第40章

Peace，Iprithee-makenomoreofit-Ididitbuttoshowtheseignorantprejudicedknaveshowtheymighthelpeachotherwhenthesecowardlycaitiffscomeagainstuswithsarbacanesandpoisonedshafts-But，’’headded，taketheethisNubiantothyquarters，Neville-Ihavechangedmymindtouchinghim-lethimbewellcaredfor-But，harkinthineear-seethatheescapestheenot-thereismoreinhimthanseems。Lethimhaveallliberty，sothatheleavenotthecamp-Andyou，yebeef-devouring，wine-swillingEnglishmastiffs，getyetoyourguardagain，andbesureyoukeepitmorewarily。Thinknotyouarenowinyourownlandoffairplay，wheremenspeakbeforetheystrike，andshakehandseretheycutthroats。Dangerinourlandwalksopenly，andwithhisbladedrawn，anddefiesthefoewhomhemeanstoassault；buthere，hechallengesyouwithasilkgloveinsteadofasteelgauntlet，cutsyourthroatwiththefeatherofaturtle-dove，stabsyouwiththetongueofapriest’sbrooch，orthrottlesyouwiththelaceofmylady’sboddice。Goto-keepyoureyesopenandyourmouthsshut-drinklessandlooksharperaboutyou；orIwillplaceyourhugestomachsonsuchshortallowance，aswouldpinchthatofapatientScotchman。’’

Theyeomen，abashedandmortified，withdrewtotheirpost，andNevillewasbeginningtoremonstratewithhismasterupontheriskofpassingoverthusslightlytheirnegligenceupontheirduty，andtheproprietyofanexampleinacasesopeculiarlyaggravatedasthepermittingonesosuspiciousasthemarabouttoapproachwithindagger’slengthofhisperson，whenRichardinterruptedhimwith，Speaknotofit，Neville-wouldstthouhavemeavengeapettyrisktomyselfmoreseverelythanthelossofEngland’sbanner？Ithasbeenstolen-stolenbyathief，ordeliveredupbyatraitor，andnobloodhasbeenshedforit-

Mysablefriend，thouartanexpounderofmysteries，saiththeillustriousSoldan-nowwouldIgivetheethineownweightingoldif，byraisingonestillblackerthanthyself，orbywhatothermeansthouwilt，thoucouldstshowmethethiefwhodidminehonourthatwrong。Whatsay’stthou？ha！’’

Theyouthseemeddesiroustospeak，bututteredonlythatimperfectsoundpropertohismelancholycondition，thenfoldedhisarms，lookedontheKingwithaneyeofintelligence，andnoddedinanswertohisquestion。

How！’’saidRichard，withjoyfulimpatience。Wiltthouundertaketomakediscoveryinthismatter？’’

TheNubianslaverepeatedthesamemotion。

Buthowshallweunderstandeachother？’’saidtheKing。

Canstthouwrite，goodfellow？’’

Theslaveagainnoddedinassent。

Givehimwriting-tools，’’saidtheKing。Theywerereadierinmyfather’stentthanmine-buttheybesomewhereabout，ifthisscorchingclimatehathnotdrieduptheink-Why，thisfellowisajewel-ablackdiamond，Neville。’’

Sopleaseyou，myliege，’’saidNeville，ifImightspeakmypoormind，itwereilldealinginthisware。Thismanmustbeawizard，andwizardsdealwiththeEnemy，whohathmostinteresttosowtaresamongthewheat，andbringdissensionintoourcouncils，and’’-

Peace，Neville，’’saidRichard。Hollotoyournorthernhoundwhenheiscloseonthehaunchofthedeer，andhopetorecallhim，butseeknottostopPlantagenetwhenhehathhopetoretrievehishonour。’’

Theslave，whoduringthisdiscussionhadbeenwriting，inwhichartheseemedskilful，nowarose，andpressingwhathehadwrittentohisbrow，prostratedhimselfasusual，erehedelivereditintotheKing’shands。ThescrollwasinFrench，althoughtheirintercoursehadhithertobeenconductedbyRichardintheLinguaFranca。

ToRichard，theconqueringandinvincibleKingofEngland，thisfromthehumblestofhisslaves。MysteriesarethesealedcasketsofHeaven，butwisdommaydevisemeanstoopenthelock。WereyourslavestationedwheretheleadersoftheChristianhostweremadetopassbeforehiminorder，doubtnothing，thatifhewhodidtheinjurywhereofmyKingcomplainsshallbeamongthenumber，hemaybemademanifestinhisiniquity，thoughitbehiddenundersevenveils。’’

Now，bySaintGeorge！’’saidKingRichard，thouhastspokenmostopportunely-Neville，thouknow’st，thatwhenwemusterourtroopsto-morrow，theprinceshaveagreed，thattoexpiatetheaffrontofferedtoEnglandinthetheftofherBanner，theleadersshouldpassournewstandardasitfloatsonSaintGeorge’sMount，andsaluteitwithformalregard。

Believeme，thesecre

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