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The King halted in the pass, a few steps from the Norman knight; and Mallet de Graville, though accustomed to the majestic mien of Duke William, and the practised state of the princes of France and Flanders, felt an involuntary thrill of admiration at the bearing of the great child of Nature with his foot on his father's soil.
"You remember," renewed De Graville, "that Lanfranc, the Lombard, was pleased to take interest in my fortunes, then not the most flourishing, and after his return from Rome, with the Pope's dispensation for Count William's marriage with his cousin, he became William's most trusted adviser.
By name, this youth is Guillaume Mallet, sometimes styled De Graville, because our Norman gentilhommes, forsooth, must always now have a 'de' tacked to their names; nevertheless he hath no other right to the seigneurie of Graville, which appertains to the head of his house, than may be conferred by an old tower on one corner of the demesnes so designated, with lands that would feed one horse and two villeins if they were not in pawn to a Jew for moneys to buy velvet mantelines and a chain of gold.
At length the lights fell red and full on the ghastly face of Haco proud and sad as in life. De Graville uttered an exclamation: "The King's nephew: be sure the King is near!" A shudder went over the woman's form, and the moaning ceased.
Mallet's squire, with a change of raiment, and goodly coffers of soaps, unguents, and odours, took his way to the knight, for a Norman of birth was accustomed to much personal attendance, and had all respect for the body; and it was nearly an hour before, in long gown of fur, reshaven, dainty, and decked, the Sire de Graville bowed, and sighed, and prayed before the refection set out in the abbot's cell.
"Over yon seas, a prince mightier than William, and men as resolute, at least, as your Normans." "Cher et puissant, my Lord Earl," answered De Graville, "these are brave words, but of no weight in the ear of a schemer so deep as the Duke.
"Dread lord," said Osgood; "she was the betrothed of Harold; but, as within the degrees of kin, the Church forbade their union, and they obeyed the Church." Out from the banquet-throng stepped Mallet de Graville.
The Earl rose, as De Graville, entering with the proud but easy grace habitual to his countrymen, said, in his best Saxon: "Hail to Earl Harold! William Mallet de Graville, the Norman, greets him, and brings him news from beyond the seas." There was only one seat in that bare room the seat from which the Earl had risen.
Tut, no: I chafe at the proud heart that set the arm in motion; the proud meaning his words symbolled out, 'So will English strength guard English land from the Norman so axe and shield will defy your mail and your shafts. But let him beware!" growled the Duke, fiercely, "or " "May I speak," interrupted De Graville, "and suggest a counsel?" "Speak out, in God's name!" cried the Duke.
Oh, Odo, Odo, my soul is troubled, and St. Michael forsakes me!" While William ran on thus distractedly, the prelate lifted his eyes inquiringly to De Graville, who now stood within the tent, and the knight briefly related the recent trial of strength. "I see nought in this to chafe thee," said Odo; "the man once thine, the stronger the vassal, the more powerful the lord."
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