第27章

'Lo, what an imagination he hath! Verily this is no common mind;else, crazed or sane, it could not weave so straight and gaudy a tale as this out of the airy nothings wherewith it hath wrought this curious romaunt. Poor ruined little head, it shall not lack friend or shelter whilst I bide with the living. He shall never leave my side; he shall be my pet, my little comrade. And he shall be cured!-aye, made whole and sound- then will he make himself a name- and proud shall I be to say, "Yes, he is mine- I took him, a homeless little ragamuffin, but I saw what was in him, and I said his name would be heard some day- behold him, observe him- was I right?"'

The king spoke- in a thoughtful, measured voice:

'Thou didst save me injury and shame, perchance my life, and so my crown. Such service demandeth rich reward. Name thy desire, and so it be within the compass of my royal power, it is thine.'

This fantastic suggestion startled Hendon out of his reverie. He was about to thank the king and put the matter aside with saying he bad only done his duty and desired no reward, but a wiser thought came into his head, and he asked leave to be silent a few moments and consider the gracious offer- an idea which the king gravely approved, remarking that it was best to be not too hasty with a thing of such great import.

Miles reflected during some moments, then said to himself, 'Yes, that is the thing to do- by any other means it were impossible to get at it- and certes, this hour's experience has taught me 'twould be most wearing and inconvenient to continue it as it is. Yes, I will propose it; 'twas a happy accident that I did not throw the chance away.' Then he dropped upon one knee and said:

'My poor service went not beyond the limit of a subject's simple duty, and therefore hath no merit; but since your majesty is pleased to hold it worthy some reward, I take heart of grace to make petition to this effect. Near four hundred years ago, as your grace knoweth, there being ill blood betwixt John, king of England, and the king of France, it was decreed that two champions should fight together in the lists, and so settle the dispute by what is called the arbitrament of God. These two kings, and the Spanish king, being assembled to witness and judge the conflict, the French champion appeared; but so redoubtable was he that our English knights refused to measure weapons with him. So the matter, which was a weighty one, was like to go against the English monarch by default. Now in the Tower lay the Lord de Courcy, the mightiest arm in England, stripped of his honors and possessions, and wasting with long captivity. Appeal was made to him; he gave assent, and came forth arrayed for battle;but no sooner did the Frenchman glimpse his huge frame and hear his famous name but he fled away, and the French king's cause was lost.

King John restored De Courcy's titles and possessions, and said, "Name thy wish and thou shalt have it, though it cost me half my kingdom";whereat De Courcy, kneeling, as I do now, made answerer, "This, then, I ask, my liege; that I and my successors may have and hold the privilege of remaining covered in the presence of the kings of England, henceforth while the throne shall last." The boon was granted, as your majesty knoweth; and there hath been no time, these four hundred years, that that line has failed of an heir; and so, even unto this day, the head of that ancient house still weareth his hat or helm before the king's majesty, without let or hindrance, and this none other may do.*(9) Invoking this precedent in aid of my prayer, I beseech the king to grant to me but this one grace and privilege- to my more than sufficient reward- and none other, to wit: that I and my heirs, forever, may sit in the presence of the majesty of England!'

'Rise, Sir Miles Hendon, knight,' said the king, gravely- giving the accolade with Hendon's sword- 'rise, and seat thyself. Thy petition is granted. While England remains, and the crown continues, the privilege shall not lapse.'

His majesty walked apart, musing, and Hendon dropped into a chair at table, observing to himself, ''Twas a brave thought, and hath wrought me a mighty deliverance; my legs are grievously wearied. An I had not thought of that, I must have had to stand for weeks, till my poor lad's wits are cured.' After a little he went on, 'And so I am become a knight of the Kingdom of Dreams and Shadows! A most odd and strange position, truly, for one so matter-of-fact as I. I will not laugh- no, God forbid, for this thing which is so substanceless to me is real to him. And to me, also, in one way, it is not a falsity, for it reflects with truth the sweet and generous spirit that is in him.' After a pause: 'Ah, what if he should call me by my fine title before folk!- there'd be a merry contrast betwixt my glory and my raiment! But no matter; let him call me what he will, so it please him; I shall be content.'