登陆注册
31513800000074

第74章

'There is naught in this riddle that is difficult.' Then, without so much as a by-your-leave to anybody, he turned and gave this command, with the easy manner of one accustomed to doing such things: 'My Lord St. John, go you to my private cabinet in the palace-for none knoweth the place better than you- and, close down to the floor, in the left corner remotest from the door that opens from the antechamber, you shall find in the wall a brazen nail-head; press upon it and a little jewel closet will fly open which not even you do know of- no, nor any soul else in all the world but me and the trusty artisan that did contrive it for me. The first thing that falleth under your eye will be the Great Seal- fetch it hither.'

All the company wondered at this speech, and wondered still more to see the little mendicant pick out this peer without hesitancy or apparent fear of mistake, and call him by name with such a placidly convincing air of having known him all his life. The peer was almost surprised into obeying. He even made a movement as if to go, but quickly recovered his tranquil attitude and confessed his blunder with a blush. Tom Canty turned upon him and said, sharply:

'Why dost thou hesitate? Hast not heard the king's command? Go!'

The Lord St. John made a deep obeisance- and it was observed that it was a significantly cautious and non-committal one, it not being delivered at either of the kings, but at the neutral ground about half-way between the two- and took his leave.

Now began a movement of the gorgeous particles of that official group which was slow, scarcely perceptible, and yet steady and persistent- a movement such as is observed in a kaleidoscope that is turned slowly, whereby the components of one splendid cluster fall away and join themselves to another- a movement which, little by little, in the present case, dissolved the glittering crowd that stood about Tom Canty and clustered it together again in the neighborhood of the new-comer. Tom Canty stood almost alone. Now ensued a brief season of deep suspense and waiting- during which even the few faint-hearts still remaining near Tom Canty gradually scraped together courage enough to glide, one by one, over to the majority. So at last Tom Canty, in his royal robes and jewels, stood wholly alone and isolated from the world, a conspicuous figure, occupying an eloquent vacancy.

Now the Lord St. John was seen returning. As he advanced up the mid-aisle the interest was so intense that the low murmur of conversation in the great assemblage died out and was succeeded by a profound hush, a breathless stillness, through which his footfalls pulsed with a dull and distant sound. Every eye was fastened upon him as he moved along. He reached the platform, paused a moment, then moved toward Tom Canty with a deep obeisance, and said:

'Sire, the Seal is not there!'

A mob does not melt away from the presence of a plague-patient with more haste than the band of pallid and terrified courtiers melted away from the presence of the shabby little claimant of the Crown.

In a moment he stood all alone, without a friend or supporter, a target upon which was concentrated a bitter fire of scornful and angry looks. The Lord Protector called out fiercely:

'Cast the beggar into the street, and scourge him through the town- the paltry knave is worth no more consideration!'

Officers of the guard sprang forward to obey, but Tom Canty waved them off and said:

'Back! Whoso touches him perils his life!'

The Lord Protector was perplexed in the last degree. He said to the Lord St. John:

'Searched you well?- but it boots not to ask that. It doth seem passing strange. Little things, trifles, slip out of one's ken, and one does not think it matter for surprise; but how a so bulky thing as the Seal of England can vanish away and no man be able to get track of it again- a massy golden disk-'

Tom Canty, with beaming eyes, sprang forward and shouted:

'Hold, that is enough! Was it round?- and thick?- and had it letters and devices graved upon it?- Yes? Oh, now I know what this Great Seal is that there's been such worry and pother about! An ye had described it to me, ye could have had it three weeks ago. Right well Iknow where it lies; but it was not I that put it there- first.'

'Who, then, my liege?' asked the Lord Protector.

'He that stands there- the rightful king of England. And he shall tell you himself where it lies- then you will believe he knew it of his own knowledge. Bethink thee, my king- spur thy memory- it was the last, the very last thing thou didst that day before thou didst rush forth from the palace, clothed in my rags, to punish the soldier that insulted me.'

A silence ensued, undisturbed by a movement or a whisper, and all eyes were fixed upon the new-comer, who stood, with bent head and corrugated brow, groping in his memory among a thronging multitude of valueless recollections for one single little elusive fact, which found, would seat him upon a throne- unfound, would leave him as he was, for good and all- a pauper and an outcast. Moment after moment passed- the moments built themselves into minutes- still the boy struggled silently on, and gave no sign. But at last he heaved a sigh, shook his head slowly, and said, with a trembling lip and in a despondent voice:

同类推荐
热门推荐
  • 异世流桦情归何处

    异世流桦情归何处

    她只是一个有点腐,有点逗的平凡女孩,最大愿望是与挚爱的男友步入殿堂,相伴一生,却不成想天不遂人愿,突降天灾令她与挚爱一同消散世间,再度睁眼她已然成为“她”存在陌生世界,在这陌生世间唯有步步强大才方可能存活于世,奈何无数岁月里桃花无数,带着炽热之情扰乱她的心,是坚守内心挚爱,还是抛却过往重新来过?
  • 甜甜的爱情来了

    甜甜的爱情来了

    田甜,一点都不甜,长相不甜,为数不多的人生也不甜,追星追到一半被后援会以黑粉身份逐出会,谈恋爱,谈了半个月头上一片草坪,吃外卖点了五次,被偷了三次,团建郊游骑行摔到医院缝针,难得高原旅行一次,全程靠打点滴续了命……人生处处充满了危险,她一塌糊涂的坚强的活下来,直到某一天遇见了异能王子赫连翰,甜甜不甜的人生甜齁了,因为甜甜的爱情来了!!!
  • 足球燃烧的岁月

    足球燃烧的岁月

    为足球疯,为足球狂!永远记住那为足球而燃烧的岁月。这是一个重生回到过去的少年,本着对足球的喜爱。在球场上叱诧风云的故事!
  • 道门大道长

    道门大道长

    从前有座山,山上有座观,观里有个小道士。诸神回归、万族纷争,东周山上、道门初立,这是唯一的希望,也是最后的希望。
  • 浴火重生:魔妃要逆天

    浴火重生:魔妃要逆天

    完成了一个大陆的精彩旅行,即将到达下一个大陆。惊险刺激有木有?有。女主逆天有木有?有。虐白莲,虐人渣有木有?绝对有!(本书乃浴火重生系列的第二部,第一部是《浴火重生:独宠倾城魔妃》)本书书群:150768396632864854434770532欢迎大家入群!
  • 海贼之黑公爵

    海贼之黑公爵

    在【黑公爵】【弑君者】【恶党魁首】【裁决官】【梦魇】【老板】等众多称号中,莱茵哈特还是选择了【黑公爵】,以黑公爵海贼团之名,扬帆新世界。从此以后,银河群星号(galaxyStar)诞生,它载着黑公爵海贼团的强者们,在这片大海中,掀起了一场席卷世界的风暴。(群号185322346)
  • 自带外挂来修仙

    自带外挂来修仙

    堕神始祖转世了,自带系统来修仙!别人,是天道宠儿、是命运之子。何爷说:我是天道它爸!别人,医毒双绝,可活死人肉白骨。何爷说:一本生死簿搞定所有。别人,为夺天材地宝,不惜手段。何爷表示:天材地宝?你是说后院那些杂草嘛。天道这狗子,老是给她家后院长杂草,清理起来很麻烦的~ㄟ(▔,▔)ㄏ但,当何爷遇上了披上羊皮的狼……某人委屈脸:娘子,他们欺负我~何爷怒极提刀,谁敢伤她家小奶狗?!一群被打到缺胳膊少腿的强盗蹲在角落瑟瑟发抖的看着正装可怜的恶魔,有苦说不出,这到底是谁欺负谁?姑娘,你瞎吗?ps:男主黑心莲,女主霸道帅气。爽文互宠。
  • 胭脂浓:王妃太倾城

    胭脂浓:王妃太倾城

    绝煞,21世纪杀手榜上的第一人,生杀予夺,冷心冷情,殒命在墓园之内。再睁开眼,她成了云家最不受宠的七小姐,面临的是即将被扫地出门。年少成名的战神王爷,妖冶邪魅的邪教少主,翩翩俊俏的少年公子,又有哪一个是真心守护?这世态炎凉,又有多少真心掺在其中?
  • 明朝穿越者

    明朝穿越者

    崇祯十一年十月初三的晚上,在山西一座大山里迎来了一个穿越客,作为一个倒霉的穿越者,他没有想去改变历史,只想平平淡淡的在那个不属于他的年代生存下去,可是明朝皇帝、满清鞑子、农民起义军、能让他如意吗?
  • 装甲流

    装甲流

    在不知名的原因下,地球上的各处地方出现一个个空间漩涡,从中出现了一个个五颜六色的正方体,原本平静的一切出现了改变。