第25章

Unbendthyarblast，andcomeintothemoonlight，’’saidtheScot，or，bySaintAndrew，Iwillpintheetotheearth，bewhatorwhomthouwilt！’’

Ashespoke，hepoisedhislonglancebythemiddle，and，fixinghiseyeupontheobjectwhichseemedtomove，hebrandishedtheweapon，asifmeditatingtocastitfromhishand-auseoftheweapon，sometimes，thoughrarely，resortedto，whenamissilewasnecessary。ButSirKennethwasashamedofhispurpose，andgroundedhisweapon，whentheresteppedfromtheshadowintothemoonlight，likeanactorenteringuponthestage，astunteddecrepitcreature，whom，byhisfantasticdressanddeformity，herecognised，evenatsomedistance，forthemaleofthetwodwarfswhomhehadseenatthechapelofEngaddi。Recollecting，atthesamemoment，theother，andfardifferent，visionsofthatextraordinarynight，hegavehisdogasignal，whichheinstantlyunderstood，and，returningtothestandard，laidhimselfdownbesideitwithastifledgrowl。

Thelittledistortedminiatureofhumanity，assuredofhissafetyfromanenemysoformidable，camepantinguptheascent，whichtheshortnessofhislegsrenderedlaborious，andwhenhearrivedontheplatformonthetop，shiftedtohislefthandthelittlecross-bow，whichwasjustsuchatoyaschildrenatthatperiodwerepermittedtoshootsmallbirdswith，and，assuminganattitudeofgreatdignity，gracefullyextendedhisrighthandtoSirKenneth，inanattitudeasifheexpectedhewouldsaluteit。Butsucharesultnotfollowing，hedemandedinasharpandangrytoneofvoice，Soldier，whereforerenderestthounottoNectabanusthehomageduetohisdignity？-Or，isitpossiblethatthoucansthaveforgottenhim？’’

GreatNectabanus，’’answeredtheknight，willingtosoothethecreature’shumour，thatweredifficultforanyonewhohaseverlookeduponthee。Pardonme，however，thatbeingasoldieruponmypost，withmylanceinmyhand，Imaynotgivetooneofthypuissancetheadvantageofcomingwithinmyguard，orofmasteringmyweapon。Sufficeit，thatIreverencethydignity，andsubmitmyselftotheeashumblyasaman-at-armsinmyplacemay。’’

Itshallsuffice，’’saidNectabanus，sothatyoupresentlyattendmetothepresenceofthosewhohavesentmehithertosummonyou。’’

Greatsir，’’repliedtheknight，neitherinthiscanIgratifythee，formyordersaretoabidebythisbannertilldaybreak-

soIprayyoutoholdmeexcusedinthatmatteralso。’’

Sosaying，heresumedhiswalkupontheplatform；butthedwarfdidnotsufferhimsoeasilytoescapefromhisimportunity。

Lookyou，’’hesaid，placinghimselfbeforeSirKenneth，soastointerrupthisway，eitherobeyme，SirKnight，asindutybound，orIwilllaythecommanduponthee，inthenameofonewhosebeautycouldcalldownthegeniifromtheirsphere，andwhosegrandeurcouldcommandtheimmortalracewhentheyhaddescended。’’

Awildandimprobableconjecturearoseintheknight’smind，butherepelledit。Itwasimpossible，hethought，thattheladyofhisloveshouldhavesenthimsuchamessagebysuchamessenger-yethisvoicetrembledashesaid，Goto，Nectabanus。

Tellmeatonce，andasatrueman，whetherthissublimeladyofwhomthouspeakest，beotherthanthehouri，withwhoseassistanceIbeheldtheesweepingthechapelatEngaddi？’’

How！presumptuousknight，’’repliedthedwarf；think’stthouthemistressofourownroyalaffections，thesharerofourgreatness，andthepartnerofourcomeliness，woulddemeanherselfbylayingchargeonsuchavassalasthou？No，highlyasthouarthonoured，thouhastnotyetdeservedthenoticeofQueenGuenevra，thelovelybrideofArthur，fromwhosehighseatevenprincesseembutpigmies。Butlookthouhere，andasthouknowestordisownestthistoken，soobeyorrefusehercommands，whohathdeignedtoimposethemonthee。’’

Sosaying，heplacedintheknight’shandsarubyring，which，eveninthemoonlight，hehadnodifficultytorecogniseasthatwhichusuallygracedthefingerofthehigh-bornladytowhoseservicehehaddevotedhi

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