第29章

Itwasaboutthehourofsunrise，whenaslow，armedtreadwasheardapproachingtheKing’spavilion；andereDeVaux，whoslumberedbesidehismaster’sbedasrightlyaseversleepsatupontheeyesofawatch-dog，hadtimetodomorethanariseandsay，Whocomes？’’theKnightoftheLeopardenteredthetent，withadeepanddevotedgloomseateduponhismanlyfeatures。

Whencethisboldintrusion，SirKnight？’’saidDeVaux，sternly，yetinatonewhichrespectedhismaster’sslumbers。

Hold，DeVaux！’’saidRichard，awakeningontheinstant；

SirKennethcomethlikeagoodsoldiertorenderanaccountofhisguard-tosuchtheGeneral’stentiseveraccessible。’’-

Thenrisingfromhisslumberingposture，andleaningonhiselbow，hefixedhislargebrighteyeuponthewarrior-Speak，SirScot；thoucomesttotellmeofavigilant，safe，andhonourablewatch，dostthounot？TherustlingofthefoldsoftheBannerofEnglandwereenoughtoguardit，evenwithoutthebodyofsuchaknightasmenholdthee。’’

Asmenwillholdmenomore，’’saidSirKenneth-mywatchhathneitherbeenvigilant，safe，norhonourable。TheBannerofEnglandhasbeencarriedoff。’’

Andthoualivetotellit？’’saidRichard，inatoneofderisiveincredulity-Away，itcannotbe。Thereisnotevenascratchonthyface-Whydostthoustandthusmute？Speakthetruth-itisilljestingwithaKing-yetIwillforgivetheeifthouhastlied。’’

Lied，SirKing！’’returnedtheunfortunateknight，withfierceemphasis，andoneglanceoffirefromhiseye，brightandtransientastheflashfromthecoldandstonyflint。Butthisalsomustbeendured-Ihavespokenthetruth。’’

ByGodandbySaintGeorge！’’saidtheKing，burstingintofury，which，however，heinstantlychecked-DeVaux，goviewthespot-Thisfeverhasdisturbedhisbrain-Thiscannotbe-

Theman’scourageisproof-It_cannot_be！Gospeedily-orsend，ifthouwiltnotgo。’’

TheKingwasinterruptedbySirHenryNeville，whocame，breathless，tosaythatthebannerwasgone，andtheknightwhoguardeditoverpowered，andmostprobablymurdered，astherewasapoolofbloodwherethebanner-spearlayshivered。

ButwhomdoIseehere？’’saidNeville，hiseyessuddenlyrestinguponSirKenneth。

Atraitor，’’saidtheKing，startingtohisfeet，andseizingthecurtal-axe，whichwasevernearhisbed-atraitor！whomthoushaltseedieatraitor’sdeath。’’-Andhedrewbacktheweaponasinacttostrike。

Colourless，butfirmasamarblestatue，theScotstoodbeforehim，withhisbareheaduncoveredbyanyprotection，hiseyescastdowntotheearth，hislipsscarcelymoving，yetmutteringprobablyinprayer。Oppositetohim，andwithintheduereachforablow，stoodKingRichard，hislargepersonwraptinthefoldsofhiscamiscia，oramplegownoflinen，exceptwheretheviolenceofhisactionhadflungthecoveringfromhisrightarm，shoulder，andapartofhisbreast，leavingtoviewaspecimenofaframewhichmighthavemeritedhisSaxonpredecessor’sepithetofIronside。Hestoodforaninstant，prompttostrike-then，sinkingtheheadoftheweapontowardstheground，heexclaimed，Buttherewasblood，Neville-therewasbloodupontheplace。Harkthee，SirScot-bravethouwertonce，forIhaveseentheefight-SaythouhastslaintwoofthethievesindefenceoftheStandard-saybutone-saythouhaststruckbutagoodblowinourbehalf，andgettheeoutofthecampwiththylifeandthyinfamy！’’

Youhavecalledmeliar，myLordKing，’’repliedKenneth，firmly；andtherein，atleast，youhavedonemewrong-Know，thattherewasnobloodshedindefenceoftheStandardsavethatofapoorhound，which，morefaithfulthanhismaster，defendedthechargewhichhedeserted。’’

Now，bySaintGeorge！’’saidRichard，againheavinguphisarm-ButDeVauxthrewhimselfbetweentheKingandtheobjectofhisvengeance，andspokewiththeblunttruthofhischaracter，Myliege，thismustnotbe-here，norbyyourownhand。Itisenoughoffollyforonenightandday，tohaveintrustedyourbannertoaScot-saidInottheywereeverfairandfalse？’’<*>

*SuchwerethetermsinwhichtheEnglishusedtospeakoftheirpoor*northernneighbours，forgettingthattheirownencroachmentsuponthe*independenceofScotlandobligedtheweakernationtodefendthemselves*bypolicyaswellas

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