按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
and enter the portal arch。 The porter； however； stopped his
progress； bidding him； in a thundering voice； 〃Stand back！〃 and
enforcing his injunction by heaving up his steel…shod mace； and
dashing it on the ground before Wayland's horse's nose with such
vehemence that the pavement flashed fire； and the archway rang to
the clamour。 Wayland； availing himself of Dickie's hints； began
to state that he belonged to a band of performers to which his
presence was indispensable； that he had been accidentally
detained behind； and much to the same purpose。 But the warder
was inexorable； and kept muttering and murmuring something
betwixt his teeth； which Wayland could make little of； and
addressing betwixt whiles a refusal of admittance； couched in
language which was but too intelligible。 A specimen of his
speech might run thus：〃What； how now； my masters？〃 （to
himself）〃Here's a stirhere's a coil。〃（Then to Wayland）
〃You are a loitering knave； and shall have no entrance。〃（Again
to himself）〃Here's a thronghere's a thrusting。I shall ne'er
get through with itHere's ahumphha。〃（To Wayland）〃Back
from the gate； or I'll break the pate of thee。〃（Once more to
himself）〃Here's anoI shall never get through it。〃
〃Stand still；〃 whispered Flibbertigibbet into Wayland's ear； 〃I
know where the shoe pinches； and will tame him in an instant。〃
He dropped down from the horse； and skipping up to the porter；
plucked him by the tail of the bearskin； so as to induce him to
decline his huge head； and whispered something in his ear。 Not
at the command of the lord of some Eastern talisman did ever
Afrite change his horrid frown into a look of smooth submission
more suddenly than the gigantic porter of Kenilworth relaxed the
terrors of his looks at the instant Flibbertigibbet's whisper
reached his ears。 He flung his club upon the ground； and caught
up Dickie Sludge； raising him to such a distance from the earth
as might have proved perilous had he chanced to let him slip。
〃It is even so；〃 he said； with a thundering sound of exultation
〃it is even so； my little dandieprat。 But who the devil could
teach it thee？〃
〃Do not thou care about that；〃 said Flibbertigibbet〃but〃 he
looked at Wayland and the lady； and then sunk what he had to say
in a whisper； which needed not be a loud one； as the giant held
him for his convenience close to his ear。 The porter then gave
Dickie a warm caress； and set him on the ground with the same
care which a careful housewife uses in replacing a cracked china
cup upon her mantelpiece； calling out at the same time to Wayland
and the lady； 〃In with youin with you！ and take heed how you
come too late another day when I chance to be porter。〃
〃Ay； ay； in with you；〃 added Flibbertigibbet； 〃I must stay a
short space with mine honest Philistine； my Goliath of Gath here；
but I will be with you anon； and at the bottom of all your
secrets； were they as deep and dark as the Castle dungeon。〃
〃I do believe thou wouldst；〃 said Wayland； 〃but I trust the
secret will be soon out of my keeping； and then I shall care the
less whether thou or any one knows it。〃
They now crossed the entrance tower； which obtained the name of
the Gallery…tower； from the following circumstance： The whole
bridge； extending from the entrance to another tower on the
opposite side of the lake； called Mortimer's Tower； was so
disposed as to make a spacious tilt…yard； about one hundred and
thirty yards in length； and ten in breadth； strewed with the
finest sand； and defended on either side by strong and high
palisades。 The broad and fair gallery； destined for the ladies
who were to witness the feats of chivalry presented on this area；
was erected on the northern side of the outer tower； to which it
gave name。 Our travellers passed slowly along the bridge or
tilt…yard； and arrived at Mortimer's Tower； at its farthest
extremity； through which the approach led into the outer or base…
court of the Castle。 Mortimer's Tower bore on its front the
scutcheon of the Earl of March； whose daring ambition overthrew
the throne of Edward II。； and aspired to share his power with the
〃She…wolf of France；〃 to whom the unhappy monarch was wedded。
The gate； which opened under this ominous memorial； was guarded
by many warders in rich liveries； but they offered no opposition
to the entrance of the Countess and her guide； who； having passed
by license of the principal porter at the Gallery…tower； were
not； it may be supposed； liable to interruption from his
deputies。 They entered accordingly； in silence； the great
outward court of the Castle； having then full before them that
vast and lordly pile； with all its stately towers； each gate
open； as if in sign of unlimited hospitality； and the apartments
filled with noble guests of every degree； besides dependants；
retainers； domestics of every description； and all the appendages
and promoters of mirth and revelry。
Amid this stately and busy scene Wayland halted his horse； and
looked upon the lady； as if waiting her commands what was next to
be done； since they had safely reached the place of destination。
As she remained silent； Wayland； after waiting a minute or two；
ventured to ask her； in direct terms； what were her next
commands。 She raised her hand to her forehead； as if in the act
of collecting her thoughts and resolution； while she answered him
in a low and suppressed voice； like the murmurs of one who speaks
in a dream〃Commands？ I may indeed claim right to command； but
who is there will obey me！〃
Then suddenly raising her head； like one who has formed a
decisive resolution； she addressed a gaily…dressed domestic； who
was crossing the court with importance and bustle in his
countenance； 〃Stop； sir；〃 she said； 〃I desire to speak with； the
Earl of Leicester。〃
〃With whom； an it please you？〃 said the man； surprised at the
demand； and then looking upon the mean equipage of her who used
towards him such a tone of authority； he added； with insolence；
〃Why； what Bess of Bedlam is this would ask to see my lord on
such a day as the present？〃
〃Friend；〃 said the Countess； 〃be not insolentmy business with
the Earl is most urgent。〃
〃You must get some one else to do it； were it thrice as urgent；〃
said the fellow。 〃I should summon my lord from the Queen's royal
presence to do YOUR business； should I？I were like to be
thanked with a horse…whip。 I marvel our old porter took not
measure of such ware with his club； instead of giving them
passage； but his brain is addled with getting his speech by
heart。〃
Two or three persons stopped； attracted by the fleering way in
which the serving…man expressed himself； and Wayland； alarmed
both for himself and the lady； hastily addressed himself to one
who appeared the most civil； and thrusting a piece of money into
his hand； held a moment's counsel with him on the subject of
finding a place of temporary retreat for the lady。 The person to
whom he spoke； being one in some authority； rebuked the others
for their incivility； and commanding one fellow to take care of
the strangers' horses； he desired them to follow him。 The
Countess retained presence of mind sufficient to see that it was
absolutely necessary she should comply with his request； and
leaving the rude lackeys and grooms to crack their brutal jests
about light heads； light heels； and so forth； Wayland and she
followed in silence the deputy…usher； who undertook to be their
conductor。
They entered the inner court of the Castle by the great gateway；
which extended betwixt the principal Keep； or Donjon； called
Caesar's Tower； and a stately building which passed by the name
of King Henry's Lodging； and were thus placed in the centre of
the noble pile； which presented on its different fronts
magnificent specimens of every species of castellated
architecture； from the Conquest to the reign of Elizabeth； with
the appropriate style and ornaments of each。
Across this inner court also they were conducted by their guide
to a small but strong tower； occupying the north…east angle of
the building； adjacent to the great hall； and filling up a space
betwixt the immense range of kitchens and the end of the great
hall itself。 The lower part of this tower was occupied by some
of the household officers of Leicester； owing to its convenient
vicinity to the places where their duty lay； but in the upper
story； which was reached by a narrow； winding stair； was a small
octangular chamber； which； in the great demand for lodgings； had
been on the present occasion fitted up for the reception of
guests； though generally said to have been used as a place of
confinement for some unhappy person who had been there murdered。
Tradition called this prisoner Mervyn； and transferred his name
to the tower。 That it had been used as a prison was not
improbable； for the floor of each story was arched； the walls of
tremendous thickness； while the space of the chamber did not
exceed fifteen feet in diameter。 The window； however； was
pleasant； though narrow； and commanded a delightful view of what
was called the Pleasance； a space of ground enclosed and
decorated with arches； trophies； statues； fountains； and other
architectural monuments；