the path of the king-第24部分

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Meantime　far　up　in　the　folds　of　the　Santerre　a　little　party　was　moving　through　the　hot　afternoon。　The　old　Huguenot；　shaken　still　by　his　rough　handling；　rode　as　if　in　a　trance。　Once　he　roused　himself　and　asked　about　the　monk。

〃I　hanged　him　like　a　mad　dog；〃　said　Gaspard。

The　minister　shook　his　head。　〃Violence　will　not　cure　violence。〃

〃Nay；　but　justice　may　follow　crime。　I　am　no　Nicodemite。　This　day　I　have　made　public　confession　of　my　faith；　and　abide　the　consequences。　From　this　day　I　am　an　exile　from　France　so　long　as　it　pleases　God　to　make　His　Church　an　anvil　for　the　blows　of　His　enemies。〃

〃I；　too；　am　an　exile；〃　said　the　old　man。　〃If　I　come　safe　to　Calais　I　shall　take　ship　for　Holland　and　find　shelter　with　the　brethren　there。　You　have　preserved　my　life　for　a　few　more　years　in　my　blaster's　vineyard。

You　say　truly；　young　sir；　that　God's　Church　is　now　an　anvil；　but　remember　for　your　consolation　that　it　is　an　anvil　which　has　worn　out　many　hammers。〃

Late　in　the　evening　they　came　over　a　ridge　and　looked　down　on　a　shallow　valley　all　green　and　gold　in　the　last　light。　A　slender　river　twined　by　alder　and　willow　through　the　meadows。　Gaspard　reined　in　his　horse　and　gazed　on　the　place　with　a　hand　shading　his　eyes。

〃I　have　slain　a　man　to　my　hurt；〃　he　said。　〃See；　there　are　my　new　fishponds　half　made；　and　the　herb　garden；　and　the　terrace　that　gets　the　morning　sun。　There　is　the　lawn　which　I　called　my　quarter…deck；　the　place　to　walk　of　an　evening。　Farewell；　my　little　grey　dwelling。〃

Champernoun　laid　a　kindly　hand　on　his　shoulder。

〃We　will　find　you　the　mate　of　it　in　Devon；　old　friend；〃　he　said。

But　Gaspard　was　not　listening。　〃Eaucourt　by　the　waters；〃　he　repeated　like　the　refrain　of　a　song；　and　his　eyes　were　full　of　tears。



CHAPTER　8。　THE　HIDDEN　CITY

The　two　ports　of　the　cabin　were　discs　of　scarlet；　that　pure　translucent　colour　which　comes　from　the　reflection　of　sunset　in　leagues　of　still　water。　The　ship　lay　at　anchor　under　the　high　green　scarp　of　an　island；　but　on　the　side　of　the　ports　no　land　was　visibleonly　a　circle　in　which　sea　and　sky　melted　into　the　quintessence　of　light。　The　air　was　very　hot　and　very　quiet。　Inside　a　lamp　had　been　lit；　for　in　those　latitudes　night　descends　like　a　thunderclap。　Its　yellow　glow　joined　with　the　red　evening　to　cast　orange　shadows。　On　the　wall　opposite　the　ports　was　a　small　stand　of　arms；　and　beside　it　a　picture　of　the　Magdalen；　one　of　two　presented　to　the　ship　by　Lord　Huntingdon；　the　other　had　been　given　to　the　wife　of　the　Governor　of　Gomera　in　the　Canaries　when　she　sent　fruit　and　sugar　to　the　voyagers。　Underneath　on　a　couch　heaped　with　deerskins　lay　the　Admiral。

The　fantastic　light　revealed　every　line　of　the　man　as　cruelly　as　spring　sunshine。　It　showed　a　long　lean　face　cast　in　a　high　mould　of　pride。　The　jaw　and　cheekbones　were　delicate　and　hard；　the　straight　nose　and　the　strong　arch　of　the　brows　had　the　authority　of　one　who　all　his　days　had　been　used　to　command。　But　age　had　descended　on　this　pride；　age　and　sickness。　The　peaked　beard　was　snowy　white；　and　the　crisp　hair　had　thinned　from　the　forehead。　The　forehead　itself　was　high　and　broad；　crossed　with　an　infinity　of　small　furrows。　The　cheeks　were　sallow；　with　a　patch　of　faint　colour　showing　as　if　from　a　fever。　The　heavy　eyelids　were　grey　like　a　parrot's。　It　was　the　face　of　a　man　ailing　both　in　mind　and　body。　But　in　two　features　youth　still　lingered。　The　lips　under　their　thatch　of　white　moustache　were　full　and　red；　and　the　eyes；　of　some　colour　between　blue　and　grey；　had　for　all　their　sadness　a　perpetual　flicker　of　quick　fire。

He　shivered；　for　he　was　recovering　from　the　fifth　fever　he　had　had　since　he　left　Plymouth。　The　ailment　was　influenza；　and　he　called　it　a　calenture。　He　was　richly　dressed；　as　was　his　custom　even　in　outlandish　places；　and　the　furred　robe　which　he　drew　closer　round　his　shoulders　hid　a　doublet　of　fine　maroon　velvet。　For　comfort　he　wore　a　loose　collar　and　band　instead　of　his　usual　cut　ruff。　He　stretched　out　his　hand　to　the　table　at　his　elbow　where　lay　the　Latin　version　of　his　Discovery　of　Guiana；　of　which　he　had　been　turning　the　pages；　and　beside　it　a　glass　of　whisky；　almost　the　last　of　the　thirty…two　gallon　cask　which　Lord　Boyle　had　given　him　in　Cork　on　his　way　out。　He　replenished　his　glass　with　water　from　a　silver　carafe；　and　sipped　it；　for　it　checked　his　cold　rigours。　As　he　set　it　down　he　looked　up　to　greet　a　man　who　had　just　entered。

The　new…comer　was　not　more　than　forty　years　old；　like　the　Admiral；　but　he　was　lame　of　his　left　leg；　and　held　himself　with　a　stoop。　His　left　arm；　too　hung　limp　and　withered　by　his　side。　The　skin　of　his　face　was　gnarled　like　the　bark　of　a　tree；　and　seamed　with　a　white　scar　which　drooped　over　the　corner　of　one　eye　and　so　narrowed　it　to　half　the　size　of　the　other。　He　was　the　captain　of　Raleigh's　flagship；　the　　Destiny；　an　old　seafarer；　who　in　twenty　years　had　lived　a　century　of　adventure。

〃I　wish　you　good　evening；　Sir　Walter；〃　he　said　in　his　deep　voice。　〃They　tell　me　the　fever　is　abating。〃

The　Admiral　smiled　wanly；　and　in　his　smile　there　was　still　a　trace　of　the　golden　charm　which　had　once　won　all　men's　hearts。

〃My　fever　will　never　abate　this　side　the　grave；〃　he　said。　〃Jasper；　old　friend；　I　would　have　you　sit　with　me　tonight。　I　am　like　King　Saul；　the　sport　of　devils。　Be　you　my　David　to　exorcise　them。　I　have　evil　news。　Tom　Keymis　is　dead。〃

The　other　nodded。　Tom　Keymis　had　been　dead　for　ten　days；　since　before　they　left　Trinidad。　He　was　aware　of　the　obsession　of　the　Admiral；　which　made　the　tragedy　seem　fresh　news　daily。

〃Dead；〃　said　Raleigh。　〃I　slew　him　by　my　harshness。　I　see　him　stumbling　off　to　his　cabin；　an　old　bent　man；　though　younger　than　me。　But　he　failed　me。　He　betrayed　his　trust。　。　。　。　Trust；　what　does　that　matter？　We　are　all　dying。　Old　Tom　has　only　gone　on　a　little　way　before　the　rest。　And　many　went　before　him。〃

The　voice　had　become　shrill　and　hard。　He　was　speaking　to　himself。

〃The　bestthe　very　best。　My　brave　young　Walter；　and　Cosmor　and　Piggot　and　John　Talbot　and　Ned　Coffyn。　。　。　。　Ned　was　your　kinsman；　Jasper？〃

〃My　cousinthe　son　of　my　mother's　brother。〃　The　man　spoke；　like　Raleigh；　in　a　Devon　accent；　with　the　creamy　slur　in　the　voice　and　the　sing…song　fall　of　West　England。

〃Ah；　I　remember。　Your　mother　was　Cecily　Coffyn；　from　Combas　on　the　Moor　at　the　back　of　Lustleigh。　A　pretty　girlI　mind　her　long　ago。　I　would　I　were　on　the　Moor　now；　where　it　is　always　fresh　and　blowing。　。　。　。　And　your　fatherthe　big　Frenchman　who　settled　on　one　of　Gawain　Champernoun's　manors。　I　loved　his　jolly　laugh。　But　Cecily　sobered　him；　for　the　Coffyns　were　always　a　grave　and　pious　race。　Gawain　is　dead　these　many　years。　Where　is　your　father？

〃He　died　in　'82　with　Sir　Humfrey　Gilbert。〃

Raleigh　bowed　his　head。　〃He　went　to　God　with　brother　Humfrey！　Happy　fate！　Happy　company！　But　he　left　a　brave　son　behind　him；　and　I　have　lost　mine。　Have　you　a　boy；　Jasper？〃

〃But　the　one。　My　wife　died　ten　years　ago　come　Martinmas。　The　child　is　with　his　grandmother　on　the　Moor。〃

〃A　promising　child？〃

〃A　good　lad；　so　far　as　I　have　observed　him；　and　that　is　not　once　a　twelvemonth。〃

〃You　are　a　hungry　old　sea…dog。　That　was　not　the　Coffyn　fashion。　Ned　was　for　ever　homesick　out　of　sight　of　Devon。　They　worshipped　their　bleak　acres　and　their　fireside　pieties。　Ah；　but　I　forget。　You　are　de　Laval　on　one　side；　and　that　is　strong　blood。　There　is　not　much　in　England　to　vie　with　it。　You　were　great　nobles　when　our　Cecils　were　husbandmen。〃

He　turned　on　a　new　tack。　〃You　know　that　Whitney　and　Wollaston　have　deserted　me。　They　would　have　had　me　turn　pirate；　and　when　I　refused　they　sailed　off　and　left　me。　This　morning　I　saw　the　last　of　their　topsails。　Did　I　right？；〃　he　asked　fiercely。

〃In　my　judgment　you　did　right。〃

〃But　whywhy？〃　Raleigh　demanded。　〃I　have　the　commission　of　the　King　of　France。　What　hindered　me　to　use　my　remnant　like　hounds　to　cut　off　the　stragglers　of　the　Plate　Fleet？　That　way　lies　much　gold；　and　gold　will　buy　pardon　for　all　offences。　What　hindered　me；　I　say？〃

〃Yourself；　Sir　Walter。〃

Raleigh　let　his　head　fall　back　on　the　couch　and　smiled　bitterly。

〃You　say　trulymyself。　'Tis　not　a　question　of　morals；　mark　ye。　A　better　man　than　I　might　turn　pirate　with　a　clear　conscience。　But　for　Walter　Raleigh　it　would　be　black　sin。　He　has　walked　too　brazenly　in　all　weathers　to　seek　common　ports　in　a　storm。　。　。　。　　It　becomes　not　the　fortune　in　which　he　once　lived　to　go　journeys　of　picory。　。　。　。　　And　there　is　another　reason。　I　have　suddenly　grown　desperate　old。　I　think　I　can　still　endure；　but　I　cannot　institute。　My　action　is　by　and　over　and　my　passion　has　come。〃

〃You　are　a　sick　man；〃　said　the　captain　with　pity　in　his　voice。

〃Sick！　Why；　yes。　But　the　disease　goes　very　deep。　The　virtue　has　gone　out　of　me；　old　comrade。　I　no　longer　hate　or　love；　and　once　I　loved　and　hated　extremely。　I　am　become　like　a　frail　woman　for　tolerance。　Spain　has　worsted　me；　but　I　bear　her　no　ill　will；　though　she　has　slain　my　son。　Yet　once　I　held　all　Spaniards　the　devil's　spawn。〃

〃You　spoke　kindly　of　them　in　your　History；〃　said　the　other；　〃when　you　praised　their　patient　virtue。〃

〃Did　I？　I　have　forgot。　Nay；　I　remember。　When　I　wrote　that　sentence　I　was　thinking　of　Berreo。　I　loved　him；　though　I　took　his　city。　He　was　a　valiant　and　liberal　gentleman；　and　of　a　great　heart。　I　mind　how　I　combated　his　melancholy；　for　he　was　most　melancholic。　But　now　I　have　grown　like　him。　Perhaps　Sir　Edward　Coke　was　right　and　I　have　a　Spanish　heat。　I　think　a　man　cannot　strive　whole…heartedly　with　an　enemy　unless　he　have　much　in　common　with　him；　and　as　the　strife　goes　on　he　gets　liker。　。　。　。　　Ah；　Jasper；　once　I　had　such　ambitions　that　they　made　a　fire　all　around　me。　Once　I　was　like　Kit　Marlowe's　Tamburlaine：

　　　　　〃'Threatening　the　world　with　high　astounding　terms；　　　　　　　　And　scourging　kingdoms　with　his　conquering　sword。'

But　now　the　flame　has　died　and　the　ashes　are　cold。　And　I　would　not　revive　them　if　I　could。　There　is　nothing　under　heaven　that　I　desire。〃

The　seaman's　face　was　grave　and　kindly。

〃I　think　you　have　flown　too　high；　Sir　Walter。　You　have　aimed　at　the　moon　and　forgotten　the　merits　of　our　earthly　hills。〃

〃True；　true！〃　Raleigh's　mien　was　for　a　moment　more　lively。　〃That　is　a　shrewd　comment。　After　three…score　years　I　kn