Vietnam or Thailand ? Vote for the TOP Country of the Week !
Updated: June 26, 2025
When Gurdun squared himself and puffed his cheeks, and stood up; when Jehane, touched by Saint-Pol on the shoulder, shivered and left staring, and stood up in turn, swaying a little, and held out her thin hand; when the priest had the ring on his book, and the two hands, the red and the white, trembled to the touch Richard rose from his knee and stole forward with his long, soft, crouching stride.
Richard picked up his weapon and returned it to him. 'You are brave enough, my friend, he said, 'for better work. Go and do better in Syria. 'There is no better work for me, sir, said Gurdun, 'unless you can justify yourself. 'I never justify myself, said Richard. 'Give me my sword. De Gurdun gave it him. Richard sheathed it, went to his horse, mounted, rode away at walking pace.
'You talk too much. A silence fell upon the party, so profound that the cicala in the dry hedge shrilled to pierce the ear. Richard stood like a stock, with Des Barres gaping at him. Gurdun was all of a tremble, but swung his sword about in his sword-hand. After a while he took a deep breath, a fumbling step forward; and Des Barres, leaning out over the saddle, caught him by the surcoat.
'Folly of a fool! he snorted to his neighbour, Savaric de Dreux: 'there pricks our lord the King, as if to a party of hawks. 'Wait, said Savaric. 'Where away now? 'To bandy gibes with Saint-Pol, pardieu. Where else should he go at this hour? 'Saint-Pol will never do him a villainy, said Savaric. 'No, no. But De Gurdun is there. 'Wait now, says Savaric again. 'Look, look!
There too he met with attentions, for there he met a countryman of his, the Sieur Gilles de Gurdun, a Norman knight. When Sir Gilles heard that King Richard was in prison, but that Jehane was not with him, he grew very red. That he had never learned of her deeds at Acre need not surprise you.
If she had seen, as Milo saw, Gilles de Gurdun glowering at her from a corner, it might have gone hard with her. But she did not. They crowned Richard Duke of Normandy, and to him came all the barons of the duchy one by one, to do him homage. And first the Archbishop of Rouen, in whose allegiance was that same Sir Gilles.
'I will give you this reason, said young Saint-Pol; 'it is because that devil who slew my brother will have her else. King Philip said, 'Why, I can give her to one who will hold her fast. Your Gurdun is a Norman, you say? Well, but Count Richard in a little while will have him under his hand; and how are you served then? 'I doubt, sire, replied Saint-Pol.
This Gurdun, pricking through the woods, came upon Gaston of Béarn, dazzling as a spring tree and singing like an inspired machine. He pulled up at the wonderful sight, and scowled. It is the proper Norman greeting. Gaston treated him as part of the landscape, like the rest of it mournful, but provocative of song.
'Heart of God, what is this? He held back his head, like a snake, that he might see what he would strike at. 'Is it true, girl? Jehane looked up from his shoulder, where she had been hiding her face. She could not speak, but she nodded. 'It is true? Thou art promised? 'I am promised, my lord, said Jehane. 'Let me go. He put her down at once, between himself and Gurdun.
'Oh, Gurdun, he said, 'what a fool you are. Gurdun vented a sob of rage, and flung himself forward at his enemy. He was a shorter man, but very thickset, with arms like steel. He had a knife, rage like a thirst, he was free. Richard, as he came on, hit him full on the chin, and sent him flying. Gurdun picked himself up again, his mouth twitching, his eyes so small as to be like slits.
Word Of The Day
Others Looking