第54章

repliedIvanhoe，``Iwillgrantthyboonblithelyandthankfully。’’

``Nay，’’answeredRebecca，``IwillbutprayoftheetobelievehenceforwardthataJewmaydogoodservicetoaChristian，withoutdesiringotherguerdonthantheblessingoftheGreatFatherwhomadebothJewandGentile。’’

``Itweresintodoubtit，maiden，’’repliedIvanhoe；

``andIreposemyselfonthyskillwithoutfurtherscrupleorquestion，welltrustingyouwillenablemetobearmycorsletontheeighthday。

Andnow，mykindleech，letmeenquireofthenewsabroad。WhatofthenobleSaxonCedricandhishousehold?——whatofthelovelyLady——’’Hestopt，asifunwillingtospeakRowena’snameinthehouseofaJew——``Ofher，Imean，whowasnamedQueenofthetournament?’’

``Andwhowasselectedbyyou，SirKnight，toholdthatdignity，withjudgmentwhichwasadmiredasmuchasyourvalour，’’repliedRebecca。

ThebloodwhichIvanhoehadlostdidnotpreventaflushfromcrossinghischeek，feelingthathehadincautiouslybetrayedadeepinterestinRowenabytheawkwardattempthehadmadetoconcealit。’’

``ItwaslessofherIwouldspeak，’’saidhe，``thanofPrinceJohn；andIwouldfainknowsomewhatofafaithfulsquire，andwhyhenowattendsmenot?’’

``Letmeusemyauthorityasaleech，’’answeredRebecca，``andenjoinyoutokeepsilence，andavoidagitatingreflections，whilstIapprizeyouofwhatyoudesiretoknow。PrinceJohnhathbrokenoffthetournament，andsetforwardinallhastetowardsYork，withthenobles，knights，andchurchmenofhisparty，aftercollectingsuchsumsastheycouldwring，byfairmeansorfoul，fromthosewhoareesteemedthewealthyoftheland。Itissaidbedesignstoassumehisbrother’scrown。’’

``Notwithoutablowstruckinitsdefence，’’

saidIvanhoe，raisinghimselfuponthecouch，``iftherewerebutonetruesubjectinEnglandIwillfightforRichard’stitlewiththebestofthem——

ay，oneortwo，inhisjustquarrel！’’

``Butthatyoumaybeabletodoso，’’saidRebeccatouchinghisshoulderwithherhand，``youmustnowobservemydirections，andremainquiet。’’

``True，maiden，’’saidIvanhoe，``asquietasthesedisquietedtimeswillpermit——AndofCedricandhishousehold?’’

``Hisstewardcamebutbriefwhilesince，’’saidtheJewess，``pantingwithhaste，toaskmyfatherforcertainmonies，thepriceofwoolthegrowthofCedric’sflocks，andfromhimIlearnedthatCedricandAthelstaneofConingsburghhadleftPrinceJohn’slodginginhighdispleasure，andwereabouttosetforthontheirreturnhomeward。’’

``Wentanyladywiththemtothebanquet?’’

saidWilfred。

``TheLadyRowena，’’saidRebecca，answeringthequestionwithmoreprecisionthanithadbeenasked——``TheLadyRowenawentnottothePrince’sfeast，and，asthestewardreportedtous，sheisnowonherjourneybacktoRotherwood，withherguardianCedric。AndtouchingyourfaithfulsquireGurth——’’

``Ha！’’exclaimedtheknight，``knowestthouhisname?——Butthoudost，’’heimmediatelyadded，``andwellthoumayst，foritwasfromthyhand，and，asIamnowconvinced，fromthineowngenerosityofspirit，thathereceivedbutyesterdayahundredzecchins。’’

``Speaknotofthat，’’saidRebecca，blushingdeeply；``Iseehoweasyitisforthetonguetobetraywhattheheartwouldgladlyconceal。’’

``Butthissumofgold，’’saidIvanhoe，gravely，``myhonourisconcernedinrepayingittoyourfather。’’

``Letitbeasthouwilt，’’saidRebecca，``wheneightdayshavepassedaway；butthinknot，andspeaknotnow，ofaughtthatmayretardthyrecovery。’’

``Beitso，kindmaiden，’’saidIvanhoe；``Iweremostungratefultodisputethyco