to have and to hold-第12节
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note the richness of his doublet and cloak； … the one slashed； the other lined with scarlet taffeta； … the arrogance of his mien and gait； and the superb full…blooded beauty of his face。
〃The handsomest man that ever I saw！ 〃 ejaculated the Governor。
Master Pory； standing beside him； drew in his breath； then puffed it out again。 〃Handsome enough； your Honor；〃 he said； 〃unless handsome is as handsome does。 That； gentlemen； is my Lord Carnal； … that is the King's latest favorite。〃
CHAPTER VIII IN WHICH ENTERS MY LORD CARNAL
I FELT a touch upon my shoulder； and turned to find Mistress Percy beside me。 Her cheeks were white； her eyes aflame； her whole frame tense。 The passion that dominated her was so clearly anger at white heat that I stared at her in amazement。 Her hand slid from my shoulder to the bend of my arm and rested there。 〃Remember that I am your wife； sir；〃 she said in a low； fierce voice； … 〃your kind and loving wife。 You said that your sword was mine； now bring your wit to the same service！〃
There was not time to question her meaning。 The man whose position in the realm had just been announced by the Secretary； and of whom we had all heard as one not unlikely to supplant even Buckingham himself； was close at hand。 The Governor； headpiece in hand； stepped forward； the other swept off his Spanish hat； both bowed profoundly。
〃I speak to his Honor the Governor of Virginia？〃 inquired the newcomer。 His tone was offhand； his hat already back upon his head。
〃I am George Yeardley； at my Lord Carnal's service；〃 answered the Governor。
The favorite raised his eyebrows。 〃I don't need to introduce myself； it seems；〃 he said。 〃You've found that I am not the devil； after all； … at least not the Spanish Apollyon。 Zooks ！ a hawk above a poultry yard could n't have caused a greater commotion than did my poor little ship and my few poor birding pieces！ Does every strange sail so put you through your paces？〃
The Governor's color mounted。 〃We are not at home；〃 he answered stiffly。 〃Here we are few and weak and surrounded by many dangers； and have need to be vigilant； being planted； as it were； in the very grasp of that Spain who holds Europe in awe； and who claims this land as her own。 That we are here at all is proof enough of our courage； my lord。〃
The other shrugged his shoulders。 〃I don't doubt your mettle；〃 he said negligently。 〃I dare say it matches your armor。〃
His glance had rested for a moment upon the battered headpiece and ancient rusty breastplate with which Master Jeremy Sparrow was bedight。
〃It is something antique； truly； something out of fashion；〃 remarked that worthy； … 〃almost as out of fashion as courtesy from guests； or respect for dignities from my…face…is…my…fortune minions and lords on carpet considerations。〃
The hush of consternation following this audacious speech was broken by a roar of laughter from the favorite himself。 〃Zounds！〃 he cried； 〃your courage is worn on your sleeve； good giant！ I'll uphold you to face Spaniards； strappado； rack； galleys； and all！〃
The bravado with which he spoke； the insolence of his bold glance and curled lip； the arrogance with which he flaunted that King's favor which should be a brand more infamous than the hangman's； his beauty； the pomp of his dress； … all were alike hateful。 I hated him then； scarce knowing why； as I hated him afterward with reason。
He now pulled from the breast of his doublet a packet； which he proffered the Governor。 〃From the King； sir；〃 he announced； in the half…fierce； half… mocking tone he had made his own。 〃You may read it at your leisure。 He wishes you to further me in a quest upon which I have come。〃
The Governor took the packet with reverence。 〃His Majesty's will is our law；〃 he said。 〃Anything that lies in our power； sir； though if you come for gold〃 …
The favorite laughed again。 〃I've come for a thing a deal more precious； Sir Governor； … a thing worth more to me than all the treasure of the Indies with Manoa and El Dorado thrown in； … to wit； the thing upon which I've set my mind。 That which I determine to do； I do； sir； and the thing I determine to have； why； sooner or later； by hook or by crook； fair means or foul； I have it！ I am not one to be crossed or defied with impunity。〃
〃I do not take your meaning； my lord；〃 said the Governor； puzzled； but courteous。 〃There are none here who would care to thwart； in any honorable enterprise； a nobleman so high in the King's favor。 I trust that my Lord Carnal will make my poor house his own during his stay in Virginia … What's the matter； my lord？〃
My lord's face was dark red； his black eyes afire； his mustaches working up and down。 His white teeth had closed with a click on the loud oath which had interrupted the Governor's speech。 Honest Sir George and his circle stared at this unaccountable guest in amazement not unmixed with dismay。 As for myself； I knew before he spoke what had caused the oath and the fierce triumph in that handsome face。 Master Jeremy Sparrow had moved a little to one side； thus exposing to view that which his great body had before screened from observation； … namely； Mistress Jocelyn Percy。
In a moment the favorite was before her； hat in hand； bowing to the ground。
〃My quest hath ended where I feared it but begun！〃 he cried； flushed and exultant。 〃I have found my Manoa sooner than I thought for。 Have you no welcome for me； lady？〃
She withdrew her arm from mine and curtsied to him profoundly； then stood erect； indignant and defiant； her eyes angry stars； her cheeks carnation； scorn on her smiling lips。
〃I cannot welcome you as you should be welcomed； my lord；〃 she said in a clear voice。 〃I have but my bare hands。 Manoa； my lord； lies far to the southward。 This land is quite out of your course； and you will find here but your travail for your pains。 My lord； permit me to present to you my husband； Captain Ralph Percy。 I think that you know his cousin； my Lord of Northumberland。〃
The red left the favorite's cheeks； and he moved as though a blow had been dealt him by some invisible hand。 Recovering himself he bowed to me； and I to him； which done we looked each other in the eyes long enough for each to see the thrown gauntlet。
〃I raise it；〃 I said。
〃And I raise it；〃 he answered。
〃A l'outrance； I think； sir？〃 I continued。
〃A l'outrance；〃 he assented。
〃And between us two alone；〃 I suggested。
His answering smile was not good to see； nor was the tone in which he spoke to the Governor good to hear。
〃It is now some weeks； sir；〃 he said； 〃since there disappeared from court a jewel； a diamond of most inestimable worth。 It in some sort belonged to the King； and his Majesty； in the goodness of his heart； had promised it to a certain one； … nay； had sworn by his kingdom that it should be his。 Well； sir； that man put forth his hand to claim his own … when lo！ the jewel vanished！ Where it went no man could tell。 There was； as you may believe； a mighty running up and down and looking into dark corners； all for naught； … it was clean gone。 But the man to whom that bright gem had been promised was not one easily hoodwinked or baffled。 He swore to trace it； follow it； find it； and wear it。〃
His bold eyes left the Governor； to rest upon the woman beside me； had he pointed to her with his hand； he could not have more surely drawn upon her the regard of that motley throng。 By degrees the crowd had fallen back； leaving us three … the King's minion； the masquerading lady； and myself … the centre of a ring of staring faces； but now she became the sole target at which all eyes were directed。
In Virginia； at this time； the women of our own race were held in high esteem。 During the first years of our planting they were a greater rarity than the mocking…birds and flying squirrels； or than that weed the eating of which made fools of men。 The man whose wife was loving and daring enough； or jealous enough of Indian maids； to follow him into the wilderness counted his friends by the score and never lacked for company。 The first marriage in Virginia was between a laborer and a waiting maid； and yet there was as great a deal of candy stuff as if it had been the nuptials of a lieutenant of the shire。 The brother of my Lord de la Warre stood up with the groom； the brother of my Lord of Northumberland gave away the bride and was the first to kiss her； and the President himself held the caudle to their lips that night。 Since that wedding there had been others。 Gentlewomen made the Virginia voyage with husband or father； women signed as servants and came over； to marry in three weeks' time； the husband paying good tobacco for the wife's freedom； in the cargoes of children sent for apprentices there were many girls。 And last； but not least； had come Sir Edwyn's doves。 Things had changed since that day … at the memory of which men still held their sides … when Madam West； then the only woman in the town with youth and beauty； had marched down the street to the pillory； mounted it； called to her the drummer； and ordered him to summon to the square by tuck of drum every man in the place。 Which done； and the amazed population at hand； gaping at the spectacle of the wife of their commander （then absent from home） pilloried before th
