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to stroke the Duke's short curled beard; and play with his embroidered collar。
In so doing; his fingers caught hold of a silver chain; and pulling it out with a jerk; he saw a silver key attached to it。 〃Oh; what is that?〃 he asked eagerly。 〃What does that key unlock?〃
〃My greatest treasure;〃 replied Duke William; as he replaced the chain and key within his robe。
〃Your greatest treasure; father! Is that your coronet?〃
〃You will know one day;〃 said his father; putting the little hand down from its too busy investigations; and some of the Barons at that moment returning into the hall; he had no more leisure to bestow on his little son。
The next day; after morning service in the Chapel; and breakfast in the hall; the Duke again set forward on his journey; giving Richard hopes he might return in a fortnight's time; and obtaining from him a promise that he would be very attentive to Father Lucas; and very obedient to Sir Eric de Centeville。
CHAPTER II
One evening Fru Astrida sat in her tall chair in the chimney corner; her distaff; with its load of flax in her hand; while she twisted and drew out the thread; and her spindle danced on the floor。 Opposite to her sat; sleeping in his chair; Sir Eric de Centeville; Osmond was on a low bench within the chimney corner; trimming and shaping with his knife some feathers of the wild goose; which were to fly in a different fashion from their former one; and serve; not to wing the flight of a harmless goose; but of a sharp arrow。
The men of the household sat ranged on benches on one side of the hall; the women on the other; a great red fire; together with an immense flickering lamp which hung from the ceiling; supplied the light; the windows were closed with wooden shutters; and the whole apartment had a cheerful appearance。 Two or three large hounds were reposing in front of the hearth; and among them sat little Richard of Normandy; now smoothing down their broad silken ears; now tickling the large cushions of their feet with the end of one of Osmond's feathers; now fairly pulling open the eyes of one of the good…natured sleepy creatures; which only stretched its legs; and remonstrated with a sort of low groan; rather than a growl。 The boy's eyes were; all the time; intently fixed on Dame Astrida; as if he would not lose one word of the story she was telling him; how Earl Rollo; his grandfather; had sailed into the mouth of the Seine; and how Archbishop Franco; of Rouen; had come to meet him and brought him the keys of the town; and how not one Neustrian of Rouen had met with harm from the brave Northmen。 Then she told him of his grandfather's baptism; and how during the seven days that he wore his white baptismal robes; he had made large gifts to all the chief churches in his dukedom of Normandy。
〃Oh; but tell of the paying homage!〃 said Richard; 〃and how Sigurd Bloodaxe threw down simple King Charles! Ah! how would I have laughed to see it!〃
〃Nay; nay; Lord Richard;〃 said the old lady; 〃I love not that tale。 That was ere the Norman learnt courtesy; and rudeness ought rather to be forgotten than remembered; save for the sake of amending it。 No; I will rather tell you of our coming to Centeville; and how dreary I thought these smooth meads; and broad soft gliding streams; compared with mine own father's fiord in Norway; shut in with the tall black rocks; and dark pines above them; and far away the snowy mountains rising into the sky。 Ah! how blue the waters were in the long summer days when I sat in my father's boat in the little fiord; and〃
Dame Astrida was interrupted。 A bugle note rang out at the castle gate; the dogs started to their feet; and uttered a sudden deafening bark; Osmond sprung up; exclaiming; 〃Hark!〃 and trying to silence the hounds; and Richard running to Sir Eric; cried; 〃Wake; wake; Sir Eric; my father is come! Oh; haste to open the gate; and admit him。〃
〃Peace; dogs!〃 said Sir Eric; slowly rising; as the blast of the horn was repeated。 〃Go; Osmond; with the porter; and see whether he who comes at such an hour be friend or foe。 Stay you here; my Lord;〃 he added; as Richard was running after Osmond; and the little boy obeyed; and stood still; though quivering all over with impatience。
〃Tidings from the Duke; I should guess;〃 said Fru Astrida。 〃It can scarce be himself at such an hour。〃
〃Oh; it must be; dear Fru Astrida!〃 said Richard。 〃He said he would come again。 Hark; there are horses' feet in the court! I am sure that is his black charger's tread! And I shall not be there to hold his stirrup! Oh! Sir Eric; let me go。〃
Sir Eric; always a man of few words; only shook his head; and at that moment steps were heard on the stone stairs。 Again Richard was about to spring forward; when Osmond returned; his face showing; at a glance; that something was amiss; but all that he said was; 〃Count Bernard of Harcourt; and Sir Rainulf de Ferrieres;〃 and he stood aside to let them pass。
Richard stood still in the midst of the hall; disappointed。 Without greeting to Sir Eric; or to any within the hall; the Count of Harcourt came forward to Richard; bent his knee before him; took his hand; and said with a broken voice and heaving breast; 〃Richard; Duke of Normandy; I am thy liegeman and true vassal;〃 then rising from his knees while Rainulf de Ferrieres went through the same form; the old man covered his face with his hands and wept aloud。
〃Is it even so?〃 said the Baron de Centeville; and being answered by a mournful look and sigh from Ferrieres; he too bent before the boy; and repeated the words; 〃I am thy liegeman and true vassal; and swear fealty to thee for my castle and barony of Centeville。〃
〃Oh; no; no!〃 cried Richard; drawing back his hand in a sort of agony; feeling as if he was in a frightful dream from which he could not awake。 〃What means it? Oh! Fru Astrida; tell me what means it? Where is my father?〃
〃Alas; my child!〃 said the old lady; putting her arm round him; and drawing him close to her; whilst her tears flowed fast; and Richard stood; reassured by her embrace; listening with eyes open wide; and deep oppressed breathing; to what was passing between the four nobles; who spoke earnestly among themselves; without much heed of him。
〃The Duke dead!〃 repeated Sir Eric de Centeville; like one stunned and stupefied。
〃Even so;〃 said Rainulf; slowly and sadly; and the silence was only broken by the long…drawn sobs of old Count Bernard。
〃But how? when? where?〃 broke forth Sir Eric; presently。 〃There was no note of battle when you went forth。 Oh; why was not I at his side?〃
〃He fell not in battle;〃 gloomily replied Sir Rainulf。
〃Ha! could sickness cut him down so quickly?〃
〃It was not sickness;〃 answered Ferrieres。 〃It was treachery。 He fell in the Isle of Pecquigny; by the hand of the false Fleming!〃
〃Lives the traitor yet?〃 cried the Baron de Centeville; grasping his good sword。
〃He lives and rejoices in his crime;〃 said Ferrieres; 〃safe in his own merchant towns。〃
〃I can scarce credit you; my Lords!〃 said Sir Eric。 〃Our Duke slain; and his enemy safe; and you here to tell the tale!〃
〃I would I were stark and stiff by my Lord's side!〃 said Count Bernard; 〃but for the sake of Normandy; and of that poor child; who is like to need all that ever were friends to his house。 I would that mine eyes had been blinded for ever; ere they had seen that sight! And not a sword lifted in his defence! Tell you how it passed; Rainulf! My tongue will not speak it!〃
He threw himself on a bench and covered his face with his mantle; while Rainulf de Ferrieres proceeded: 〃You know how in an evil hour our good Duke appointed to meet this caitiff; Count of Flanders; in the Isle of Pecquigny; the Duke and Count each bringing twelve men with them; all unarmed。 Duke Alan of Brittany was one on our side; Count Bernard here another; old Count Bothon and myself; we bore no weaponwould that we hadbut not so the false Flemings。 Ah me! I shall never forget Duke William's lordly presence when he stepped ashore; and doffed his bonnet to the knave Arnulf。〃
〃Yes;〃 interposed Bernard。 〃And marked you not the words of the traitor; as they met? 'My Lord;' quoth he; 'you are my shield an