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！
Pommers from beneath； and the great horse； enraged and insulted；
was rearing high； with two men hanging to his bridle。 When at
last he had calmed there was no sign left of the 〃Wild Man or of
his wife。 In vain did Aylward； an arrow on his string； run here
and there among the great trees and peer down the shadowy glades。
When he returned he and his master cast a shamefaced glance at
each other。
〃I trust that we are better soldiers than jailers；〃 said Aylward；
as he climbed on his pony。
But Nigel's frown relaxed into a smile。 〃At least we have gained
back what we lost；〃 said he。 〃Here I place it on the pommel of my
saddle； and I shall not take my eyes from it until we are safe in
Guildford town。〃
So they jogged on together until passing Saint Catherine's shrine
they crossed the winding Wey once more； and so found themselves in
the steep high street with its heavy…caved gabled houses； its
monkish hospitium upon the left； where good ale may still be
quaffed； and its great square…keeped castle upon the right； no
gray and grim skeleton of ruin； but very quick and alert； with
blazoned banner flying free； and steel caps twinkling from the
battlement。 A row of booths extended from the castle gate to the
high street； and two doors from the Church of the Trinity was that
of Thorold the goldsmith； a rich burgess and Mayor of the town。
He looked long and lovingly at the rich rubies and at the fine
work upon the goblet。 Then he stroked his flowing gray beard as
he pondered whether he should offer fifty nobles or sixty； for he
knew well that he could sell them again for two hundred。 If he
offered too much his profit would be reduced。 If he offered too
little the youth might go as far as London with them； for they
were rare and of great worth。 The young man was ill…clad； and his
eyes were anxious。 Perchance he was hard pressed and was ignorant
of the value of what he bore。 He would sound him。
〃These things are old and out of fashion； fair sir；〃 said he。 〃Of
the stones I can scarce say if they are of good quality or not；
but they are dull and rough。 Yet； if your price be low I may add
them to my stock； though indeed this booth was made to sell and
not to buy。 What do you ask？〃
Nigel bent his brows in perplexity。 Here was a game in which
neither his bold heart nor his active limbs could help him。 It
was the new force mastering the old： the man of commerce
conquering the man of war … wearing him down and weakening him
through the centuries until he had him as his bond…servant and his
thrall。
〃 know not what to ask； good sir；〃 said Nigel。 〃It is not for
me； nor for any man who bears my name； to chaffer and to haggle。
You know the worth of these things； for it is your trade to do so。
The Lady Ermyntrude lacks money； and we must have it against the
King's coming； so give me that which is right and just； and we
will say no more。〃
The goldsmith smiled。 The business was growing more simple and
more profitable。 He had intended to offer fifty； but surely it
would be sinful waste to give more than twenty…five。
〃I shall scarce know what to do with them when I have them；〃 said
he。 〃Yet I should not grudge twenty nobles if it is a matter in
which the King is concerned。〃
Nigel's heart turned to lead。 This sum would not buy one…half
what was needful。 It was clear that the Lady Ermyntrude had
overvalued her treasures。 Yet he could not return empty…handed；
so if twenty nobles was the real worth； as this good old man
assured him； then he must be thankful and take it。
〃I am concerned by what you say；〃 said he。 〃You know more of
these things than I can do。 However； I will take … 〃
〃A hundred and fifty；〃 whispered Aylward's voice in his ear。
〃A hundred and fifty；〃 said Nigel； only too relieved to have found
the humblest guide upon these unwonted paths。
The goldsmith started。 This youth was not the simple soldier that
he had seemed。 That frank face； those blue eyes； were traps for
the unwary。 Never had he been more taken aback in a bargain。
〃This is fond talk and can lead to nothing； fair sir；〃 said he；
turning away and fiddling with the keys of his strong boxes。 〃Yet
I have no wish to be hard on you。 Take my outside price； which is
fifty nobles。〃
〃And a hundred；〃 whispered Aylward。
〃And a hundred；〃 said Nigel； blushing at his own greed。
〃Well； well； take a hundred！〃 cried the merchant。 〃Fleece me；
skin me； leave me a loser； and take for your wares the full
hundred！〃
〃I should be shamed forever if I were to treat you so badly；〃 said
Nigel。 〃You have spoken me fair； and I would not grind you down。
Therefore； I will gladly take one hundred … 〃
〃And fifty；〃 whispered Aylward。
〃And fifty；〃 said Nigel。
〃By Saint John of Beverley！〃 cried the merchant。 〃I came hither
from the North Country； and they are said to be shrewd at a deal
in those parts； but I had rather bargain with a synagogue full of
Jews than with you； for all your gentle ways。 Will you indeed
take no less than a hundred and fifty？ Alas！ you pluck from me my
profits of a month。 It is a fell morning's work for me。 I would
I had never seen you！〃 With groans and lamentations he paid the
gold pieces across the counter； and Nigel； hardly able to credit
his own good fortune； gathered them into the leather saddle…bag。
A moment later with flushed face he was in the street and pouring
out his thanks to Aylward。
〃Alas； my fair lord！ the man has robbed us now；〃 said the archer。
〃 We could have had another twenty had we stood fast。〃
〃How know you that； good Aylward？〃
〃By his eyes； Squire Loring。 I wot I have little store of reading
where the parchment of a book or the pinching of a blazon is
concerned； but I can read men's eyes； and I never doubted that he
would give what he has given。〃
The two travelers had dinner at the monk's hospitium； Nigel at the
high table and Aylward among the commonalty。 Then again they
roamed the high street on business intent。 Nigel bought taffeta
for hangings； wine； preserves； fruit； damask table linen and many
other articles of need。 At last he halted before the armorer's
shop at the castle…yard； staring at the fine suits of plate； the
engraved pectorals； the plumed helmets； the cunningly jointed
gorgets； as a child at a sweet…shop。
〃Well； Squire Loring；〃 said Wat the armorer； looking sidewise from
the furnace where he was tempering a sword blade； 〃what can I sell
you this morning？ I swear to you by Tubal Cain； the father of all
workers in metal； that you might go from end to end of Cheapside
and never see a better suit than that which hangs from yonder
hook！〃
〃And the price； armorer？〃
〃To anyone else； two hundred and fifty rose nobles。 To you two
hundred。〃
〃And why cheaper to me； good fellow？〃
〃Because I fitted your father also for the wars； and a finer suit
never went out of my shop。 I warrant that it turned many an edge
before he laid it aside。 We worked in mail in those days； and I
had as soon have a well…made thick…meshed mail as any plates； but
a young knight will be in the fashion like any dame of the court；
and so it must be plate now； even though the price be trebled。〃
〃Your rede is that the mail is as good？〃
〃I am well sure of it。〃
〃Hearken then； armorer！ I cannot at this moment buy a suit of
plate； and yet I sorely need steel harness on account of a small
deed which it is in my mind to do。 Now I have at my home at
Tilford that very suit of mail of which you speak； with which my
father first rode to the wars。 Could you not so alter it that it
should guard my limbs also？〃
The armorer looked at Nigel's small upright figure and burst out
laughing。 〃You jest； Squire Loring！ The suit was made for one
who was far above the common stature of man。〃
〃Nay； I jest not。 If it will but carry me through one spear…
running it will have served its purpose。〃
The armorer leaned back on his anvil and pondered while Nigel
stared anxiously at his sooty face。
〃Right gladly would I lend you a suit of plate for this one
venture； Squire Loring； but I know well that if you should be
overthrown your harness becomes prize to the victor。 I am a poor
man with many children； and I dare not risk the loss of it。 But
as to what you say of the old suit of mail； is it indeed in good
condition？〃
〃Most excellent； save only at the neck； which is much frayed。〃
〃To shorten the limbs is easy。 It is but to cut out a length of
the mail and then loop up the links。 But to shorten the body…nay；
that is beyond the armorer's art。〃
〃It was my last hope。 Nay； good armorer； if you have indeed
served and loved my gallant father； then I beg you by his memory
that you will help me now。〃
The armorer threw down his heavy hammer with a crash upon the
floor。 〃It is not only that I loved your father； Squire Loring；
but it is that I have seen you； half armed as you were； ride
against the best of them at the Castle tiltyard。 Last Martinmas
my heart bled for you when I saw how sorry was your harness； and
yet you held your own against the stout Sir Oliver with his Milan
suit： When go you to Tilford？〃
〃Even now。〃
〃Heh； Jenkin； fetch out the cob！〃 cried