the path of the king-第15部分

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

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

Her　tone　was　ominously　soft；　and　the　young　man　was　deceived　by　it。　He　launched　into　a　fervid　panegyric　of　Jeanne　of　Arc。　He　told　of　her　doings　at　Orleans；　when　her　standard　became　the　oriflamme　of　France；　and　her　voice　was　more　stirring　than　trumpets；　of　her　gentleness　and　her　wisdom。　He　told　of　his　first　meeting　with　her；　when　she　welcomed　him　in　her　chamber。　〃She　sent　for　wine　and　said　that　soon　she　would　drink　it　with　me　in　Paris。　I　saw　her　mount　a　plunging　black　horse；　herself　all　in　white　armour；　but　unhelmeted。　Her　eyes　were　those　of　a　great　captain；　and　yet　merciful　and　mild　like　God's　Mother。　The　sight　of　her　made　the　heart　sing　like　a　May　morning。　No　man　could　fear　death　in　her　company。　They　tell　how　。　。　。〃

But　he　got　no　farther。　The　girl's　face　was　pale　with　fury；　and　she　tore　at　her　gold　neck…chain　till　it　snapped。

〃Enough　of　your　maid！〃　she　cried。　〃Maid；　forsooth！　The　shame　of　her　has　gone　throughout　the　land。　She　is　no　maid；　but　a　witch；　a　light…of…love；　a　blasphemer。　By　the　Rood；　Sir　Guy；　you　choose　this　instant　between　me　and　your　foul　peasant。　A　daughter　of　Beaumanoir　does　not　share　her　lover　with　a　crack…brained　virago。〃

The　young　man　had　also　gone　pale　beneath　his　sunburn。　〃I　will　not　listen；〃　he　cried。　〃You　blaspheme　a　holy　angel。〃

〃But　listen　you　shall；〃　and　her　voice　quivered　with　passion。　She　marched　up　to　him　and　faced　him；　her　slim　figure　as　stiff　as　a　spear。　〃This　very　hour　you　break　this　mad　allegiance　and　conduct　me　home　to　Beaumanoir。　Or；　by　the　Sorrows　of　Mary；　you　and　I　will　never　meet　again。〃

De　Laval　did　not　speak；　but　stood　gazing　sadly　at　the　angry　loveliness　before　him。　His　own　face　had　grown　as　stubborn　as　hers。

〃You　do　not　know　what　you　ask；〃　he　said　at　length。　〃You　would　have　me　forswear　my　God；　and　my　King；　and　my　manhood。〃

〃A　fig　for　such　manhood；〃　she　cried　with　ringing　scorn。　〃If　that　is　a　man's　devotion；　I　will　end　my　days　in　a　nunnery。　I　will　have　none　of　it；　I　tell　you。　Choose；　my　fine　lover　choose　between　me　and　your　peasant。〃

The　young　man　looked　again　at　the　blazing　eyes　and　then　without　a　word　turned　slowly　and　left　the　room。　A　moment　later　the　sound　of　horses　told　that　a　company　had　taken　the　road

The　girl　stood　listening　till　the　noise　died　away。　Then　she　sank　all　limp　in　a　chair　and　began　to　cry。　There　was　wrath　in　her　sobs；　and　bitter　self…pity。　She　had　made　a　fine　tragedy　scene；　but　the　glory　of　it　was　short。　She　did　not　regret　it；　but　an　immense　dreariness　had　followed　on　her　heroics。　Was　there　ever；　she　asked　herself；　a　more　unfortunate　lady？

And　she　had　been　so　happy。　Her　lover　was　the　bravest　gallant　that　ever　came　out　of　Brittany；　rich　too；　and　well　beloved；　and　kin　to　de　Richemont；　the　Constable。　In　the　happy　days　at　Beaumanoir　he　was　the　leader　in　jousts　and　valiances；　the　soul　of　hunting　parties；　the　lightest　foot　in　the　dance。　The　Beaumanoirs　had　been　a　sleepy　stock；　ever　since　that　Sir　Aimery；　long　ago；　who　had　gone　crusading　with　Saint　Louis　and　ridden　out　of　the　ken　of　mortals。　Their　wealth　had　bought　them　peace；　and　they　had　kept　on　good　terms　alike　with　France　and　Burgundy；　and　even　with　the　unruly　captains　of　England。　Wars　might　sweep　round　their　marches；　but　their　fields　were　unravaged。　Shrewd；　peaceable　folk　they　were；　at　least　the　males　of　the　house。　The　women　had　been　different；　for　the　daughters　of　Beaumanoir　had　been　notable　for　beauty　and　wit　and　had　married　proudly；　till　the　family　was　kin　to　half　the　nobleness　of　Artois　and　Picardy　and　Champagne。　There　was　that　terrible　great…aunt　at　Coucy；　and　the　aunts　at　Beaulieu　and　Avranches；　and　the　endless　cousinhood　stretching　as　far　south　as　the　Nivernais。。。。　And　now　the　main　stock　had　flowered　in　her；　the　sole　child　of　her　father；　and　the　best　match　to　be　found　that　side　of　the　Loire。

She　sobbed　in　the　chagrin　of　a　new　experience。　No　one　in　her　soft　cushioned　life　had　ever　dared　to　gainsay　her。　At　Beaumanoir　her　word　was　law。　She　had　loved　its　rich　idleness　for　the　power　it　gave　her。　Luxurious　as　she　was；　it　was　no　passive　luxury　that　she　craved；　but　the　sense　of　mastery；　of　being　a　rare　thing　set　apart。　The　spirit　of　the　women　of　Beaumanoir　burned　fiercely　in　her。　。　　。　She　longed　to　set　her　lover　in　the　forefront　of　the　world。　Let　him　crusade　if　he　chose；　but　not　in　a　beggars'　quarrel。　And　now　the　palace　of　glass　was　shivered；　and　she　was　forsaken　for　a　peasant　beguine。　The　thought　set　her　pacing　to　the　window。

There　seemed　to　be　a　great　to…do　without。　A　dozen　lanterns　lit　up　the　forecourt；　and　there　was　a　tramping　of　many　horses。　A　shouting；　too；　as　if　a　king　were　on　the　move。　She　hurriedly　dried　her　eyes　and　arranged　her　dress；　tossing　the　reliquary　and　its　broken　chain　on　the　table。　Some　new　guests；　and　the　inn　was　none　too　large。　She　would　have　the　landlord　flayed　if　he　dared　to　intrude　on　the　privacy　which　she　had　commanded。　Nay；　she　would　summon　her　people　that　instant　and　set　off　for　home；　for　her　company　was　strong　enough　to　give　security　in　the　midnight　forests。

She　was　about　to　blow　a　little　silver　whistle　to　call　her　steward　when　a　step　at　the　door　halted　her。　A　figure　entered；　a　stranger。　It　was　a　tall　stripling；　half　armed　like　one　who　is　not　for　battle　but　expects　a　brush　at　any　corner　of　the　road。　A　long　surcoat　of　dark　green　and　crimson　fell　stiffy　as　if　it　covered　metal；　and　the　boots　were　spurred　and　defended　in　front　with　thin　plates　of　steel。　The　light　helm　was　open　and　showed　a　young　face。　The　stranger　moved　wearily　as　if　from　a　long　journey。

〃Good　even　to　you；　sister；〃　said　the　voice；　a　musical　voice　with　the　broad　accent　of　Lorraine。　〃Help　me　to　get　rid　of　this　weariful　harness。〃

Catherine's　annoyance　was　forgotten　in　amazement。　Before　she　knew　what　she　did　her　fingers　were　helping　the　bold　youth　to　disarm。　The　helm　was　removed；　the　surcoat　was　stripped；　and　the　steel　corslet　beneath　it。　With　a　merry　laugh　the　stranger　kicked　off　the　great　boots　which　were　too　wide　for　his　slim　legs。

He　stretched　himself；　yawning；　and　then　laughed　again。　〃By　my　staff；〃　he　said；　〃but　I　am　the　weary　one。〃　He　stood　now　in　the　full　glow　of　the　lantern；　and　Catherine　saw　that　he　wore　close…fitting　breeches　of　fine　linen；　a　dark　pourrpoint；　and　a　tunic　of　blue。　The　black　hair　was　cut　short　like　a　soldier's；　and　the　small　secret　face　had　the　clear　tan　of　one　much　abroad　in　wind　and　sun。　The　eyes　were　tired　and　yet　merry；　great　grey　eyes　as　clear　and　deep　as　a　moorland　lake。　。　。　。　Suddenly　she　understood。　It　may　have　been　the　sight　of　the　full　laughing　lips；　or　the　small　maidenly　breasts　outlined　by　the　close…fitting　linen。　At　any　rate　she　did　not　draw　back　when　the　stranger　kissed　her　cheek。

〃Ah；　now　I　am　woman　again；〃　said　the　crooning　voice。　The　unbuckled　sword　in　its　leather　sheath　was　laid　on　the　table　beside　the　broken　reliquary。　〃Let　us　rest　side　by　side；　sister；　for　I　long　for　maids'　talk。〃

But　now　Catherine　started　and　recoiled。　For　on　the　blue　tunic　she　had　caught　sight　of　an　embroidered　white　dove　bearing　in　its　beak　the　scroll　De　par　le　Roy　du　ciel。　It　was　a　blazon　the　tale　of　which　had　gone　through　France。

〃You　are　she！〃　she　stammered。　〃The　witch　of　Lorraine！〃

The　other　looked　wonderingly　at　her。　〃I　am　Jeanne　of　Arc；〃　she　said　simply。　〃She　whom　they　call　the　Pucelle。　Do　you　shrink　from　me；　sister？〃

Catherine's　face　was　aflame。　She　remembered　her　lost　lover；　and　the　tears　scarcely　dry。　〃Out　upon　you！〃　she　cried。　〃You　are　that　false　woman　that　corrupt　men's　hearts。〃　And　again　her　fingers　sought　the　silver　whistle。

Jeanne　looked　sadly　upon　her。　Her　merry　eyes　had　grown　grave。

〃I　pray　you　forbear。　I　do　not　heed　the　abuse　of　men；　but　a　woman's　taunts　hurt　me。　They　have　spoken　falsely　of　me；　dear　sister。　I　am　no　witch；　but　a　poor　girl　who　would　fain　do　the　commands　of　God。〃

She　sank　on　the　settle　with　the　relaxed　limbs　of　utter　fatigue。　〃I　was　happy　when　they　told　me　there　was　a　lady　here。　I　bade　Louis　and　Raymond　and　the　Sieur　d'Aulon　leave　me　undisturbed　till　morning；　for　I　would　fain　rest。　Oh；　but　I　am　weary　of　councils！　They　are　all　blind。　They　will　not　hear　the　plain　wishes　of　God。。。。　And　I　have　so　short　a　time！　　Only　a　year；　and　now　half　is　gone！〃

The　figure　had　lost　all　its　buoyancy；　and　become　that　of　a　sad；　overwrought　girl。　Catherine　found　her　anger　ebbing　and　pity　stealing　into　her　heart。　Could　this　tired　child　be　the　virago　against　whom　she　had　sworn　vengeance？　It　had　none　of　a　woman's　allure'　no　arts　of　the　light…of…love。　Its　eyes　were　as　simple　as　a　boy's。。。。　She　looked　almost　kindly　at　the　drooping　Maid。

But　in　a　moment　the　languor　seemed　to　pass　from　her。　Her　face　lit　up；　as　to　the　watcher　in　the　darkness　a　window　in　a　tower　suddenly　becomes　a　square　of　light。　She　sank　on　her　knees；　her　head　thrown　back；　her　lips　parted；　the　long　eyelashes　quiet　on　her　cheeks。　A　sudden　stillness　seemed　to　fall　on　everything。　Catherine　held　her　breath；　and　listened　to　the　beating　of　her　heart。

Jeanne's　lips　moved；　and　then　her　eyes　opened。　She　stood　up　again；　her　face　entranced　and　her　gaze　still　dwelling　on　some　hidden　world。　。　。　Never　had　Catherine　seen　such　happy　radiance。

〃My　Brothers　of　Paradise　spoke　with　me。　They　call　me　sometimes　when　I　am　sad。　Their　voices　said　to　me；　'Daughter　of　God；　go　forward。　We　are　at　your　side。'〃

Catherine　trembled。　She　seemed　on　the　edge　of　a　world　of　which　in　all　her　cosseted　life　she　had　never　dreamed；　a　world　of　beautiful　and　terrible　things。　There　was　rapture　in　it；　and　a　great　awe。　She　had　forgotten　her　grievances　in　wonder。

〃Do　not　shrink　from　me；〃　said　the　voice　which　seemed　to　have　won　an　unearthly　sweetness。　〃Let　us　sit　together　and　tell　our　thoughts。　You　are　very　fair。　Have　you　a　lover？〃

The　word　brought　the　girl　to　earth。　〃I　had　a　lover；　but　this　night　I　dismissed　him。　He　fights　in　your　company；　and　I　see　no　need　for　this　war。〃

Jeanne's　voice　was　puzzled。　〃Can　a　man　fight　in　a　holier　cause　than　to　free　his　country？〃

〃The　country　。　。　。〃　But　Catherine　faltered。　Her　argument　with　Guy　now　seemed　only　pettishness。

〃You　are　a　great　lady；〃　said　Jeanne；　〃and　to　such　as　you　liberty　may　seem　a　little　thing。　You　are　so　rich　that　you　need　never　feel　constraint。　But　to　us　poor　fo