A Ladder of Swords: A Tale of Love, Laughter and Tears. Gilbert Parker

Чтение книги онлайн.

      “I have the Queen’s command to take him.”

      “He is my cherished guest.”

      “Must I force my way?”

      “Is it the Queen’s will that blood be shed?”

      “The Queen’s commands must be obeyed.”

      “The Queen is a miracle of the world, God save her! What is the charge against him?”

      “Summon Michel de la Forêt, ’gainst whom it lies.”

      “He is my guest; ye shall have him only by force.”

      The governor turned to his men. “Force the passage and search the house,” he commanded.

      The company advanced with levelled pikes, but at a motion from the seigneur his men fell back before them, and, making a lane, disclosed Michel de la Forêt at the end of it. Michel had not approved of Lemprière’s mummery of defence, but he understood from what good spirit it sprang, and how it flattered the seigneur’s vanity to make show of resistance.

      The governor greeted De la Forêt with a sour smile, read to him the Queen’s writ, and politely begged his company towards Mont Orgueil Castle.

      “I’ll fetch other commands from her Majesty, or write me down a peddler of St. Ouen’s follies,” the seigneur said from his doorway, as the governor and De la Forêt bade him good-bye and took the road to the castle.