第30章 The Christmas Feast at Steeple(3)

Thus they grew merry since their guest proved himself a cheerful fellow, who told them many stories of love and war, for he seemed to know much of loves, and to have been in sundry wars.At these even Sir Andrew, forgetting his ailments and forebodings, laughed well, while Rosamund, looking more beautiful than ever in the gold-starred veil and the broidered tunic which the brethren had given her, listened to them, smiling somewhat absently.At last the feast drew towards its end, when suddenly, as though struck by a sudden recollection, Georgios exclaimed:

"The wine! The liquid amber from Trooidos! I had forgotten it.

Noble knight, have I your leave to draw?""Ay, excellent merchant," answered Sir Andrew."Certainly you can draw your own wine."So Georgios rose, and took a large jug and a silver tankard from the sideboard where such things were displayed.With these he went to the little keg which, it will be remembered, had been stood ready upon the trestles, and, bending over it while he drew the spigots, filled the vessels to the brim.Then he beckoned to a reeve sitting at the lower table to bring him a leather jack that stood upon the board.Having rinsed it out with wine, he filled that also, handing it with the jug to the reeve to drink their lord's health on this Yule night.The silver vessel he bore back to the high table, and with his own hand filled the horn cups of all present, Rosamund alone excepted, for she would touch none, although he pressed her hard and looked vexed at her refusal.Indeed, it was because it seemed to pain the man that Sir Andrew, ever courteous, took a little himself, although, when his back was turned, he filled the goblet up with water.At length, when all was ready, Georgios charged, or seemed to charge, his own horn, and, lifting it, said:

"Let us drink, everyone of us here, to the noble knight, Sir Andrew D'Arcy, to whom I wish, in the phrase of my own people, that he may live for ever.Drink, friends, drink deep, for never will wine such as this pass your lips again.

Then, lifting his beaker, he appeared to drain it in great gulps--an example which all followed, even Sir Andrew drinking a little from his cup, which was three parts filled with water.

There followed a long murmur of satisfaction.

"Wine! It is nectar!" said Wulf.

"Ay," put in the chaplain, Matthew; "Adam might have drunk this in the Garden," while from the lower table came jovial shouts of praise of this smooth, creamlike vintage.

Certainly that wine was both rich and strong.Thus, after his sup of it, a veil as it were seemed to fall on the mind of Sir Andrew and to cover it up.It lifted again, and lo! his brain was full of memories and foresights.Circumstances which he had forgotten for many years came back to him altogether, like a crowd of children tumbling out to play.These passed, and he grew suddenly afraid.Yet what had he to fear that night? The gates across the moat were locked and guarded.Trusty men, a score or more of them, ate in his outbuildings within those gates; while others, still more trusted, sat in his hall; and on his right hand and on his left were those two strong and valiant knights, Sir Godwin and Sir Wulf.No, there was nothing to fear--and yet he felt afraid.Suddenly he heard a voice speak.It was Rosamund's; and she said:

"Why is there such silence, father? A while ago I heard the servants and bondsmen carousing in the barn; now they are still as death.Oh, and look! Are all here drunken? Godwin--"But as she spoke Godwin's head fell forward on the board, while Wulf rose, half drew his sword, then threw his arm about the neck of the priest, and sank with him to the ground.As it was with these, so it seemed with all, for folk rocked to and fro, then sank to sleep, everyone of them, save the merchant Georgios, who rose to call another toast.

"Stranger," said Sir Andrew, in a heavy voice, "your wine is very strong.""It would seem so, Sir Knight," he answered;"but I will wake them from their wassail." Springing from the dais lightly as a cat, he ran down the hall crying, "Air is what they need.Air!" Now coming to the door, he threw it wide open, and drawing a silver whistle from his robe, blew it long and loud."What," he laughed, "do they still sleep? Why, then, I must give a toast that will rouse them all," and seizing a horn mug, he waved it and shouted:

"Arouse you, ye drunkards, and drink to the lady Rose of the World, princess of Baalbec, and niece to my royal master, Yusuf Salah-ed-din, who sends me to lead her to him!""Oh, father," shrieked Rosamund,"the wine was drugged and we are betrayed!"As the words passed her lips there rose a sound of running feet, and through the open door at the far end of the halI burst in a score or over of armed men.Then at last Sir Andrew saw and understood.

With a roar of rage like that of a wounded lion, he seized his daughter and dragged her back with him down the passage into the solar where a fire burned and lights had been lit ready for their retiring, flinging to and bolting the door behind them.

"Swift!" he said, as he tore his gown from him, "there is no escape, but at least I can die fighting for you.Give me my mail."She snatched his hauberk from the wall, and while they thundered at the door, did it on to him--ay, and his steel helm also, and gave him his long sword and his shield.

"Now," he said,"help me." And they thrust the oak table forward, and overset it in front of the door, throwing the chairs and stools on either side, that men might stumble on them.