登陆注册
19471600000083

第83章

"We all owe you thanks for last night's service, sir," said Winter, who had for some good reasons changed his tone."Your prisoner is found to be a gentleman of birth and experience, and the leader of the assault last night.He has already told us more than we had hoped, for which also we are beholden to you; and, indeed, my Lord Grey has been asking for you already.""I have, young sir," said a quiet and lofty voice; and Amyas saw limping from the inner tent the proud and stately figure of the stern deputy, Lord Grey of Wilton, a brave and wise man, but with a naturally harsh temper, which had been soured still more by the wound which had crippled him, while yet a boy, at the battle of Leith.He owed that limp to Mary Queen of Scots; and he did not forget the debt.

"I have been asking for you; having heard from many, both of your last night's prowess, and of your conduct and courage beyond the promise of your years, displayed in that ever-memorable voyage, which may well be ranked with the deeds of the ancient Argonauts."Amyas bowed low; and the lord deputy went on, "You will needs wish to see your prisoner.You will find him such a one as you need not be ashamed to have taken, and as need not be ashamed to have been taken by you: but here he is, and will, I doubt not, answer as much for himself.Know each other better, gentlemen both: last night was an ill one for making acquaintances.Don Guzman Maria Magdalena Sotomayor de Soto, know the hidalgo, Amyas Leigh!"As he spoke, the Spaniard came forward, still in his armor, all save his head, which was bound up in a handkerchief.

He was an exceedingly tall and graceful personage, of that sangre azul which marked high Visigothic descent; golden-haired and fair-skinned, with hands as small and white as a woman's; his lips were delicate but thin, and compressed closely at the corners of the mouth; and his pale blue eye had a glassy dulness.In spite of his beauty and his carriage, Amyas shrank from him instinctively; and yet he could not help holding out his hand in return, as the Spaniard, holding out his, said languidly, in most sweet and sonorous Spanish--"I kiss his hands and feet.The senor speaks, I am told, my native tongue?""I have that honor."

"Then accept in it (for I can better express myself therein than in English, though I am not altogether ignorant of that witty and learned language) the expression of my pleasure at having fallen into the hands of one so renowned in war and travel; and of one also," he added, glancing at Amyas's giant bulk, "the vastness of whose strength, beyond that of common mortality, makes it no more shame for me to have been overpowered and carried away by him than if my captor had been a paladin of Charlemagne's."Honest Amyas bowed and stammered, a little thrown off his balance by the unexpected assurance and cool flattery of his prisoner; but he said--"If you are satisfied, illustrious senor, I am bound to be so.Ionly trust that in my hurry and the darkness I have not hurt you unnecessarily."The Don laughed a pretty little hollow laugh: "No, kind senor, my head, I trust, will after a few days have become united to my shoulders; and, for the present, your company will make me forget any slight discomfort.""Pardon me, senor; but by this daylight I should have seen that armor before.""I doubt it not, senor, as having been yourself also in the forefront of the battle," said the Spaniard, with a proud smile.

"If I am right, senor, you are he who yesterday held up the standard after it was shot down.""I do not deny that undeserved honor; and I have to thank the courtesy of you and your countrymen for having permitted me to do so with impunity.""Ah, I heard of that brave feat," said the lord deputy."You should consider yourself, Mr.Leigh, honored by being enabled to show courtesy to such a warrior."How long this interchange of solemn compliments, of which Amyas was getting somewhat weary, would have gone on, I know not; but at that moment Raleigh entered hastily--"My lord, they have hung out a white flag, and are calling for a parley!"The Spaniard turned pale, and felt for his sword, which was gone;and then, with a bitter laugh, murmured to himself--"As Iexpected."

"I am very sorry to hear it.Would to Heaven they had simply fought it out!" said Lord Grey, half to himself; and then, "Go, Captain Raleigh, and answer them that (saving this gentleman's presence) the laws of war forbid a parley with any who are leagued with rebels against their lawful sovereign.""But what if they wish to treat for this gentleman's ransom?""For their own, more likely," said the Spaniard; "but tell them, on my part, senor, that Don Guzman refuses to be ransomed; and will return to no camp where the commanding officer, unable to infect his captains with his own cowardice, dishonors them against their will.""You speak sharply, senor," said Winter, after Raleigh had gone out.

"I have reason, Senor Admiral, as you will find, I fear, erelong.""We shall have the honor of leaving you here, for the present, sir, as Admiral Winter's guest," said the lord deputy.

"But not my sword, it seems."

"Pardon me, senor; but no one has deprived you of your sword," said Winter.

"I don't wish to pain you, sir," said Amyas, "but I fear that we were both careless enough to leave it behind last night."A flash passed over the Spaniard's face, which disclosed terrible depths of fury and hatred beneath that quiet mask, as the summer lightning displays the black abysses of the thunder-storm; but like the summer lightning it passed almost unseen; and blandly as ever, he answered:

"I can forgive you for such a neglect, most valiant sir, more easily than I can forgive myself.Farewell, sir! One who has lost his sword is no fit company for you." And as Amyas and the rest departed, he plunged into the inner tent, stamping and writhing, gnawing his hands with rage and shame.

As Amyas came out on the battery, Yeo hailed him:

"Master Amyas! Hillo, sir! For the love of Heaven, tell me!""What, then?"

同类推荐
热门推荐
  • 重生之王者血脉

    重生之王者血脉

    “只要你帮我保住皇位,你要什么我都可以给你!”“我要的你给不了。”“你到底要什么!我可以封你亲王,可以给你比罗斯平原还要大的封地,可以给你无数金币,妖娆美女!”听到这里,林迪终于露出最绅士的笑容,“这样么,那么,尊敬的陛下,请把你的王位让出来吧。”英雄王的一生是传奇的一生,从来没有一个人能抓准英雄王的心思,也没有人知道英雄王想要什么。或者说,从来没有一个人真正地懂英雄王。——语出《希伯来语》新人写作不易,望各位大大多多支持,一个收藏,一个推荐,就是对闷猫最大的鼓励!
  • 论语心得

    论语心得

    国学,顾名思义就是中国之学,中华之学。自汉代以来,由于国力鼎盛,威名远播,故海外又称大汉民族之学为“汉学”;狭义地讲,国学是指两汉时期的经学学术思想,而汉代人研究经学着重于名物、训诂,故后世称研究经、史、名物、训诂、考据之学为汉学。但海外所指汉学,均指汉民族之学,即对中国的研究,特指对中国的语言文化、文学、历史和风俗习惯的研究,囊括中华全部文化范畴。
  • 玉笥集

    玉笥集

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 恶魔契约:霸道总裁爱上我

    恶魔契约:霸道总裁爱上我

    一次邂逅,恩怨牵绊,订立恶魔契约,霸道总裁爱上我。
  • Madame Firmiani

    Madame Firmiani

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 武夫

    武夫

    是为天下芸芸众生,还是为一己私利?是命运的挣扎?还是心有不甘?是几世的轮回?还是刹那的芳华?谁说人生在世看定数?功夫教义不认输!谁说万事皆有自出处?武夫自成画一幅!
  • 女书记

    女书记

    宋宪民编著的《女书记(斗争)》描写了河东县委书记与副书记、县长闹派性,无法共事,上级机关将两人拆开调走。市委女秘书江凌临危受命,被派到该县当县委书记。江凌就是在这样的政治环境下展开工作,团结组织部长孙红梅、宣传部长高小丽一帮女将,打退黑恶势力与歪风邪气的进攻。
  • 温州人商道全集

    温州人商道全集

    温州人为什么能赚钱?为什么会赚钱?温州商群是一种独特的商业现象,在商帮史上充满了数不清的传奇!走近温商,我们会观赏到一个斑斓的商业世界,那些宝贵的商业理念、商业智慧、商业精神,它们就像一串串璀璨的珠子,在中国商业史上散发着熠熠光华,也带给渴望致富的个体许多经商启示。
  • 魔法师和他的十六道符咒

    魔法师和他的十六道符咒

    如果狂欢和悲剧是惟一的选择,那种从内而渗透出的悲伤应该是非常值得珍惜的东西,就像梦境。他们这个匆忙而印象化的时代遗忘。在这些绚丽的色彩和线条中,你是否听到图画的声音,看懂了图画的情节,并通过它们,达到那个温暖明丽的奇妙世界?魔法师以十六道符咒变化出一个奇异的世界:长在水母上的城市,盛满了梦境的瓶子,爱上一朵花的机器人,丢失了弓的弓箭手…… 他们这个匆忙而印象化的时代遗忘。在这些绚丽的色彩和线条中,你是否听到图画的声音,看懂了图画的情节,并通过它们,达到那个温暖明丽的奇妙世界?
  • 风华绝世,陋颜皇后倾天下

    风华绝世,陋颜皇后倾天下

    前世,她是著名的顶尖设计师,却在订婚那日被自己的未婚夫和情敌陷害推至悬崖,她诅咒,“我恨你们,你们不得好死!”下一世,她是丑女,被自己的未婚夫君数落,冷眼。一日莫名遭到绑架,被解救回来,得到的不是未婚夫君的嘘寒问暖,而是无尽的羞辱,“一夜未归,谁知你是否还清白之身?”之后,他耻笑她痴,笑她傻,笑她不纯。最后,终有一日,她抛开所有与未婚夫君反抗,拉着他去皇宫在皇帝面前,伸手指着他,说,“我要休了他!”半月前锦,她侥幸得到皇帝一夜恩宠,最后,她恢复美丽容颜,让他人妒忌,再一次被人陷害时,他昭告天下”谁敢动我皇后,我便屠他满门!“【情节虚构,请勿模仿】