But in an instant she was calm again, and she took
money from her wallet and gave each page a piece of gold, and spoke
quietly.
"You are brave boys to give me such a message," she said. "But if I
chance to find out that you have changed it on the way, you shall each
have as many blows as there are French deniers in a Greek bezant--and
I doubt whether any one knows how many there may be."
"We speak truth, Madam," said the two, in a breath, "and we humbly
thank your Grace."
She sent them away, and sat looking at the shield at her feet, while
Anne of Auch waited in silence.
Eleanor's eyes burned in her head, and her hands were cold, and would
have shaken a little if she had not held them tightly clasped together.
"It was unknightly of him to say that," she cried at last, as if it
hurt her.
But her lady was still silent, and the Queen turned her hot eyes to
her.
"You say nothing. Was it not unknightly of him?"
"Madam," answered Anne of Auch, "since you wished to pay him for your
life, it is little wonder if he thinks you may offer to buy his arms."
They said no more for a long time, and from the outer tent the sweet
subdued voices of many women, talking and laughing softly together,
floated into the silence like the song of birds at dawn. At last the
Queen spoke, but it was to herself.
"He had the right," she said bitterly, and bent her head a little, and
sighed. "Paint me the shield, Lady Anne," she added, a moment later,
looking up calmly once more.
Pages:
248
249
250
251
252
253
254
255
256
257
258
259
260
261
262
263
264
265
266
267
268
269
270
271
272