Another pause of silence followed, and Myles began to pluck upsome heart that maybe all would yet be well. The Earl's nextspeech dashed that hope into a thousand fragments. "Well thouknowest," said he, "that it is forbid for any to come here. Wellthou knowest that twice have men been punished for this thingthat thou hast done, and yet thou camest in spite of all. Nowdost thou know what thou wilt suffer?"Myles picked with nervous fingers at a crack in the oaken postagainst which he leaned. "Mayhap thou wilt kill me," said he atlast, in a dull, choking voice.
Again the Earl smiled a grim smile. "Nay," said he, "I would notslay thee, for thou hast gentle blood. But what sayest thoushould I shear thine ears from thine head, or perchance have theescourged in the great court?"The sting of the words sent the blood flying back to Myles's faceagain, and he looked quickly up. "Nay," said he, with a boldnessthat surprised himself; "thou shalt do no such unlordly thingupon me as that. I be thy peer, sir, in blood; and though thoumayst kill me, thou hast no right to shame me."Lord Mackworth bowed with a mocking courtesy. "Marry!" said he.
"Methought it was one of mine own saucy popinjay squires that Icaught sneaking here and talking to those two foolish younglasses, and lo! it is a young Lord--or mayhap thou art a youngPrince--and commandeth me that I shall not do this and I shallnot do that. I crave your Lordship's honorable pardon, if I havesaid aught that may have galled you."The fear Myles had felt was now beginning to dissolve in risingwrath. "Nay," said he, stoutly, "I be no Lord and I be no Prince,but I be as good as thou. For am I not the son of thy onetimevery true comrade and thy kinsman--to wit, the Lord Falworth,whom, as thou knowest, is poor and broken, and blind, andhelpless, and outlawed, and banned? Yet," cried he, grinding histeeth, as the thought of it all rushed in upon him, "I wouldrather be in his place than in yours; for though he be ruined,you--"He had just sense enough to stop there.
The Earl, gripping his staff behind his back, and with his head alittle bent, was looking keenly at the lad from under his shaggygray brows. "Well," said he, as Myles stopped, "thou hast gonetoo far now to draw back. Say thy say to the end. Why wouldstthou rather be in thy father's stead than in mine?"Myles did not answer.
"Thou shalt finish thy speech, or else show thyself a coward.
Though thy father is ruined, thou didst say I am--what?"Myles keyed himself up to the effort, and then blurted out, "Thouart attainted with shame."A long breathless silence followed.
"Myles Falworth," said the Earl at last (and even in the whirlingof his wits Myles wondered that he had the name so pat)--"MylesFalworth, of all the bold, mad, hare-brained fools, thou art themost foolish. How dost thou dare say such words to me? Dost thounot know that thou makest thy coming punishment ten times morebitter by such a speech?""Aye!" cried Myles, desperately; "but what else could I do? An Idid not say the words, thou callest me coward, and coward I amnot.""By 'r Lady!" said the Earl, "I do believe thee. Thou art a bold,impudent varlet as ever lived--to beard me so, forsooth! Hark'ee;thou sayst I think naught of mine old comrade. I will show theethat thou dost belie me. I will suffer what thou hast said to mefor his sake, and for his sake will forgive thee thy cominghither--which I would not do in another case to any other man.
Now get thee gone straightway, and come hither no more. Yonder isthe postern-gate; mayhap thou knowest the way. But stay! Howcamest thou hither?"Myles told him of the spikes he had driven in the wall, and theEarl listened, stroking his beard. When the lad had ended, hefixed a sharp look upon him. "But thou drove not those spikesalone," said he; "who helped thee do it?""That I may not tell," said Myles, firmly.
"So be it," said the Earl. "I will not ask thee to tell his name.
Now get thee gone! And as for those spikes, thou mayst e'en knockthem out of the wall, sin thou drave them in. Play no more pranksan thou wouldst keep thy skin whole. And now go, I say!"Myles needed no further bidding, but turned and left the Earlwithout another word. As he went out the postern-gate he lookedover his shoulder, and saw the tall figure, in its longfur-trimmed gown, still standing in the middle of the path,looking after him from under the shaggy eyebrows.
As he ran across the quadrangle, his heart still fluttering inhis breast, he muttered to himself, "The old grizzle-beard; an Ihad not faced him a bold front, mayhap he would have put suchshame upon me as he said. I wonder why he stood so staring afterme as I left the garden."Then for the time the matter slipped from his mind, saving onlythat part that smacked of adventure.
