneed　Charles　or　fat　Philip　reign　in　Paris？〃

The　young　man　shuddered　as　if　at　a　blasphemy　〃This　is　our　country　of　France。　I　would　rid　it　of　the　English　and　all　foreign　bloodsuckers　〃

〃And　your　way　is　to　foment　the　quarrel　among　Frenchmen？　You　are　a　fool；　Guy。　Make　peace　with　Burgundy　and　in　a　month　there　will　be　no　Goddams　left　in　France。〃

〃It　is　the　voice　of　La　Tremouille。〃

〃It　is　the　voice　of　myself；　Catherine　of　Beaumanoir。　And　if　my　kinsman　of　La　Tremouille　say　the　same；　the　opinion　is　none　the　worse　for　that。　You　meddle　with　matters　beyond　your　understanding。。。。　But　have　done　with　statecraft；　for　that　is　not　the　heart　of　my　complaint。　You　have　broken　your　pledged　word；　sir。　Did　you　not　promise　me　when　you　set　out　that　you　would　abide　the　issue　of　the　Bourbon's　battle　before　you　took　arms？　Yet　I　have　heard　of　you　swashbuckling　in　that　very　fight　at　Rouvray；　and　only　the　miracle　of　God　brought　you　out　with　an　unbroken　neck。〃

〃The　Bourbon　never　fought；〃　said　de　Laval　sullenly。　〃Only　Stewart　and　his　Scots　stood　up　against　Fastolf's　spears。　You　would　not　have　me　stay　idle　in　face　of　such　odds。　I　was　not　the　only　French　knight　who　charged。　There　was　La　Hire　and　de　Saintrailles　and　the　Bastard　himself。〃

〃Yet　you　broke　your　word；〃　was　the　girl's　cold　answer。　〃Your　word　to　me。　You　are　forsworn；　sir。〃

The　boy's　face　flushed　deeply。　〃You　do　not　understand；　my　sweet　Catherine。　There　have　been　mighty　doings　in　Touraine；　which　you　have　not　heard　of　in　Picardy。　Miracles　have　come　to　pass。　Orleans　has　been　saved；　and　there　is　now　a　great　army　behind　Charles。　In　a　little　while　we　shall　drive　the　English　from　Paris；　and　presently　into　the　sea。　There　is　hope　now　and　a　clear　road　for　us　Frenchmen。　We　have　heard　the　terrible　English　'Hurra'　grow　feeble；　and　'St。　Denis'　swell　like　a　wind　in　heaven。　For　God　has　sent　us　the　Maid。。。。〃

The　girl　had　risen　and　was　walking　with　quick；　short　steps　from　hearth　to　open　window。

〃Tell　me　of　this　maid；〃　she　commanded。

〃Beyond　doubt　she　is　a　daughter　of　God；〃　said　de　Laval。

〃Beyond　doubt。　But　I　would　hear　more　of　her。〃

Her　tone　was　ominously　s