the caged lion- 第52部分

Malcolm　had　now　had　his　fears　and　suspicions　so　far　confirmed；　that　he　perceived　what　his　course　should　next　be。　　Strange　to　say；　in　spite　of　the　horror　of　knowing　his　sister　to　have　been　a　whole　year　in　Walter　Stewart's　power；　he　was　neither　hopeless　nor　disheartened。　Lilias　seemed　to　have　kept　her　persecutor　at　bay　once；　and　she　might　have　done　so　againif　only　by　the　appeal　to　the　mysterious　relic；　on　which　his　oath　to　abstain　from　violence　had　been　sworn。　　And　confidence　in　Esclairmonde's　prayers　continued　to　buoy　him　up；　as　he　recited　his　own；　and　formed　his　designs　for　ascertaining　whether　she　were　to　be　found　at　Douneeither　as　wife；　or　as　captive；　to　Walter；　Earl　of　Fife　and　heir　of　Albany。

So　soon　as　the　doors　of　Coldingham　Priory　were　opened；　he　was　on　his　way　northward。　　It　was　a　sore　and　trying　journey；　in　the　bitter　March　weather；　for　one　so　little　used　to　hardship。　　He　did　not　fail　in　obtaining　shelter　or　food；　his　garb　was　everywhere　a　passport；　but　he　grew　weary　and　footsore；　and　his　anxiety　greatly　increased　when　he　found　that　fatigue　was　bringing　back　the　lameness；　which　greatly　enhanced　the　likelihood　of　his　being　recognized。　　Kind　monks；　and　friendly　gude…wives；　hospitably　persuaded　the　worn　student　to　remain　and　rest；　till　his　blistered　feet　were　whole；　but　he　pressed　on　whenever　he　found　it　possible　to　travel；　and　after　the　first　week　found　his　progress　less　tardy　and　painful。

Resting　at　Edinburgh　for　Passion…tide　and　Easter　Day；　he　found　that　the　Regent　Albany　himself；　with　all　his　family；　were　at　Doune；　and　he　accordingly　made　his　way　thither；　rejoicing　that　he　had　had　some　little　time　to　perfect　himself　in　his　part；　before　rehearsing　it　to　the　persons　most　likely　to　detect　his　disguise。

Along　the　banks　and　braes　of　bonny　Doune　he　slowly　moved；　with　weary　limbs；　looking　up　to　the　huge　pile　of　the　majestic　castle　in　sickening　of　heart　at　the　doubt　that　was　about　to　become　a　certainty；　and　that　involved　the　happiness　or　the　absolute　misery　of　his　sister's　life。　　Nay；　he　would　almost　have　preferred　to　find　that　she　had　perished　in　her　resistance；　rather　than　have　become　wife　to　such　a　man　as　Walter　Stewart。

The　Duke　of　Albany；　as　representing　majesty；　kept　up　all　the　state　that　Scottish　majesty　was　capable　of；　in　its　impoverished　irregular　state。　　Hosts　of　rough　lawless　warriors；　men…at…arms；　squires　and　knights；　lived　at　free　quarters；　in　a　sort　of　rude　plenty；　in　and　about　the　Castle；　eating　and　drinking　at　the　Regent's　expense；　sleeping　where　they　could；　in　hall　or　stable；　and　for　clothing　and　armour　trusting　to　'spulzie'；　always　ready　for　violence；　without　much　caring　on　whom　exercisedotherwise　hunting；　or　lounging；　or　swelling　their　master's　disorderly　train。

This　retinue　was　almost　at　its　largest　at　this　time；　being　swelled　by　the　following　of　the　two　younger　sons　of　Murdoch；　Robert　and　Alexander；　and　the　courts　of　the　Castle　were　filled　with　rude；　savage…looking　men；　some　few　grooming　horses；　others　with　nothing　to　do　but　to　shout　forth　their　jeers　at　the　pale；　black…gowned　student；　who　timidly　limped　into　their　lair。

Timidlyyes；　for　the　awful　chances　heavily　oppressed　him；　and　the　horrible　scurrility　and　savagery　that　greeted　him　on　all　sides　made　his　heart　faint　at　the　thought　of　his　Lily　in　this　cage　of　foul　animals。　　He　did　not　fear　for　himself；　and　never　paused　until　a　shouting　circle　of　idle　ruffians　set　themselves　full　in　his　way；　to　badger　and　bait　the　poor　scholar　with　taunts　and　insultshemming　him　in；　bawling　out　ribald　mirth；　as　a　pack　of　hounds　fall　on　some　stray　dog；　or；　as　Malcolm　thought；　in　a　moment　half　of　sick　horror；　half　of　resolute　resignation；　like　wild　cattlefat　bulls　of　Bashan　closing　in　on　every　side。　　So　horrible　a　moment　of　distress　he　had　never　known；　but　suddenly；　as　he　stood　summoning　all　his　strength；　panting　with　dismay；　inwardly　praying；　and　trying　to　close　his　ears　and　commend　himself　to　One　who　knew　what　mockery　is；　there　was　an　opening　of　the　crowd；　a　youth　darted　down　among　them；　with　a　loud　cry　of　'Shame！　　Out　on　you！　　A　poor　scholar！'　and　taking　Malcolm's　hand；　led　him　forward；　while　a　laugh　of　mockery　rose　in　the　distance'Like　to　like。'

'Ay；　my　friend　and　brother；　I　am　Baccalaureus；　even　as　you　are；'　eagerly　said　the　young　gentleman；　in　whom　Malcolm；　somewhat　to　his　alarm；　recognized　his　cousin；　James　Kennedy；　the　King's　nephew；　a　real　Parisian　'bejanus；'　or　bec　jaune；　｛2｝　when　they　last　had　met　in　the　Hotel　de　St。　Pol；　and　thus　not　only　qualified　to　confute　and　expose　him；　should　he　show　any　ignorance　of　details；　but　also　much　more　likely　to　know　him　than　those　who　had　not　seen　him　for　many　months　before　he　had　left　Scotland。

But　James　Kennedy　asked　no　questions；　only　said　kindly；　in　the　Latin　that　was　always　spoken　in　the　University；　'Pray　pardon　us！　　Mores　Hyperboreis　desunt。　｛3｝　　The　Regent　would　be　grieved；　if　he　knew　how　these　scelerati　｛4｝　have　sorted　you。　　Come；　rest　and　washit　will　soon　be　supper…time。'

He　took　Malcolm　to　an　inner　court；　filled　for　him　a　cup　of　ale；　for　his　immediate　refreshment；　and　led　him　to　a　spout　of　clear　water；　in　the　side　of　the　rock　on　which　the　Castle　stood；　where　a　stone　basin　afforded　the　only　facilities　for　washing　that　the　greater　part　of　the　inhabitants　of　the　Castle　expected；　and；　in　effect；　more　than　they　commonly　used。　　Malcolm；　however；　was　heartily　glad　of　the　refreshment　of　removing　the　dust　from　his　weary　face　and　feetand　heartily　thanked　his　protector；　in　the　same　dog…Latin。　　Kennedy　waited　for　him；　and　as　a　great　bell　began　to　ring；　said　'Pro　caena；'　｛5｝　and　conducted　him　towards　the　great　hall　while　Malcolm　felt　much　impelled　to　make　himself　known；　but　was　conscious　that　he　had　not　so　comported　himself　towards　his　cousin　at　Paris　as　to　deserve　much　favour　from　him。

A　high　table　was　spread　in　the　hall；　with　the　usual　appliances　befitting　princes　and　nobles。　　The　other　tables；　below　the　dais；　were　of　the　rudest　description；　and　stained　with　accumulations　of　grease　and　ale；　and　no　wonder；　since　trenchers　were　not；　and　each　man　hacked　a　gobbet　for　himself　from　the　huge　pieces　of　beef　carried　round　on　spitsnor　would　the　guests　have　had　any　objection；　during　a　campaign；　to　cook　the　meat　in　the　fashion　described　by　Froissart；　between　themselves　and　the　saddle。　　These　were　the　squirearchy；　Malcolm's　late　persecutors　did　not　aspire　to　the　benches　around　these　boards；　or　only　at　second　hand；　and　for　the　most　part　had　no　seat　but　the　unclean　straw　and　rushes　that　strewed　the　floor。

As　James　Kennedy　entered　the　hall　with　Malcolm；　there　came　from　another　door；　marshalled　by　the　seneschal　in　full　feudal　state；　the　Regent　Duke　of　Albany　himself；　his　wife；　a　daughter　or　two；　two　sons…　…and　Malcolm　saw；　with　beating　heart；　Lilias　herself；　pale　worn；　sorrowful…looking；　grievously　altered；　but　still　his　own　Lily。　Others　followed；　chiefly　knights　and　attendants；　but　Malcolm　saw　no　one　but　Lily。　　She　took　her　place　dejectedly；　and　never　raised　her　eyes　towards　him；　even　when；　on　the　Regent's　question；　'What　have　ye　there；　Jamie？'　　Kennedy　stood　forth　and　answered　that　it　was　a　scholar；　a　student；　for　whom　he　asked　the　hospitality　of　his　kinsman。

'He　is　welcome；'　said　the　Regent；　a　man　of　easy　good…nature；　whose　chief　misfortune　was；　that　being　of　weak　nature；　he　came　between　a　wicked　father　and　wickeder　sons。　　He　was　a　handsome　man；　with　much　of　the　stately　appearance　of　King　James　himself；　and　the　same　complexion；　but　it　was　that　sort　of　likeness　which　was　almost　provoking；　by　seeming　to　detract　from　the　majesty　of　the　lineaments　themselves；　as　seen　in　him　who　alone　knew　how　to　make　them　a　mask　for　a　great　soul。　　His　two　sons；　Robert　and　Alexander；　laughed　as　they　saw　Kennedy's　companion；　and　called　out；　'So　that's　the　brotherhood　of　learning；　is　it；　Jamie？forgathering　with　any　beggar　in　the　street！'

'Yea；'　said　Kennedy；　nothing　daunted；　'and　finding　him　much　better　mannered　than　you！'

'Ay！'　sighed　Murdoch；　feebly；　'when　I　grew　up；　it　was　at　the　Castles　of　Perth　and　Doune　that　we　looked　for　the　best　manners。　　Now'

'We　leave　them　to　the　lick…platters　that　have　to　live　by　them；'　said　Alexander；　rudely。

Kennedy；　meanwhile；　gave　the　young　scholar　in　charge　to　a　gray…headed　retainer；　who　seemed　one　of　the　few　who　had　any　remains　of　good…　breeding；　and　then　offered　to　say　Gracehe　being　the　nearest　approach　to　an　ecclesiastic　presentas　the　chaplain　was　gone　to　an　Easter　festivity　at　his　Abbey。　　Malcolm　thus　obtained　a　seat　at　the　second　table；　and　a　tolerable　share　of　supper；　but　he　could　hardly　eat；　from　intense　anxiety；　and　scarcely　knew　whether　to　be　glad　or　sorry　that　he　was　out　of　sight　of　Lily。

By　and　by；　a　moment's　lull　of　the　universal　din　enabled　Malcolm　to　hear　the　Regent　saying；　'Verily；　there　is　a　look　of　gentle　nurture　about　the　lad。　　Look　you；　James；　when　the　tables　are　drawn；　you　shall　hold　a　disputation　with　him。　　It　will　be　sport　to　hear　how　you　chop　logic　at　your　Universities　yonder。'

Malcolm's　spirit　sank。　　Such　disputations　were　perfectly　ordinary　work　at　both　Oxford　and　Paris；　and；　usually；　he　was　quite　capable　of　sustaining　his　part　in　them；　but　his　heart　was　so　full；　his　mind　so　anxious；　his　condition　so　dangerous；　that　he　felt　as　if　he　could　by　no　means　rally　that　alertness　of　argument；　and　readiness　of　quotation；　that　were　requisite　even　in　the　merest　tyro。　　However；　he　made　a　great　effort。　　He　secretly　invoked　the　Light　of　Wisdom；　tried　to　think　himself　back　into　the　aisles　of　St。　Mary's　Church；　and　to　call　up　the　key…notes　of　some　of　the　stock　arguments；　hoping　that；　if　the　selection　of　the　subject　were　left　to　Kennedy；　he　would　hit　on　one　of　those　most　familiar　at　Oxford。

The　supper　was　ended；　the　tables　were　removed；　and　the　challenge　took　place。　　Duke　Murdoch；　leaning　back　in　his　high　chair　by　the　peat…　fire；　while　the　ladies　sat　round　at　their　spinning；　called　for　the　two　young　clerks　to　begin　their　tourney　of　words。　　They　stood　opposite　one　another；　on　the　step　of　the　dais；　and　Kennedy；　as　host　and　challenger；　assigned　to　his　opponent　the　choice　of　a　subject；　when　Malcolm；　brightening；　proposed　one　that　he　had　so　often　heard　and　practised　on；　as　to　have　the　arguments　at　his　fingers'　ends；　namely；　that　the　real　consists　only　in　that　which　is　substantial　to　the　sense