第37章

Hewastakeninthecampbyoneofoursquires，and，inprivateexamination，franklyavowedhisfixedanddeterminedpurposetome，’’saidtheGrandMaster。

NowtheHeavenspardonthemwhopreventedthepurposeofthismostjudiciousCharegite！’’answeredConrade。

Heismyprisoner，’’addedtheTemplar，andsecludedfromspeechwithothers，asthoumay’stsuppose-butprisonshavebeenbroken’’-

Chainsleftunlocked，andcaptiveshaveescaped，’’answeredtheMarquis。Itisanancientsaying，-nosuredungeonbutthegrave。’’

Whenlooseheresumeshisquest，’’continuedthemilitarypriest；foritisthenatureofthissortofbloodhoundnevertoquittheslotofthepreyhehasoncescented。’’

Saynomoreofit，’’saidtheMarquis；Iseethypolicy-

itisdreadful，buttheemergencyisimminent。’’

Ionlytoldtheeofit，’’saidtheTemplar，thatthoumay’stkeepthyselfonthyguard，fortheuproarwillbedreadful，andthereisnoknowingonwhomtheEnglishmayventtheirrage-Ay，andthereisanotherrisk-mypageknowsthecounselsofthisCharegite，’’hecontinued；and，moreover，heisapeevish，self-willedfool，whomIwouldIwereridof，ashethwartsmebypresumingtoseewithhisowneyes，notmine。

ButourholyOrdergivesmepowertoputaremedytosuchinconvenience。Orstay-theSaracenmayfindagooddaggerinhiscell，andIwarrantyouheusesitashebreaksforth，whichwillbeofasuretysosoonasthepageenterswithhisfood。’’

Itwillgivetheaffairacolour，’’saidConrade；andyet’’-

_Yet_and_but，_’’saidtheTemplar，arewordsforfools-

wisemenneitherhesitatenorretract-theyresolveandtheyexecute。’’

Whenbeautyleadsthelioninhertoils，Sucharehercharms，hedarenotraisehismaneFarlessexpandtheterrorofhisfangs。

SogreatAlcidesmadehisclubadistaff，AndspuntopleasefairOmphal。

Anonymous。

Richard，theunsuspiciousobjectofthedarktreacherydetailedintheclosingpartofthelastchapter，havingeffected，forthepresentatleast，thetriumphantunionoftheCrusadingprinces，inaresolutiontoprosecutethewarwithvigour，haditnextathearttoestablishtranquillityinhisownfamily；and，nowthathecouldjudgemoretemperately，toinquiredistinctlyintothecircumstancesleadingtothelossofhisbanner，andthenatureandtheextentoftheconnectionbetwixthiskinswomanEdith，andthebanishedadventurerfromScotland。

Accordingly，theQueenandherhouseholdwerestartledwithavisitfromSirThomasdeVaux，requestingthepresentattendanceoftheLadyCalistaofMontfaucon，theQueen’sprincipalbower-woman，uponKingRichard。

WhatamItosay，madam？’’saidthetremblingattendanttotheQueen。Hewillslayusall。’’

Nay，fearnot，madam，’’saidDeVaux。HisMajestyhathsparedthelifeoftheScottishknight，whowasthechiefoffender，andbestowedhimupontheMoorishphysician-hewillnotbesevereuponalady，thoughfaulty。’’

Devisesomecunningtale，wench，’’saidBerengaria。Myhusbandhathtoolittletimetomakeinquiryintothetruth。’’

Tellthetaleasitreallyhappened，’’saidEdith，lestItellitforthee。’’

WithhumblepermissionofherMajesty，’’saidDeVaux，IwouldsayLadyEdithadvisethwell；foralthoughKingRichardispleasedtobelievewhatitpleasesyourGracetotellhim，yetIdoubthishavingthesamedeferencefortheLadyCalista，andinthisespecialmatter。’’

TheLordofGilslandisright，’’saidtheLadyCalista，muchagitatedatthethoughtsoftheinvestigationwhichwastotakeplace:and，besides，ifIhadpresenceofmindenoughtoforgeaplausiblestory，beshrewmeifIthinkIshouldhavethecouragetotellit。’’

Inthiscandidhumour，theLadyCalistawasconductedbyDeVauxtotheKing，andmade，asshehadproposed，afullconfessionofthedecoybywhichtheunfortunateKnightoftheLeopardhadbeeninducedtodeserthispost；exculpatingtheLadyEdith，who，shewasaware，wouldnotfailtoexculpateherself，andlayingthefullburdenontheQueen，hermistress，whoseshareofthefrolic，shewellknew，wouldappearthemostvenialintheeyesofCurdeLion。Intruth，Richardwasafond-almostanuxorioushusband。Thefirstburstofhiswrathhadlongsincepassedaway，andhewasnotdisposedseverelytocensurewhatcouldnotnowbeamended。ThewilyLadyCalista，accustomedfromherearliestchildhoodtofathomtheintriguesofacourt，andwatc

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