This is matter for the law's consideration,
not private and unofficial handling. Loose thy hold from the boy,
goodwife.'
The blacksmith averaged the stalwart soldier with a glance, then
went muttering away, rubbing his arm; the woman released the boy's
wrist reluctantly; the crowd eyed the stranger unlovingly, but
prudently closed their mouths. The king sprang to his deliverer's
side, with flushed cheeks and sparkling eyes exclaiming:
'Thou hast lagged sorely, but thou comest in good season now,
Sir Miles; carve me this rabble to rags!'
CHAPTER XXIII
The Prince a Prisoner
HENDON forced back a smile, and bent down and whispered in the
king's ear:
'Softly, softly my prince, wag thy tongue warily- nay, suffer it
not to wag at all. Trust in me- all shall go well in the end.' Then he
added, to himself: 'Sir Miles! Bless me, I had totally forgot I was
a knight! Lord how marvelous a thing it is, the grip his memory doth
take upon his quaint and crazy fancies!... An empty and foolish
title is mine, and yet it is something to have deserved it, for I
think it is more honor to be held worthy to be a specter-knight in his
Kingdom of Dreams and Shadows, than to be held base enough to be an
earl in some of the real kingdoms of this world.'
The crowd fell apart to admit a constable, who approached and
was about to lay his hand upon the king's shoulder, when Hendon said:
'Gently, good friend, withhold your hand- he shall go peaceably; I
am responsible for that.
Pages:
149
150
151
152
153
154
155
156
157
158
159
160
161
162
163
164
165
166
167
168
169
170
171
172
173