第70章

``Ay，butIpromiseyou，’’saidDeBracy，``thatneitherTristramnorLancelotwouldhavebeenmatch，handtohand，forRichardPlantagenet，andIthinkitwasnottheirwonttotakeoddsagainstasingleman。’’

``Thouartmad，DeBracy——whatisitweproposetothee，ahiredandretainedcaptainofFreeCompanions，whoseswordsarepurchasedforPrinceJohn’sservice?Thouartapprizedofourenemy，andthenthouscruplest，thoughthypatron’sfortunes，thoseofthycomrades，thineown，andthelifeandhonourofeveryoneamongstus，beatstake！’’

``Itellyou，’’saidDeBracy，sullenly，``thathegavememylife。True，hesentmefromhispresence，andrefusedmyhomage——sofarIowehimneitherfavournorallegiance——butIwillnotlifthandagainsthim。’’

``Itneedsnot——sendLouisWinkelbrandandascoreofthylances。’’

``Yehavesufficientruffiansofyourown，’’saidDeBracy；``notoneofmineshallbudgeonsuchanerrand。’’

``Artthousoobstinate，DeBracy?’’saidPrinceJohn；``andwiltthouforsakeme，aftersomanyprotestationsofzealformyservice?’’

``Imeanitnot，’’saidDeBracy；``Iwillabidebyyouinaughtthatbecomesaknight，whetherinthelistsorinthecamp；butthishighwaypracticecomesnotwithinmyvow。’’

``Comehither，Waldemar，’’saidPrinceJohn。

``AnunhappyprinceamI。Myfather，KingHenry，hadfaithfulservants——Hehadbuttosaythathewasplaguedwithafactiouspriest，andthebloodofThomas-a-Becket，saintthoughhewas，stainedthestepsofhisownaltar——Tracy，Morville，Brito*loyalanddaringsubjects，yournames，your*ReginaldFitzurse，WilliamdeTracy，HughdeMorville，*andRichardBrito，werethegentlemenofHenrytheSecond’s*household，who，instigatedbysomepassionateexpressionsof*theirsovereign，slewthecelebratedThomas-a-Becket。

spirit，areextinct！andalthoughReginaldFitzursehathleftason，hehathfallenofffromhisfather’sfidelityandcourage。’’

``Hehasfallenofffromneither，’’saidWaldemarFitzurse；``andsinceitmaynotbetterbe，I

willtakeonmetheconductofthisperilousenterprise。

Dearly，however，didmyfatherpurchasethepraiseofazealousfriend；andyetdidhisproofofloyaltytoHenryfallfarshortofwhatIamabouttoafford；forratherwouldIassailawholecalendarofsaints，thanputspearinrestagainstCur-de-Lion——

DeBracy，totheeImusttrusttokeepupthespiritsofthedoubtful，andtoguardPrinceJohn’sperson。IfyoureceivesuchnewsasItrusttosendyou，ourenterprisewillnolongerwearadoubtfulaspect——Page，’’hesaid，``hietomylodgings，andtellmyarmourertobethereinreadiness；

andbidStephenWetheral，BroadThoresby，andtheThreeSpearsofSpyinghow，cometomeinstantly；

andletthescout-master，HughBardon，attendmealso——Adieu，myPrince，tillbettertimes。’’Thusspeaking，helefttheapartment。

``Hegoestomakemybrotherprisoner，’’saidPrinceJohntoDeBracy，``withaslittletouchofcompunction，asifitbutconcernedthelibertyofaSaxonfranklin。Itrusthewillobserveourorders，anduseourdearRichard’spersonwithallduerespect。’’

DeBracyonlyansweredbyasmile。

``BythelightofOurLady’sbrow，’’saidPrinceJohn，``ourorderstohimweremostprecise——

thoughitmaybeyouheardthemnot，aswestoodtogetherintheorielwindow——MostclearandpositivewasourchargethatRichard’ssa