第48章

``Iamready，’’answeredAthelstane，``tostandtheworstoftheirmalice，andshallwalktomydeathwithasmuchcomposureaseverIdidtomydinner。’’

``Letusthenuntoourholygear，father，’’saidCedric。

``Waityetamoment，gooduncle，’’saidtheJester，inhisnaturaltone；``betterlooklongbeforeyouleapinthedark。’’

``Bymyfaith，’’saidCedric，``Ishouldknowthatvoice！’’

``Itisthatofyourtrustyslaveandjester，’’answeredWamba，throwingbackhiscowl。``Hadyoutakenafool’sadviceformerly，youwouldnothavebeenhereatall。Takeafool’sadvicenow，andyouwillnotbeherelong。’’

``Howmean’stthou，knave?’’answeredtheSaxon。

``Eventhus，’’repliedWamba；``takethouthisfrockandcord，whicharealltheordersIeverhad，andmarchquietlyoutofthecastle，leavingmeyourcloakandgirdletotakethelongleapinthystead。’’

``Leavetheeinmystead！’’saidCedric，astonishedattheproposal；``why，theywouldhangthee，mypoorknave。’’

``E’enletthemdoastheyarepermitted，’’saidWamba；``Itrust——nodisparagementtoyourbirth——thatthesonofWitlessmayhanginachainwithasmuchgravityasthechainhunguponhisancestorthealderman。’’

``Well，Wamba，’’answeredCedric，``foronethingwillIgrantthyrequest。Andthatis，ifthouwiltmaketheexchangeofgarmentswithLordAthelstaneinsteadofme。’’

``No，byStDunstan，’’answeredWamba；``therewerelittlereasoninthat。Goodrightthereis，thatthesonofWitlessshouldsuffertosavethesonofHereward；butlittlewisdomtherewereinhisdyingforthebenefitofonewhosefatherswerestrangerstohis。’’

``Villain，’’saidCedric，``thefathersofAthelstaneweremonarchsofEngland！’’

``Theymightbewhomsoevertheypleased，’’repliedWamba；``butmyneckstandstoostraightuponmyshoulderstohaveittwistedfortheirsake。

Wherefore，goodmymaster，eithertakemyprofferyourself，orsuffermetoleavethisdungeonasfreeasIentered。’’

``Lettheoldtreewither，’’continuedCedric，``sothestatelyhopeoftheforestbepreserved。SavethenobleAthelstane，mytrustyWamba！itisthedutyofeachwhohasSaxonbloodinhisveins。

ThouandIwillabidetogethertheutmostrageofourinjuriousoppressors，whilehe，freeandsafe，shallarousetheawakenedspiritsofourcountrymentoavengeus。’’

``Notso，fatherCedric，’’saidAthelstane，graspinghishand，——for，whenrousedtothinkoract，hisdeedsandsentimentswerenotunbecominghishighrace——``Notso，’’hecontinued；``Iwouldratherremaininthishallaweekwithoutfoodsavetheprisoner’sstintedloaf，ordrinksavetheprisoner’smeasureofwater，thanembracetheopportunitytoescapewhichtheslave’suntaughtkindnesshaspurveyedforhismaster。’’

``Youarecalledwisemen，sirs，’’saidtheJester，``andIacrazedfool；but，uncleCedric，andcousinAthelstane，thefoolshalldecidethiscontroversyforye，andsaveyethetroubleofstrainingcourtesiesanyfarther。IamlikeJohn-a-Duck’smare，thatwillletnomanmountherbutJohn-a-Duck。

Icametosavemymaster，andifhewillnotconsent——

basta——Icanbutgoawayhomeagain。Kindservicecannotbechuckedfromhandtohandlikeashuttlecockorstool-ball