第91章

So！now’tisended，likeanoldwife’sstory。

_Webster_。

Whenthefirstmomentsofsurprisewereover，WilfredofIvanhoedemandedoftheGrandMaster，asjudgeofthefield，ifhehadmanfullyandrightfullydonehisdutyinthecombat?

``Manfullyandrightfullyhathitbeendone，’’saidtheGrandMaster。``Ipronouncethemaidenfreeandguiltless——Thearmsandthebodyofthedeceasedknightareatthewillofthevictor。’’

``Iwillnotdespoilhimofhisweapons，’’saidtheKnightofIvanhoe，``norcondemnhiscorpsetoshame——hehathfoughtforChristendom——God’sarm，nohumanhand，haththisdaystruckhimdown。

Butlethisobsequiesbeprivate，asbecomesthoseofamanwhodiedinanunjustquarrel——Andforthemaiden——’’

Hewasinterruptedbyaclatteringofhorses’feet，advancinginsuchnumbers，andsorapidly，astoshakethegroundbeforethem；andtheBlackKnightgallopedintothelists。Hewasfollowedbyanumerousbandofmen-at-arms，andseveralknightsincompletearmour。

``Iamtoolate，’’hesaid，lookingaroundhim。``I

haddoomedBois-Guilbertformineownproperty——

Ivanhoe，wasthiswell，totakeontheesuchaventure，andthouscarceabletokeepthysaddle?’’

``Heaven，myLiege，’’answeredIvanhoe，``hathtakenthisproudmanforitsvictim。Hewasnottobehonouredindyingasyourwillhaddesigned。’’

``Peacebewithhim，’’saidRichard，lookingsteadfastlyonthecorpse，``ifitmaybeso——hewasagallantknight，andhasdiedinhissteelharnessfullknightly。Butwemustwastenotime——Bohun，dothineoffice！’’

AKnightsteppedforwardfromtheKing’sattendants，and，layinghishandontheshoulderofAlbertdeMalvoisin，said，``IarresttheeofHighTreason。’’

TheGrandMasterhadhithertostoodastonishedattheappearanceofsomanywarriors——Henowspoke。

``WhodarestoarrestaKnightoftheTempleofZion，withinthegirthofhisownPreceptory，andinthepresenceoftheGrandMaster?andbywhoseauthorityisthisboldoutrageoffered?’’

``Imakethearrest，’’repliedtheKnight——``I，HenryBohun，EarlofEssex，LordHighConstableofEngland。’’

``AndhearrestsMalvoisin，’’saidtheKing，raisinghisvisor，``bytheorderofRichardPlantagenet，herepresent——ConradeMont-Fitchet，itiswellfortheethouartbornnosubjectofmine——

Butforthee，Malvoisin，thoudiestwiththybrotherPhilip，eretheworldbeaweekolder。’’

``Iwillresistthydoom，’’saidtheGrandMaster。

``ProudTemplar，’’saidtheKing，``thoucanstnot——lookup，andbeholdtheRoyalStandardofEnglandfloatsoverthytowersinsteadofthyTemplebanner！——Bewise，Beaumanoir，andmakenobootlessopposition——Thyhandisinthelion’smouth。’’

``IwillappealtoRomeagainstthee，’’saidtheGrandMaster，``forusurpationontheimmunitiesandprivilegesofourOrder。’’

``Beitso，’’saidtheKing；``butforthineownsaketaxmenotwithusurpationnow。DissolvethyChapter，anddepartwiththyfollowerstothynextPreceptory，(ifthoucanstfindone)，whichhasnotbeenmadethesceneoftreasonableconspiracyagainsttheKingofEngland——Or，ifthouwilt，remain，toshareourhospitality，andbeholdourjustice。’’

``TobeaguestinthehousewhereIshouldcommand?’’

saidtheTemplar；``never！——Chaplains，raisethePsalm，_QuarefremueruntGenies?_——

Knights，squires，andfollowersoftheHolyTemple，preparetofollowthebannerof_Beau-seant！_’’

TheGrandMasterspokewithadignitywhichconfrontedeventhatofEngland’skinghimself，andinspiredcourageintohissurprisedanddismayedfollowers。Theygatheredaroundhimlikethesheep