Читать «Айвенго / Ivanhoe» онлайн - страница 32

This answer was delivered to Wamba and Gurth, with their allies the Black Knight and Locksley, and the hermit, who were waiting under the old oak. More than two hundred yeomen had already assembled near that place, and others were coming. A group of the Saxon servants of Cedric had arrived to assist in his rescue.

The monk did not understand French, so the letter was given to the Black Knight. He first read it to himself, and then explained the meaning in Saxon to his confederates.

“I think,” said the Black Knight, “that if they require a confessor, this holy monk can get into the castle and get us some information of what happens inside.”

“I am not a monk, when I am in my green cloak,” said the hermit.

“I fear,” said the Black Knight, “that there is no one here who can pretend to be a priest.”

“I see,” said Wamba, after a short pause, “that the fool must be still a fool, and put his neck in the adventure which wise men stay away from. I will put on a monastic cloak and go to my master Cedric.”

“Do it then,” said the Knight, “and let your master send us a message of their situation within the castle.”

“And, in the meantime,” said Locksley, “we will surround the castle so that even a fly will not be able to carry news from there.”

“Pax vobiscum,” said Wamba, putting on his religious disguise.

He went on his mission, imitating the ceremonial manners of a monk.

* * *

When the Jester, who was dressed like a hermit, stood before the gates of the castle of Front-de-Boeuf, the soldiers asked who he was.

“Pax vobiscum,” answered the Jester, “I am a poor brother of the Order of St Francis, who came here to visit the unhappy prisoners of this castle.” The gates opened.

Wamba was brave, but his bravery almost left him in the presence of a man so dreadful as Reginald Front-de-Boeuf, and he pronounced his “pax vobiscum” with fear and hesitation. But Front-de-Boeuf was accustomed to see men tremble in his presence, so the timidity of the supposed father did not give him any cause of suspicion.

“Who are you, priest?” he said.

“Pax vobiscum,” answered the Jester, “I am a poor servant of St Francis. I was travelling and some robbers caught me and sent me to this castle in order to confess two persons condemned by your honourable justice.”

“Yes, right,” answered Front-de-Boeuf; “and can you tell me, holy father, how many robbers there are?”

“Sir,” answered the Jester, “there are at least five hundred men.”

The Templar, who came into the hall that moment, took Front-de-Boeuf aside: “Do you know the priest?”

“He is not from these lands,” said Front-de-Boeuf; “I don’t know him.”

“Then don’t trust him with your message,” answered the Templar. “Let him carry a written order to De Bracy’s company of Free Companions. In the meantime permit him to go freely to these Saxons, so that he won’t suspect anything.”