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I followed the train of King Richard, and mayhap at some of the entertainments given by him you have seen my face. My name is Blondel." "I remember now," the knight said. "It was at Acre that I first saw you, and if I remember rightly you can wield the sword as well as the lute."
I'd be all right only the colzas ain't a-goin' to give much this year, and times are so hard that they are the only things worth while raisin'." "Well, what can you expect? Times are hard." "Hub! I should say they were hard," sounded the rather virile voice of Rabot's big consort. As she was from a neighboring village, the priest only knew her by name. "Is that you, Blondel?" he said.
But one day those great hands picked up the harp more hastily than usual and with a war-song clashed the strings; and presently there came a sharp twang or two, and the singer looked at Blondel like a schoolboy caught in mischief for the harp lay a wreck in his hands. "Never mind, Blondel," laughed the royal culprit, "there is gold yet in our coffers with which to buy another."
"I listened. I was in my room, but they thought I was out. When I went," the liar continued, "they discovered me; and Messer Blondel followed me and overtook me on the bridge and threatened that he would have me arrested if I were not silent." "You refused to be silent, of course?" But Louis was too acute to be caught in a trap so patent.
Back he went on that to the living-room with its dying fire and lengthening shadows; and there he resumed his solitary pacing. The room lay silent, the house lay silent; even the rampart without, which the biting wind kept clear of passers. He tried to reason on the position, to settle what would happen, what steps Basterga and Blondel would take, how the blow they threatened would fall.
It was carried from Spain to Rome about the year 1000 by the learned Pope Sylvester the Second, who spoke Arabic and of whose library it formed part." "Indeed!" Blondel responded, staring at it. "It must be of great value. How came it into your possession, Messer Basterga?" Basterga opened his mouth and shut it again. "I do not think I can tell you that," he said.
Blondel recognized the voice, and instantly understood that Richard had been made a prisoner. He, however, said nothing, but went on, and immediately took measures to make known in England what he had learned.
Then, touching Blondel's shoulder kindly, he added, "That is, if thou art not fatigued with thy journey; for I would sooner ride my best horse to death than injure a note of thy voice." "My voice is, as ever, at the service of my royal patron," said Blondel; "but your Majesty," he added, looking at some papers on the table, "seems more importantly engaged, and the hour waxes late."
I could bear no more; the forces of nature were exhausted, and I was obliged to lie down and take a little broth, and court that sleep which refused to come. A thousand designs came to my disordered imagination. I rejected them one by one, only to devise new ones. I would slay this Blondel, who had carried off a woman who was mine and mine only; who was all but my wife.
The packet contains your portrait and all the letters you have written to me. Return me my portrait, and if you have kept my letters be kind enough to burn them. I rely on your honour. Think of me no more. Duty bids me do all I can to forget you, for at this hour to-morrow I shall become the wife of M. Blondel of the Royal Academy, architect to the king.
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