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One eye was entirely covered by its lid； which lay flat over an
empty socket； but the other danced and sparkled with a most
roguish light； darting here and there with a twinkle of humor and
criticism and intelligence； the whole fire of his soul bursting
through that one narrow cranny。
His dress was as noteworthy as his person。 A rich purple doublet
and cloak was marked on the lapels with a strange scarlet device
shaped like a wedge。 Costly lace hung round his shoulders； and
amid its soft folds there smoldered the dull red of a heavy golden
chain。 A knight's belt at his waist and a knight's golden spurs
twinkling from his doeskin riding…boots proclaimed his rank； and
on the wrist of his left gauntlet there sat a demure little hooded
falcon of a breed which in itself was a mark of the dignity of the
owner。 Of weapons he had none； but a mandolin was slung by a
black silken band over his back； and the high brown end projected
above his shoulder。 Such was the man； quaint； critical；
masterful； with a touch of what is formidable behind it； who now
surveyed the opposing groups of armed men and angry monks with an
eye which commanded their attention。
〃Excusez！〃 said he； in a lisping French。 〃Excusez； mes amis！ I
had thought to arouse from prayer or meditation； but never have I
seen such a holy exercise as this under an abbey's roof； with
swords for breviaries and archers for acolytes。 I fear that I
have come amiss； and yet I ride on an errand from one who permits
no delay。〃
The Abbot； and possibly the sacrist also； had begun to realize
that events had gone a great deal farther than they had intended；
and that without an extreme scandal it was no easy matter for them
to save their dignity and the good name of Waverley。 Therefore；
in spite of the debonair； not to say disrespectful； bearing of the
newcomer； they rejoiced at his appearance and intervention。
〃I am the Abbot of Waverley； fair son；〃 said the prelate。 〃If
your message deal with a public matter it may be fitly repeated in
the chapter…house； if not I will give you audience in my own
chamber； for it is clear to me that you are a gentle man of blood
and coat…armor who would not lightly break in upon the business of
our court … a business which； as you have remarked； is little
welcome to men of peace like myself and the brethren of the rule
of Saint Bernard。〃
〃Pardieu！ Father Abbot；〃 said the stranger。 〃One had but to
glance at you and your men to see that the business was indeed
little to your taste； and it may be even less so when I say that
rather than see this young person in the window； who hath a noble
bearing； further molested by these archers； I will myself
adventure my person on his behalf。〃
The Abbot's smile turned to a frown at these frank words。 〃It
would become you better； sir； to deliver the message of which you
say that you are the bearer； than to uphold a prisoner against the
rightful judgment of a court。〃
The stranger swept the court with his questioning eye。 〃The
message is not for you； good father Abbot。 It is for one whom I
know not。 I have been to his house； and they have sent me hither。
The name is Nigel Loring。〃
〃It is for me； fair sir。〃
〃I had thought as much。 I knew your father； Eustace Loring； and
though he would have made two of you； yet he has left his stamp
plain enough upon your face。〃
〃You know not the truth of this matter；〃 said the Abbot。 〃If you
are a loyal man； you will stand aside； for this young man hath
grievously offended against the law； and it is for the King's
lieges to give us their support。〃
〃And you have haled him up for judgment；〃 cried the stranger with
much amusement。 〃It is as though a rookery sat in judgment upon a
falcon。 I warrant that you have found it easier to judge than to
punish。 Let me tell you； father Abbot； that this standeth not
aright。 When powers such as these were given to the like of you；
they were given that you might check a brawling underling or
correct a drunken woodman； and not that you might drag the best
blood in England to your bar and set your archers on him if he
questioned your findings。〃
The Abbot was little used to hear such words of reproof uttered in
so stern a voice under his own abbey roof and before his listening
monks。 〃You may perchance find that an Abbey court has more
powers than you wot of； Sir Knight；〃 said he； 〃if knight indeed
you be who are so uncourteous and short in your speech。 Ere we go
further； I would ask your name and style？〃
The stranger laughed。 〃It is easy to see that you are indeed men
of peace；〃 said he proudly。 〃Had I shown this sign；〃 and he
touched the token upon his lapels； 〃whether on shield or pennon；
in the marches of France or Scotland； there is not a cavalier but
would have known the red pile of Chandos。〃
Chandos； John Chandos； the flower of English chivalry； the pink of
knight…errantry； the hero already of fifty desperate enterprises；
a man known and honored from end to end of Europe！ Nigel gazed at
him as one who sees a vision。 The archers stood back abashed；
while the monks crowded closer to stare at the famous soldier of
the French wars。 The Abbot abated his tone； and a smile came to
his angry face。
〃We are indeed men of peace； Sir John； and little skilled in
warlike blazonry；〃 said he； 〃 yet stout as are our Abbey walls；
they are not so thick that the fame of your exploits has not
passed through them and reached our ears。 If it be your pleasure
to take an interest in this young and misguided Squire； it is not
for us to thwart your kind intention or to withhold such grace as
you request。 I am glad indeed that he hath one who can set him so
fair an example for a friend。〃
〃I thank you for your courtesy； good father Abbot；〃 said Chandos
carelessly。 〃This young Squire has； however； a better friend than
myself； one who is kinder to those he loves and more terrible to
those he hates。 It is from him I bear a message。〃
〃I pray you； fair and honored sir；〃 said Nigel； 〃that you will
tell me what is the message that you bear。〃
〃The message； mon ami； is that your friend comes into these parts
and would have a night's lodging at the manor house of Tilford for
the love and respect that he bears your family。〃
〃Nay； he is most welcome；〃 said Nigel； 〃and yet I hope that he is
one who can relish a soldier's fare and sleep under a humble roof；
for indeed we can but give our best； poor as it is。〃
〃He is indeed a soldier and a good one；〃 Chandos answered；
laughing； 〃 and I warrant he has slept in rougher quarters than
Tilford Manor…house。〃
〃I have few friends； fair sir；〃 said Nigel； with a puzzled face。
〃I pray you give me this gentleman's name。〃
〃His name is Edward。〃
〃Sir Edward Mortimer of Kent； perchance； or is it Sir Edward
Brocas of whom the Lady Ermyntrude talks？〃
〃Nay； he is known as Edward only； and if you ask a second name it
is Plantagenet； for he who comes to seek the shelter of your roof
is your liege lord and mine； the King's high majesty； Edward of
England。〃
VI。 IN WHICH LADY ERMYNTRUDE OPENS THE IRON COFFER
AS in a dream Nigel heard these stupendous and incredible words。
As in a dream also he had a vision of a smiling and conciliatory
Abbot； of an obsequious sacrist； and of a band of archers who
cleared a path for him and for the King's messenger through the
motley crowd who had choked the entrance of the Abbey court。 A
minute later he was walking by the side of Chandos through the
peaceful cloister； and in front in the open archway of the great
gate was the broad yellow road between its borders of green
meadow…land。 The spring air was the sweeter and the more fragrant
for that chill dread of dishonor and captivity which had so
recently frozen his ardent heart。 He had already passed the
portal when a hand plucked at his sleeve and he turned to find
himself confronted by the brown honest face and hazel eyes of the
archer who had interfered in his behalf。
〃 Well；〃 said Aylward； 〃what have you to say to me； young sir？〃
〃What can I say； my good fellow； save that I thank you with all my
heart？ By Saint Paul！ if you had been my blood brother you could
not have stood by me more stoutly。〃
〃Nay！ but this is not enough。〃
Nigel colored with vexation； and the more so as Chandos was
listening with his critical smile to their conversation。 〃If you
had heard what was said in the court；〃 said he； 〃you would
understand that I am not blessed at this moment with much of this
world's gear。 The black death and the monks have between them
been heavy upon our estate。 Willingly would I give you a handful
of gold for your assistance； since that is what you seem to crave；
but indeed I have it not； and so once more I say that you must be
satisfied with my thanks。〃
〃Your gold is nothing to me；〃 said Aylward shortly； 〃nor would you
buy my loyalty if you filled my wallet with rose nobles； so long
as you were not a man after my own heart。 But I have seen you
back the yellow horse； and I have seen you face the Abbot of
Waverley； and you are such a master as I would very gladly serve
if you have by chance a place for such a man。 I have seen your
follow