CHAPTER THE EIGHTEENTH.
We must now return to the dungeon of the Blacquernal, wherecircumstances had formed at least a temporary union between the stoutVarangian and Count Robert of Paris, who had a stronger resemblance toeach other in their dispositions than probably either of them wouldhave been willing to admit. The virtues of the Varangian were all ofthat natural and unrefined kind which Nature herself dictates to agallant man, to whom a total want of fear, and the most prompt alacrityto meet danger, had been attributes of a life-long standing. The Count,on the other hand, had all that bravery, generosity, and love ofadventure, which was possessed by the rude soldier, with the virtues,partly real, partly fantastic, which those of his rank and countryacquired from the spirit of chivalry. The one might be compared to thediamond as it came from the mine, before it had yet received theadvantages of cutting and setting; the other was the ornamented gem,which, cut into facets and richly set, had lost perhaps a little of itsoriginal substance, yet still, at the same time, to the eye of aninspector, had something more showy and splendid than when it was,according to the phrase of lapidaries, _en brut_. In the one case, thevalue was more artificial; in the other, it was the more natural andreal of the two. Chance, therefore, had made a temporary alliancebetween two men, the foundation of whose characters bore such strongresemblance to each other, that they were only separated by a course ofeducation, which had left rigid prejudices on both sides, and whichprejudices were not unlikely to run counter to each other. TheVarangian commenced his conversation with the Count in a tone offamiliarity, approaching nearer to rudeness than the speaker was awareof, and much of which, though most innocently intended by Hereward,might be taken amiss by his new brother in arms. The most offensivepart of his deportment, however, was a blunt, bold disregard to thetitle of those whom he addressed, adhering thereby to the manners ofthe Saxons, from whom he drew his descent, and which was likely to beat least unpleasing to the Franks as well as Normans, who had alreadyreceived and become very tenacious of the privileges of the feudalsystem, the mummery of heraldry, and the warlike claims assumed byknights, as belonging only to their own order.
Hereward was apt, it must be owned, to think too little of thesedistinctions; while he had at least a sufficient tendency to thinkenough of the power and wealth of the Greek empire which he served,--ofthe dignity inherent in Alexius Comnenus, and which he was alsodisposed to grant to the Grecian officers, who, under the Emperor,commanded his own corps, and particularly to Achilles Tatius. This manHereward knew to be a coward, and half-suspected to be a villain.Still, however, the Follower was always the direct channel throughwhich the Imperial graces were conferred on the Varangians in general,as well as upon Hereward himself; and he had always the policy torepresent such favours as being more or less indirectly the consequenceof his own intercession. He was supposed vigorously to espouse thequarrel of the Varangians, in all the disputes between them and theother corps; he was liberal and open-handed; gave every soldier hisdue; and, bating the trifling circumstance of valour, which was notparticularly his forte, it would have been difficult for thesestrangers to have demanded a leader more to their wishes. Besides this,our friend Hereward was admitted by him into his society, attended him,as we have seen, upon secret expeditions, and shared, therefore,deeply, in what may be termed by an expressive, though vulgar phrase,the sneaking kindness entertained for this new Achilles by the greaterpart of his myrmidons. Their attachment might be explained, perhaps, asa liking to their commander, as strong as could well exist with amarvellous lack of honour and esteem. The scheme, therefore, formed byHereward to effect the deliverance of the Count of Paris, comprehendedas much faith to the Emperor, and his representative, the Acolyte orFollower, as was consistent with rendering justice to the injured Frank.
In furtherance of this plan, he conducted Count Robert from thesubterranean vaults of the Blacquernal, of the intricacies of which hewas master, having been repeatedly, of late, stationed sentinel there,for the purpose of acquiring that knowledge of which Tatius promisedhimself the advantage in the ensuing conspiracy. When they were in theopen air, and at some distance from the gloomy towers of the Palace, hebluntly asked the Count of Paris whether he knew Agelastes thePhilosopher. The other answered in the negative.
"Look you now, Sir Knight, you hurt yourself in attempting to imposeupon me," said Hereward. "You must know him; for I saw you dined withhim yesterday."
"O! with that learned old man?" said the Count. "I know nothing of himworth owning or disguising to thee or any one. A wily person he is,half herald and half minstrel."
"Half procurer and whole knave," subjoined the Varangian. "With themask of apparent good-humour he conceals his pandering to the vices ofothers; with the specious jargon of philosophy, he has argued himselfout of religious belief and moral principle; and, with the appearanceof the most devoted loyalty, he will, if he is not checked in time,either argue his too confiding master out of life and empire, or, if hefails in this, reason his simple associates into death and misery."
"And do you know all this," said Count Robert, "and permit this man togo unimpeached?"
"O, content you, sir," replied the Varangian; "I cannot yet form anyplot which Agelastes may not countermine; but the time will come, nayit is already approaching, when the Emperor's attention shall beirresistibly turned to the conduct of this man, and then let thephilosopher sit fast, or by St. Dunstan the barbarian overthrows him! Iwould only fain, methinks, save from his clutches a foolish friend, whohas listed to his delusions."
"But what have I to do," said the Count, "with this man, or with hisplots?"
"Much," said Hereward, "although you know it not. The main supporter ofthis plot is no other than the Caesar, who ought to be the mostfaithful of men; but ever since Alexius has named a Sebastocrator, anofficer that is higher in rank, and nearer to the throne than theCaesar himself, so long has Nicephorus Briennius been displeased anddissatisfied, though for what length of time he has joined the schemesof the astucious Agelastes it is more difficult to say. This I know,that for many months he has fed liberally, as his riches enable him todo, the vices and prodigality of the Caesar. He has encouraged him toshow disrespect to his wife, although the Emperor's daughter; has putill-will between him and the royal family. And if Briennius bears nolonger the fame of a rational man, and the renown of a good leader, heis deprived of both by following the advice of this artful sycophant."
"And what is all this to me?" said, the Frank. "Agelastes may be a trueman or a time-serving slave; his master, Alexius Comnenus, is not somuch allied to me or mine that I should meddle in the intrigues of hiscourt."
"You may be mistaken in that," said the blunt Varangian; "if theseintrigues involve the happiness and virtue"'--
"Death of a thousand martyrs!" said the Frank, "doth paltry intriguesand quarrels of slaves involve a single thought of suspicion of thenoble Countess of Paris? The oaths of thy whole generation wereineffectual to prove but that one of her hairs had changed its colourto silver!"
"Well imagined, gallant knight," said the Anglo-Saxon; "thou art ahusband fitted for the atmosphere of Constantinople, which calls forlittle vigilance and a strong belief. Thou wilt find many followers andfellows in this court of ours."
"Hark thee, friend," replied the Frank, "let us have no more words, norwalk farther together than just to the most solitary nook of thisbewildered city, and let us there set to that work which we left evennow unfinished."
"If thou wert a Duke, Sir Count," replied the Varangian, "thou couldstnot invite to a combat one who is more ready for it. Yet consider theodds on which we fight. If I fall, my moan is soon made; but will mydeath set thy wife at liberty if she is under restraint, or restore herhonour if it is tarnished?--Will it do any thing more than remove fromthe world the only person who is willing to give thee aid, at his ownrisk and danger, and who hopes to unite thee to thy wife, and replacethee at the head of thy forces?"
"I was wrong," said the Count of Paris; "I was entirely wrong; bu
tbeware, my good friend, how thou couplest the name of Brenhilda ofAspramonte with the word of dishonour, and tell me, instead of thisirritating discourse, whither go we now?"
"To the Cytherean gardens of Agelastes, from which we are not fardistant," said the Anglo-Saxon; "yet he hath a nearer way to it thanthat by which we now travel, else I should be at a loss to account forthe short space in which he could exchange the charms of his garden forthe gloomy ruins of the Temple of Isis, and the Imperial palace of theBlacquernal."
"And wherefore, and how long," said Count Robert, "dost thou concludethat my Countess is detained in these gardens?"
"Ever since yesterday," replied Hereward. "When both I, and several ofmy companions, at my request, kept close watch upon the Caesar and yourlady, we did plainly perceive passages of fiery admiration on his part,and anger as it seemed on hers, which Agelastes, being Nicephorus'sfriend, was likely, as usual, to bring to an end, by a separation ofyou both from the army of the crusaders, that your wife, like many amatron before, might have the pleasure of taking up her residence inthe gardens of that worthy sage; while you, my Lord, might take up yourown permanently in the castle of Blacquernal."
"Villain! why didst thou not apprize me of this yesterday?"
"A likely thing," said Hereward, "that I should feel myself at libertyto leave the ranks, and make such a communication to a man, whom, farfrom a friend, I then considered in the light of a personal enemy!Methinks, that instead of such language as this, you should be thankfulthat so many chance circumstances have at length brought me to befriendand assist you."
Count Robert felt the truth of what was said, though at the same timehis fiery temper longed to avenge itself, according to its wont, uponthe party which was nearest at hand.
But now they arrived at what the citizens of Constantinople called thePhilosopher's Gardens. Here Hereward hoped to obtain entrance, for hehad gained a knowledge of some part, at least, of the private signalsof Achilles and Agelastes, since he had been introduced to the last atthe ruins of the Temple of Isis. They had not indeed admitted him totheir entire secret; yet, confident in his connexion with the Follower,they had no hesitation in communicating to him snatches of knowledge,such as, committed to a man of shrewd natural sense like theAnglo-Saxon, could scarce fail, in time and by degrees, to make himmaster of the whole. Count Robert and his companion stood before anarched door, the only opening in a high wall, and the Anglo-Saxon wasabout to knock, when, as if the idea had suddenly struck him,--
"What if the wretch Diogenes opens the gate? We must kill him, ere hecan fly back and betray us. Well, it is a matter of necessity, and thevillain has deserved his death by a hundred horrid crimes."
"Kill him then, thyself," retorted Count Robert; "he is nearer thydegree, and assuredly I will not defile the name of Charlemagne withthe blood of a black slave."
"Nay, God-a-mercy!" answered the Anglo-Saxon, "but you must bestiryourself in the action, supposing there come rescue, and that I beover-borne by odds."
"Such odds," said the knight, "will render the action more like a_melee_, or general battle; and assure yourself, I will not be slackwhen I may, with my honour, be active."
"I doubt it not," said the Varangian; "but the distinction seems astrange one, that before permitting a man to defend himself, or annoyhis enemy, requires him to demand the pedigree of his ancestor."
"Fear you not, sir," said Count Robert. "The strict rule of chivalryindeed bears what I tell thee, but when the question is, Fight or not?there is great allowance to be made for a decision in the affirmative."
"Let me give then the exorciser's rap," replied Hereward, "and see whatfiend will appear."
So saying, he knocked in a particular manner, and the door openedinwards; a dwarfish negress stood in the gap--her white hair contrastedsingularly with her dark complexion, and with the broad laughing lookpeculiar to those slaves. She had something in her physiognomy which,severely construed, might argue malice, and a delight in human misery.
"Is Agelastes"---said the Varangian; but he had not completed thesentence, when she answered him, by pointing down a shadowed walk.
The Anglo-Saxon and Frank turned in that direction, when the hag rathermuttered, than said distinctly, "You are one of the initiated,Varangian; take heed whom you take with you, when you may hardly,peradventure, be welcomed even going alone."
Hereward made a sign that he understood her, and they were instantlyout of her sight. The path winded beautifully through the shades of anEastern garden, where clumps of flowers and labyrinths of floweringshrubs, and the tall boughs of the forest trees, rendered even thebreath of noon cool and acceptable.
"Here we must use our utmost caution," said Hereward, speaking in a lowtone of voice; "for here it is most likely the deer that we seek hasfound its refuge. Better allow me to pass before, since you are toodeeply agitated to possess the coolness necessary for a scout. Keepconcealed beneath yon oak, and let no vain scruples of honour deter youfrom creeping beneath the underwood, or beneath the earth itself, ifyou should hear a footfall. If the lovers have agreed, Agelastes, it isprobable, walks his round, to prevent intrusion."
"Death and furies! it cannot be!" exclaimed the fiery Frank.--"Lady ofthe Broken Lances, take thy votary's life, ere thou torment him withthis agony!"
He saw, however, the necessity of keeping a strong force upon himself,and permitted, without further remonstrance, the Varangian to pursuehis way, looking, however, earnestly after him.
By advancing forward a little, he could observe Hereward draw near to apavilion which arose at no great distance from the place where they hadparted. Here he observed him apply, first his eye, and then his ear, toone of the casements, which were in a great measure grown over, andexcluded from the light, by various flowering shrubs. He almost thoughthe saw a grave interest take place in the countenance of the Varangian,and he longed to have his share of the information which he haddoubtless obtained.
He crept, therefore, with noiseless steps, through the same labyrinthof foliage which had covered the approaches of Hereward; and so silentwere his movements, that he touched the Anglo-Saxon, in order to makehim aware of his presence, before he observed his approach.
Hereward, not aware at first by whom he was approached, turned on theintruder with a countenance like a burning coal. Seeing, however, thatit was the Frank, he shrugged his shoulders, as if pitying theimpatience which could not be kept under prudent restraint, and drawinghimself back allowed the Count the privilege of a peeping place throughplinths of the casement, which could not be discerned by the sharpesteye from the inner side. The sombre character of the light whichpenetrated into this abode of pleasure, was suited to that species ofthought to which a Temple of Cytherea was supposed to be dedicated.Portraits and groups of statuary were also to be seen, in the taste ofthose which they had beheld at the Kiosk of the waterfall, yetsomething more free in the ideas which they conveyed than were to befound at their first resting-place. Shortly after, the door of thepavilion opened, and the Countess entered, followed by her attendantAgatha. The lady threw herself on a couch as she came in, while herattendant, who was a young and very handsome woman, kept herselfmodestly in the background, so much so as hardly to be distinguished.
"What dost thou think," said the Countess, "of so suspicious a friendas Agelastes? so gallant an enemy as the Caesar, as he is called?"
"What should I think," returned the damsel, "except that what the oldman calls friendship is hatred, and what the Caesar terms a patrioticlove for his country, which will not permit him to set its enemies atliberty, is in fact too strong an affection for his fair captive?"
"For such an affection," said the Countess, "he shall have the samerequital as if it were indeed the hostility of which he would give itthe colour.--My true and noble lord; hadst thou an idea of thecalamities to which they have subjected me, how soon wouldst thou breakthrough every restraint to hasten to my relief!"
"Art thou a man," said Count Robert to his companion; "and canst thoua
dvise me to remain still and hear this?"
"I am one man," said the Anglo-Saxon; "you, sir, are another; but allour arithmetic will not make us more than two; and in this place, it isprobable that a whistle from the Caesar, or a scream from Agelastes,would bring a thousand to match us, if we were as bold as Bevis ofHampton.--Stand still and keep quiet. I counsel this, less asrespecting my own life, which, by embarking upon a wild-goose chasewith so strange a partner, I have shown I put at little value, than forthy safety, and that of the lady thy Countess, who shows herself asvirtuous as beautiful."
"I was imposed on at first," said the Lady Brenhilda to her attendant."Affectation of severe morals, of deep learning, and of rigidrectitude, assumed by this wicked old man, made me believe in part thecharacter which he pretended; but the gloss is rubbed off since he letme see into his alliance with the unworthy Caesar, and the ugly pictureremains in its native loathsomeness. Nevertheless, if I can, by addressor subtlety, deceive this arch-deceiver,--as he has taken from me, in agreat measure, every other kind of assistance,--I will not refuse thatof craft, which he may find perhaps equal to his own?"
"Hear you that?" said the Varangian to the Count of Paris. "Do not letyour impatience mar the web of your lady's prudence. I will weigh awoman's wit against a man's valour where there is aught to do! Let usnot come in with our assistance until time shall show us that it isnecessary for her safety and our success."
"Amen," said the Count of Paris; "but hope not, Sir Saxon, that thyprudence shall persuade me to leave this garden without taking fullvengeance on that unworthy Caesar, and the pretended philosopher, ifindeed he turns out to have assumed a character"---The Count was herebeginning to raise his voice, when the Saxon, without ceremony, placedhis hand on his mouth. "Thou takest a liberty," said Count Robert,lowering however his tones.
"Ay, truly," said Hereward; "when the house is on fire, I do not stopto ask whether the water which I pour on it be perfumed or no."
This recalled the Frank to a sense of his situation; and if notcontented with the Saxon's mode of making an apology, he was at leastsilenced. A distant noise was now heard--the Countess listened, andchanged colour. "Agatha," she said, "we are like champions in thelists, and here comes the adversary. Let us retreat into this sideapartment, and so for a while put off an encounter thus alarming." Sosaying, the two females withdrew into a sort of anteroom, which openedfrom the principal apartment behind the seat which Brenhilda hadoccupied.
They had scarcely disappeared, when, as the stage direction has it,enter from the other side the Caesar and Agelastes. They had perhapsheard the last words of Brenhilda, for the Caesar repeated in a lowtone--
"Militat omnis amans, habet et sua castra Cupido.
"What, has our fair opponent withdrawn her forces? No matter, it showsshe thinks of the warfare, though the enemy be not in sight. Well, thoushalt not have to upbraid me this time, Agelastes, with precipitatingmy amours, and depriving myself of the pleasure of pursuit. By Heavens,I will be as regular in my progress as if in reality I bore on myshoulders the whole load of years which make the difference between us;for I shrewdly suspect that with thee, old man, it is that enviouschurl Time that hath plucked the wings of Cupid."
"Say not so, mighty Caesar," said the old man; "it is the hand ofPrudence, which, depriving Cupid's wing of some wild feathers, leaveshim still enough to fly with an equal and steady flight."
"Thy flight, however, was less measured, Agelastes, when thou didstcollect that armoury--that magazine of Cupid's panoply, out of whichthy kindness permitted me but now to arm myself, or rather to repair myaccoutrements."
So saying, he glanced his eye over his own person, blazing with gems,and adorned with a chain of gold, bracelets, rings, and otherornaments, which, with a new and splendid habit, assumed since hisarrival at these Cytherean gardens, tended to set off his very handsomefigure.
"I am glad," said Agelastes, "if you have found among toys, which I nownever wear, and seldom made use of even when life was young with me,anything which may set off your natural advantages. Remember only thisslight condition, that such of these trifles as have made part of yourwearing apparel on this distinguished day, cannot return to a meanerowner, but must of necessity remain the property of that greatness ofwhich they had once formed the ornament."
"I cannot consent to this, my worthy friend," said the Caesar; "I knowthou valuest these jewels only in so far as a philosopher may valuethem; that is, for nothing save the remembrances which attach to them.This large seal-ring, for instance, was--I have heard you say--theproperty of Socrates; if so, you cannot view it save with devoutthankfulness, that your own philosophy has never been tried with theexercise of a Xantippe. These clasps released, in older times, thelovely bosom of Phryne; and they now belong to one who could do betterhomage to the beauties they concealed or discovered than could thecynic Diogenes. These buckles, too"---
"I will spare thy ingenuity, good youth," said Agelastes, somewhatnettled; "or rather, noble Caesar. Keep thy wit--thou wilt have ampleoccasion for it."
"Fear not me," said the Caesar. "Let us proceed, since you will, toexercise the gifts which we possess, such as they are, either naturalor bequeathed to us by our dear and respected friend. Hah!" he said,the door opening suddenly, and the Countess almost meeting him, "ourwishes are here anticipated."
He bowed accordingly with the deepest deference to the Lady Brenhilda,who, having made some alterations to enhance the splendour of herattire, now moved forward from the withdrawing-room into which she hadretreated.
"Hail, noble lady," said the Caesar, "whom I have visited with theintention of apologizing for detaining you, in some degree against yourwill, in those strange regions in which yon unexpectedly find yourself."
"Not in some degree," answered the lady, "but entirely contrary to myinclinations, which are, to be with my husband, the Count of Paris, andthe followers who have taken the cross under his banner."
"Such, doubtless, were your thoughts when you left the land of thewest," said Agelastes; "but, fair Countess, have they experienced nochange? You have left a shore streaming with human blood when theslightest provocation occurred, and thou hast come to one whoseprincipal maxim is to increase the sum of human happiness by every modewhich can be invented. In the west yonder, he or she is respected mostwho can best exercise their tyrannical strength in making othersmiserable, while, in these more placid realms, we reserve our garlandsfor the ingenious youth, or lovely lady, who can best make happy theperson whose affection is fixed upon her."
"But, reverend philosopher," said the Countess, "who labourest soartificially in recommending the yoke of pleasure, know that youcontradict every notion which I have been taught from my infancy. Inthe land where my nurture lay, so far are we from acknowledging yourdoctrines, that we match not, except like the lion and the lioness,when the male has compelled the female to acknowledge his superiorworth and valour. Such is our rule, that a damsel, even of mean degree,would think herself heinously undermatched, if wedded to a gallantwhose fame in arms was yet unknown."
"But, noble lady," said the Caesar, "a dying man may then find room forsome faint hope. Were there but a chance that distinction in arms couldgain those affections which have been stolen, rather than fairlyconferred, how many are there who would willingly enter into thecompetition where the prize is so fair! What is the enterprise too boldto be under-taken on such a condition! And where is the individualwhose heart would not feel, that in baring his sword for the prize, hemade vow never to return it to the scabbard, without the proud boast,What I have not yet won, I have deserved!"
"You see, lady," said Agelastes, who, apprehending that the last speechof the Caesar had made some impression, hastened to follow it up with asuitable observation---"You see that the fire of chivalry burns asgallantly in the bosom of the Grecians as in that of the westernnations."
"Yes," answered Brenhilda, "and I have heard of the celebrated siege ofTroy, on which occasion a dastardly coward carried off the wife of abrave
man, shunned every proffer of encounter with the husband whom hehad wronged, and finally caused the death of his numerous brothers, thedestruction of his native city, with all the wealth which it contained,and died himself the death of a pitiful poltroon, lamented only by hisworthless leman, to show how well the rules of chivalry were understoodby your predecessors."
"Lady, you mistake," said the Caesar; "the offences of Paris were thoseof a dissolute Asiatic; the courage which avenged them was that of theGreek Empire."
"You are learned, sir," said the lady; "but think not that I will trustyour words until you produce before me a Grecian knight, gallant enoughto look upon the armed crest of my husband without quaking."
"That, methinks, were not extremely difficult," returned the Caesar;"if they have not flattered me, I have myself been thought equal inbattle to more dangerous men than him who has been strangely mated withthe Lady Brenhilda."
"That is soon tried," answered the Countess. "You will hardly, I think,deny, that my husband, separated from me by some unworthy trick, isstill at thy command, and could be produced at thy pleasure. I will askno armour for him save what he wears, no weapon but his good swordTranchefer; then place him in this chamber, or any other lists equallynarrow, and if he flinch, or cry craven, or remain dead under shield,let Brenhilda be the prize of the conqueror.--Merciful Heaven!" sheconcluded, as she sunk back upon her seat, "forgive me for the crime ofeven imagining such a termination, which is equal almost to doubtingthine unerring judgment!"
"Let me, however," said the Caesar, "catch up these precious wordsbefore they fall to the ground,--Let me hope that he, to whom theheavens shall give power and strength to conquer this highly-esteemedCount of Paris, shall succeed him in the affections of Brenhilda; andbelieve me, the sun plunges not through the sky to his resting-place,with the same celerity that I shall hasten to the encounter."
"Now, by Heaven!" said Count Robert, in an anxious whisper to Hereward,"it is too much to expect me to stand by and hear a contemptible Greek,who durst not stand even the rattling farewell which Tranchefer takesof his scabbard, brave me in my absence, and affect to make love to mylady _par amours!_ And she, too--methinks Brenhilda allows more licensethan she is wont to do to yonder chattering popinjay. By the rood! Iwill spring into the apartment, front them with my personal appearance,and confute yonder braggart in a manner he is like to remember."
"Under favour," said the Varangian, who was the only auditor of thisviolent speech, "you shall be ruled by calm reason while I am with you.When we are separated, let the devil of knight-errantry, which has suchpossession of thee, take thee upon his shoulders, and carry thee fulltilt wheresoever he lists."
"Thou art a brute," said the Count, looking at him with a contemptcorresponding to the expression he made use of; "not only withouthumanity, but without the sense of natural honour or natural shame. Themost despicable of animals stands not by tamely and sees another assailhis mate. The bull offers his horns to a rival--the mastiff uses hisjaws--and even the timid stag becomes furious, and gores."
"Because they are beasts," said the Varangian, "and their mistressesalso creatures without shame or reason, who are not aware of thesanctity of a choice. But thou, too, Count, canst thou not see theobvious purpose of this poor lady, forsaken by all the world, to keepher faith towards thee, by eluding the snares with which wicked menhave beset her? By the souls of my fathers! my heart is so much movedby her ingenuity, mingled as I see it is with the most perfect candourand faith, that I myself, in fault of a better champion, wouldwillingly raise the axe in her behalf!"
"I thank thee, my good friend," said the Count; "I thank thee asheartily as if it were possible thou shouldst be left to do that goodoffice for Brenhilda, the beloved of many a noble lord, the mistress ofmany a powerful vassal; and, what is more, much more than thanks, Icrave thy pardon for the wrong I did thee but now."
"My pardon you cannot need" said the Varangian; "for I take no offencethat is not seriously meant.--Stay, they speak again."
"It is strange it should be so," said the Caesar, as he paced theapartment; "but methinks, nay, I am almost certain, Agelastes, that Ihear voices in the vicinity of this apartment of thy privacy." "It isimpossible," said Agelastes; "but I will go and see." Perceiving him toleave the pavilion, the Varangian made the Frank sensible that theymust crouch down among a little thicket of evergreens, where they laycompletely obscured. The philosopher made his rounds with a heavy step,but a watchful eye; and the two listeners were obliged to observe thestrictest silence, without motion of any kind, until he had completedan ineffectual search, and returned into the pavilion. "By my faith,brave man," said the Count, "ere we return to our skulking-place, Imust tell thee in thine ear, that never, in my life, was temptation sostrong upon me, as that which prompted me to beat out that oldhypocrite's brains, provided I could have reconciled it with my honour;and heartily do I wish that thou, whose honour no way withheld thee,had experienced and given way to some impulse of a similar nature."
"Such fancies have passed through my head," said the Varangian; "but Iwill not follow them till they are consistent both with our own safety,and more particularly with that of the Countess."
"I thank thee again for thy good-will to her," said Count Robert; "and,by Heaven! if fight we must at length, as it seems likely, I willneither grudge thee an honourable antagonist, nor fair quarter if thecombat goes against thee."
"Thou hast my thanks," was the reply of Hereward; "only, for Heaven'ssake, be silent in this conjecture, and do what thou wilt afterwards."Before the Varangian and the Count had again resumed their posture oflisteners, the parties within the pavilion, conceiving themselvesunwatched, had resumed their conversation, speaking low, yet withconsiderable animation.
"It is in vain you would persuade me," said the Countess, "that youknow not where my husband is, or that you have not the most absoluteinfluence over his captivity. Who else could have an interest inbanishing or putting to death the husband, but he that affects toadmire the wife?" "You do me wrong, beautiful lady," answered theCaesar, "and forget that I can in no shape be termed the moving-springof this empire; that my father-in-law, Alexius, is the Emperor; andthat the woman who terms herself my wife, is jealous as a fiend can beof my slightest motion.-What possibility was there that I should workthe captivity of your husband and your own? The open affront which theCount of Paris put upon the Emperor, was one which he was likely toavenge, either by secret guile or by open force. Me it no way touched,save as the humble vassal of thy charms; and it was by the wisdom andthe art of the sage Agelastes, that I was able to extricate thee fromthe gulf in which thou hadst else certainly perished. Nay, weep not,lady, for as yet we know not the fate of Count Robert; but, credit me,it is wisdom to choose a better protector, and consider him as no more."
"A better than him," said Brenhilda, "I can never have, were I tochoose out of the knighthood of all the world!"
"This hand," said the Caesar, drawing himself into a martial attitude,"should decide that question, were the man of whom thou thinkest somuch yet moving on the face of this earth and at liberty."
"Thou art," said Brenhilda, looking fixedly at him with the fire ofindignation flashing from every feature--"thou art--but it avails nottelling thee what is thy real name; believe me, the world shall one dayring with it, and be justly sensible of its value. Observe what I amabout to say--Robert of Paris is gone--or captive, I know not where. Hecannot fight the match of which thou seemest so desirous--but herestands Brenhilda, born heiress of Aspramonte, by marriage the weddedwife of the good Count of Paris. She was never matched in the lists bymortal man, except the valiant Count, and since thou art so grievedthat thou canst not meet her husband in battle, thou canst not surelyobject, if she is willing to meet thee in his stead!"
"How, madam?" said the Caesar, astonished; "do you propose yourself tohold the lists against me?"
"Against you!" said the Countess; "against all the Grecian Empire, ifthey shall affirm that Robert of Paris is justly used and
lawfullyconfined."
"And are the conditions," said the Caesar, "the same as if Count Roberthimself held the lists? The vanquished must then be at the pleasure ofthe conqueror for good or evil."
"It would seem so," said the Countess, "nor do I refuse the hazard;only, that if the other champion shall bite the dust, the noble CountRobert shall be set at liberty, and permitted to depart with allsuitable honours."
"This I refuse not," said the Caesar, "provided it is in my power."
A deep growling sound, like that of a modern gong, here interrupted theconference.