FREE BOOKS

Author's List




PREV.   NEXT  
|<   119   120   121   122   123   124   125   126   127   128   129   130   131   132   133   134   135   136   137   138   139   140   141   142   143  
144   145   146   147   148   149   150   151   152   153   154   155   156   157   158   159   160   161   162   163   164   165   166   167   168   >>   >|  
ation in a low voice, and with a smile the Doge waved the matter by, then said: "Will the noble cavalier be so good as to set out his business, unless it is for our private ear alone?" Hugh answered that it was for the public ear of all Venice, and especially for that of the lord who was called Sir Edmund Acour in England, the Count de Noyon in France, and the Seigneur of Cattrina in Italy. "Will you pleased to point out this lord to us," said the Doge, glancing at the gorgeous throng which was gathered behind them. "I cannot, illustrious Doge," answered Hugh, "that is, with certainty. As it chances I have seen his face but twice--once in a marsh when I had other things to think of who must watch my enemy's sword, and once at eve in the corner of a dark chapel, where he had just gone through the rite of marriage with a lady whom he had drugged, which lady was my affianced wife. Often afterward I sought to see that face, especially in the great fray of Crecy, but failed, in a case which with your leave I will narrate to you." Now when all that company understood the meaning of these outspoken words, they swayed to and fro and whispered like reeds in an evening wind. Presently above this whispering a soft yet penetrating voice was heard to say: "If this English knight desires to study the poor face of Acour, de Noyon, and Cattrina, he who owns it is much honoured and prays your Excellency's leave to wait upon his pleasure." So saying a tall and noble-looking man, who wore the badge of a white swan worked in pearls upon his rich tunic, stepped forward out of the ring of courtiers and bowed, first to the Doge and next to Hugh. De Cressi looked at his handsome face with its quick dark eyes and little, square-cut, black beard, and answered: "I thank you, Sir Edmund Acour, for I take it you are he. Now I shall never forget you again, for though a man may shift his armour he cannot change his countenance"--a saying at which de Noyon coloured a little and looked down uneasily. "Cavalier de Cressi, he whom you seek is before you; we ourselves vouch for his identity," said the Doge. "Now be pleased to set out your case." "My private case I thrust to one side," answered Hugh, Sir Geoffrey interpreting all the time, "for it is a matter between this Count, a certain lady and myself, and can wait. That which I have to lay before you, Illustrious, has to do with my master the King of England, as whose champion
PREV.   NEXT  
|<   119   120   121   122   123   124   125   126   127   128   129   130   131   132   133   134   135   136   137   138   139   140   141   142   143  
144   145   146   147   148   149   150   151   152   153   154   155   156   157   158   159   160   161   162   163   164   165   166   167   168   >>   >|  



Top keywords:

answered

 

matter

 

pleased

 

looked

 

Cressi

 

Cattrina

 

Edmund

 

England

 
private
 

knight


courtiers
 

pleasure

 

desires

 
handsome
 

forward

 
worked
 
pearls
 

honoured

 

Excellency

 

stepped


uneasily

 

Geoffrey

 
interpreting
 

identity

 
thrust
 

master

 

champion

 

Illustrious

 
forget
 

English


Cavalier

 

coloured

 

countenance

 

armour

 

change

 

square

 

illustrious

 

certainty

 
chances
 
gorgeous

throng

 

gathered

 

things

 

glancing

 

cavalier

 

business

 

France

 

Seigneur

 

called

 

Venice