按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
Osmond here hastily interfered； and desired permission to tell the whole story。 The hawk was a valuable bird； and Louis's face darkened when he heard what Lothaire had purposed； for the Prince had； in telling his own story； made it appear that Richard had been the aggressor by insisting on letting the falcon fly。 Osmond finished by pointing to the mark on Richard's cheek； so evidently a burn； as to be proof that hot iron had played a part in the matter。 The King looked at one of his own Squires and asked his account； and he with some hesitation could not but reply that it was as the young Sieur de Centeville had said。 Thereupon Louis angrily reproved his own people for having assisted the Prince in trying to injure the hawk； called for the chief falconer； rated him for not better attending to his birds； and went forth with him to see if the hawk could yet be recaptured； leaving the two boys neither punished nor pardoned。
〃So you have escaped for this once；〃 said Gerberge； coldly； to Richard； 〃you had better beware another time。 Come with me； my poor darling Lothaire。〃 She led her son away to her own apartments； and the French Squires began to grumble to each other complaints of the impossibility of pleasing their Lords； since； if they contradicted Prince Lothaire； he was so spiteful that he was sure to set the Queen against them； and that was far worse in the end than the King's displeasure。 Osmond； in the meantime； took Richard to re…commence bathing his face； and presently Carloman ran out to pity him； wonder at him for not crying； and say he was glad the poor hawk had escaped。
The cheek continued inflamed and painful for some time； and there was a deep scar long after the pain had ceased； but Richard thought little of it after the first； and would have scorned to bear ill…will to Lothaire for the injury。
Lothaire left off taunting Richard with his Norman accent； and calling him a young Sea…king。 He had felt his strength； and was afraid of him； but he did not like him the betterhe never played with him willinglyscowled； and looked dark and jealous； if his father； or if any of the great nobles took the least notice of the little Duke； and whenever he was out of hearing； talked against him with all his natural spitefulness。
Richard liked Lothaire quite as little； contemning almost equally his cowardly ways and his imperious disposition。 Since he had been Duke； Richard had been somewhat inclined to grow imperious himself； though always kept under restraint by Fru Astrida's good training； and Count Bernard's authority； and his whole generous nature would have revolted against treating Alberic； or indeed his meanest vassal； as Lothaire used the unfortunate children who were his playfellows。 Perhaps this made him look on with great horror at the tyranny which Lothaire exercised； at any rate he learnt to abhor it more； and to make many resolutions against ordering people about uncivilly when once he should be in Normandy again。 He often interfered to protect the poor boys； and generally with success； for the Prince was afraid of provoking such another shake as Richard had once given him； and though he generally repaid himself on his victim in the end； he yielded for the time。
Carloman； whom Richard often saved from his brother's unkindness； clung closer and closer to him； went with him everywhere； tried to do all he did； grew very fond of Osmond； and liked nothing better than to sit by Richard in some wide window…seat； in the evening； after supper； and listen to Richard's version of some of Fru Astrida's favourite tales； or hear the never…ending history of sports at Centeville； or at Rollo's Tower； or settle what great things they would both do when they were grown up； and Richard was ruling Normandyperhaps go to the Holy Land together； and slaughter an unheard…of host of giants and dragons on the way。 In the meantime； however； poor Carloman gave small promise of being able to perform great exploits； for he was very small for his age and often ailing； soon tired； and never able to bear much rough play。 Richard； who had never had any reason to learn to forbear； did not at first understand this； and made Carloman cry several times with his roughness and violence； but this always vexed him so much that he grew careful to avoid such things for the future； and gradually learnt to treat his poor little weakly friend with a gentleness and patience at which Osmond used to marvel； and which he would hardly have been taught in his prosperity at home。
Between Carloman and Osmond he was thus tolerably happy at Laon； but he missed his own dear friends； and the loving greetings of his vassals； and longed earnestly to be at Rouen； asking Osmond almost every night when they should go back； to which Osmond could only answer that he must pray that Heaven would be pleased to bring them home safely。
Osmond； in the meantime； kept a vigilant watch for anything that might seem to threaten danger to his Lord； but at present there was no token of any evil being intended； the only point in which Louis did not seem to be fulfilling his promises to the Normans was； that no preparations were made for attacking the Count of Flanders。
At Easter the court was visited by Hugh the White； the great Count of Paris； the most powerful man in France； and who was only prevented by his own loyalty and forbearance； from taking the crown from the feeble and degenerate race of Charlemagne。 He had been a firm friend of William Longsword； and Osmond remarked how； on his arrival； the King took care to bring Richard forward； talk of him affectionately； and caress him almost as much as he had done at Rouen。 The Count himself was really kind and affectionate to the little Duke； he kept him by his side； and seemed to like to stroke down his long flaxen hair； looking in his face with a grave mournful expression； as if seeking for a likeness to his father。 He soon asked about the scar which the burn had left； and the King was obliged to answer hastily； it was an accident； a disaster that had chanced in a boyish quarrel。 Louis； in fact； was uneasy； and appeared to be watching the Count of Paris the whole time of his visit； so as to prevent him from having any conversation in private with the other great vassals assembled at the court。 Hugh did not seem to perceive this； and acted as if he was entirely at his ease； but at the same time he watched his opportunity。 One evening； after supper； he came up to the window where Richard and Carloman were； as usual； deep in story telling； he sat down on the stone seat； and taking Richard on his knee； he asked if he had any greetings for the Count de Harcourt。
How Richard's face lighted up！ 〃Oh； Sir；〃 he cried； 〃are you going to Normandy？〃
〃Not yet； my boy； but it may be that I may have to meet old Harcourt at the Elm of Gisors。〃
〃Oh； if I was but going with you。〃
〃I wish I could take you； but it would scarcely do for me to steal the heir of Normandy。 What shall I tell him？〃
〃Tell him；〃 whispered Richard； edging himself close to the Count； and trying to reach his ear； 〃tell him that I am sorry； now； that I was sullen when he reproved me。 I know he was right。 And； sir； if he brings with him