第81章

Wertthoutofly，whatwouldensuebutthereversalofthyarms，thedishonourofthineancestry，thedegradationofthyrank?——Thinkonit。

WhereshallthineoldcompanionsinarmshidetheirheadswhenBriandeBois-Guilbert，thebestlanceoftheTemplars，isproclaimedrecreant，amidthehissesoftheassembledpeople?WhatgriefwillbeattheCourtofFrance！WithwhatjoywillthehaughtyRichardhearthenews，thattheknightthatsethimhardinPalestine，andwell-nighdarkenedhisrenown，haslostfameandhonourforaJewishgirl，whomhecouldnotevensavebysocostlyasacrifice！’’

``Malvoisin，’’saidtheKnight，``Ithankthee——

thouhasttouchedthestringatwhichmyheartmostreadilythrills！——Comeofitwhatmay，recreantshallneverbeaddedtothenameofBois-Guilbert。

WouldtoGod，Richard，oranyofhisvauntingminionsofEngland，wouldappearintheselists！

Buttheywillbeempty——noonewillrisktobreakalancefortheinnocent，theforlorn。’’

``Thebetterforthee，ifitproveso，’’saidthePreceptor；``ifnochampionappears，itisnotbythymeansthatthisunluckydamselshalldie，butbythedoomoftheGrandMaster，withwhomrestsalltheblame，andwhowillcountthatblameforpraiseandcommendation。’’

``True，’’saidBois-Guilbert；``ifnochampionappears，Iambutapartofthepageant，sittingindeedonhorsebackinthelists，buthavingnopartinwhatistofollow。’’

``Nonewhatever，’’saidMalvoisin；``nomorethanthearmedimageofSaintGeorgewhenitmakespartofaprocession。’’

``Well，Iwillresumemyresolution，’’repliedthehaughtyTemplar。``Shehasdespisedme——

repulsedme——reviledme——AndwhereforeshouldIofferupforherwhateverofestimationIhaveintheopinionofothers?Malvoisin，Iwillappearinthelists。’’

Helefttheapartmenthastilyasheutteredthesewords，andthePreceptorfollowed，towatchandconfirmhiminhisresolution；forinBois-Guilbert’sfamehehadhimselfastronginterest，expectingmuchadvantagefromhisbeingonedayattheheadoftheOrder，nottomentiontheprefermentofwhichMont-Fitchethadgivenhimhopes，onconditionhewouldforwardthecondemnationoftheunfortunateRebecca。Yetalthough，incombatinghisfriend’sbetterfeelings，hepossessedalltheadvantagewhichawily，composed，selfishdispositionhasoveramanagitatedbystrongandcontendingpassions，itrequiredallMalvoisin’sarttokeepBois-Guilbertsteadytothepurposehehadprevailedonhimtoadopt。Hewasobligedtowatchhimcloselytopreventhisresuminghispurposeofflight，tointercepthiscommunicationwiththeGrandMaster，lestheshouldcometoanopenrupturewithhisSuperior，andtorenew，fromtimetotime，thevariousargumentsbywhichheendeavouredtoshow，that，inappearingaschampiononthisoccasion，Bois-Guilbert，withouteitheracceleratingorensuringthefateofRebecca，wouldfollowtheonlycoursebywhichbecouldsavehimselffromdegradationanddisgrace。

CHAPTERXL

Shadowsavaunt！——Richard’shimselfagain。

_RichardIII。_

WhentheBlackKnight——foritbecomesnecessarytoresumethetrainofhisadventures——lefttheTrysting-treeofthegenerousOutlaw，heheldhiswaystraighttoaneighbouringreligioushouse，ofsmallextentandrevenue，calledthePrioryofSaintBotolph，towhichthewoundedIvanhoehadbeenremovedwhenthecastlewastaken，undertheguidanceofthefaithfulGurth，andthemagnanimousWamba。ItisunnecessaryatpresenttomentionwhattookplaceintheinterimbetwixtWilfredandhisdeliverer；sufficeittosay，thatafterlongandgravecommunication，messengersweredispatchedbythePriorinseveraldirections，andthatonthesucceedingmorningtheBlackKnightwasabouttosetforthonhisjourney，accompanie