by G. A. Henty
CHAPTER VII.
THE OATH.
From Eu the party travelled back to Rouen where there were feastingsand entertainments in honour of Harold. Nothing could be morecourteous than the duke's manner to his guest. He professed analmost fraternal affection for him, and handsome lodgings wereassigned in the town to his thanes. A solemn court was held, atwhich Harold was knighted by William himself with much state andceremonial, according to the rites of chivalry, which had then beenbut recently introduced, and had not as yet extended into England.There were great hunting parties in the forest, and to all outwardappearance the friendship between William and Harold was of thewarmest and most sincere nature. Harold himself was really gratifiedat the pains that William took to show the esteem in which he heldhim, and his thanes were all well satisfied with the attentionsbestowed upon them by the Norman barons.
Beorn and Wulf had nothing to do save to make friends with youngNormans of their own age, to visit their castles and to join in thehunting parties. The duke lost no opportunity of showing the sincerityof the feelings of gratitude he had expressed to them for bringinghim the news of Harold's presence in his dominions, and they werealways specially invited to all court ceremonials, enjoying themselvesexceedingly. Wulf occasionally expressed his surprise to hiscompanion that no word was said as to their return to England, butBeorn's answer always silenced him.
"The earl himself seems well satisfied, Wulf. Why should you bemore anxious for him than he is for himself?"
Once indeed he replied, "Harold is of so open and generous nature,Beorn, that he would be the last person to suspect another ofdishonourable motives. Moreover, it is not because he is apparentlywell content here that we must judge him to be without uneasiness.Whatever he felt it would be impolitic to show it, and we see butlittle of him now save when in company of the Normans. He cannotbut know that his presence is required in England."
It was a matter of satisfaction to Wulf that Walter Fitz-Urse wasnot at the court, he having a few weeks before returned to England,where he was again in the suite of the Norman bishop of London. Hehimself had become firm friends with Guy de Burg, and often rodeover with him to his father's residence, where they hunted in theforest together or rode out with falcons on their wrists, Agnes deBurg often accompanying them on her pony.
Three weeks after their arrival at Rouen the Bretons broke out ininsurrection, and the duke invited Harold to accompany him on anexpedition to subdue them, courteously saying that he should obtaingreat advantage from the military experience of his guest.
Harold accepted the invitation, and with his thanes set out withthe duke. Against the disciplined forces of Normandy the Bretonpeasants had no chance whatever in the open field, but their wildand broken country, well-nigh covered with forest, afforded theman opportunity for the display of their own method of fighting bysudden surprises and attacks, and they defended their rough butformidable intrenchments with desperate valour. Harold's experiencegained in his warfare with the Welsh was of much utility, and theduke committed to his hands the formal command of the troops engaged,averring that he himself knew comparatively little of warfare suchas this.
Harold conducted the operations with equal vigour and prudence.Stronghold after stronghold was attacked and captured, a smallportion of the force only being engaged in active operations, whilstthe rest were posted so as to repel the attempts of the Bretons toaid the besieged. By his advice clemency was always shown tothe garrisons when the fortresses were stormed, and they werepermitted to return unharmed to their people, bearing the news thatthe duke bore no ill-will towards them, and was ready to show mercyto all who laid down their arms. Wulf and Beorn were permitted toshare in the assaults, and with the Saxon thanes followed Harold,as he led the way on foot up to the intrenchments at one point,while the duke with a party of his barons attacked at another. Morethan once the English banner was carried into the heart of theBreton fortress before the Normans had fought their way in, and oneach of these occasions the duke warmly expressed his admirationfor the courage of his English allies. At last there remained butone formidable stronghold to be captured, and so strong was thisby nature, and so desperately defended, that for some time theefforts of the besiegers were fruitless.
One evening Guy de Burg had been with Wulf in his tent. Beorn wasout spending the evening with some of his Norman friends. When Guyrose to go Wulf said that he would walk with him to his father'stent, which was situated some little distance away. As there hadbeen strict regulations that none were to move about without arms,he buckled on his sword and put on his helmet before starting.Osgod, who was lying outside the tent, rose when they issued outand followed them at a short distance. They went along at the rearof the tents, when Wulf suddenly said:
"It seems to me that I hear sounds in the forest, Guy."
"De Launey's men are posted behind us," Guy said carelessly; "thereis no fear of an attack."
"Not if they are vigilant," Wulf agreed. "But the Bretons have forsome time abstained from night surprises, and De Launey's men maybe keeping a poor watch."
Suddenly there was a loud cry, followed immediately by the Bretonwar-shout, and by a confusion of shouts, cries, and the sound ofthe clashing of arms.
The lads drew their swords and ran towards the scene of conflict,when, from some bushes a short distance from them, a number of wildfigures sprung out. It was a party of the enemy who had made theirway through De Launey's sleeping men unobserved, and who now, knowingthat further concealment was useless, were rushing forward towardsthe tents. Wulf's first impulse was to turn back, but young deBurg, shouting his father's battle-cry, ran forward, and withouthesitation Wulf followed him. A moment later they were engaged withthe Bretons.
"Back to back, Guy!" Wulf exclaimed, as he ran his sword throughthe first man who attacked him.
He had scarcely spoken when Osgod ran up and joined them, andwielding the heavy axe he carried as if it had been a featherweight,struck down several of the Bretons who ventured within its swing.
Wulf defended himself as firmly, but had to shift his groundcontinually to avoid the blows of the heavy spiked clubs with whichhis assailants were armed. Presently he heard his name shouted, andan instant later a crash, as Guy de Burg was struck down.
"Stand over him, Osgod!" he shouted, and with a bound was besidehis companion, cutting down a Breton who was about to thrust hisspear into him. At the same moment a club descended on his helmet,bringing him for a moment to his knee. He sprang up again, Osgodstriking his opponent to the ground before he could repeat his blow.
For two or three minutes the fight went on. Wulf received more thanone stab from the Breton knives, as two or three of them oftenrushed in upon him at once, but each time when he was hard pressedOsgod's axe freed him from his assailants, for so terrible were theblows dealt by the tall Saxon that the Bretons shrank from assailinghim, and thus left him free at times to render assistance to Wulf.But the combat was too unequal to last long. A pike-thrust disabledWulf for a moment, and as his arm fell a blow from a club stretchedhim beside Guy. Osgod had also received several wounds, but furiousat his master's fall he still defended himself with such vigourthat the Bretons again fell back. They were on the point of attackinghim anew, when there was a shout, and William and Harold, bareheadedas they had leapt from the table, and followed by a score or twoof Norman barons and soldiers, fell upon the Bretons. The latterwith cries of alarm at once fled.
By this time the Norman trumpets were everywhere sounding, and thetroops hastening out to repel the attack, which a few minutes laterceased as suddenly as it began, the Bretons flying into the forest,where pursuit by the heavily-armed Normans was hopeless. Returningto the tents, the duke and Harold paused where Osgod, who had sunkto the ground as soon as the Breton attack had ceased, was sittingby the side of his master.
"Whom have we here?" the duke asked. "Whoever they are we owe oursafety to them, Harold, for had it not been for the resistance theymade, the Bretons would have been among our tents before we
hadtime to catch up our arms. Bring a torch here!" he shouted; and twoor three soldiers came running up from the tents with lights.
"Methinks it is one of my men," Harold said, and repeated the duke'squestion in Saxon.
"I am Osgod, my lord, the servant of Wulf of Steyning, who with hisfriend, Guy de Burg, lies here beside me, I fear done to death."
"I trust not, indeed," Harold said, stooping over the bodies.
At this moment the men came up with the lights. "By the rood,"William exclaimed, "but they fought stoutly, whoever they are. Theground round them is covered with the bodies of these Breton rascals.There must be at least a score of them, while so far as I can seethere are but three of our men. Who are they, Harold?"
"One is Guy, son of the Baron de Burg," Harold replied. "Anotheris young Wulf, and this stout fellow is his man."
"Right gallantly have they done," the duke exclaimed, "and I trustthat their lives are not spent. Let someone summon De Burg herequickly. Carry his son to his tent, and bid my leech attend at onceto his wounds and to those of these brave Saxons."
"I will carry Wulf to his tent myself," Harold said, raising thelad and carrying him off, while four soldiers followed bearingOsgod. They were laid down together in Wulf's tent. As the youngthane's helmet was removed, he opened his eyes and looked round inbewilderment as he saw, by the light of the torches, Harold andseveral others standing beside him.
"What has happened?" he asked faintly.
"The best thing that has happened is that you have come to yourselfand are able to speak, Wulf," Harold said. "But do not try to talk,lad, until the leech comes and examines your wounds. You have doneus all a rare service to-night, for thanks to the carelessness ofDe Launey's men, most of whom have paid for their error with theirlives, we should all have been taken by surprise had it not beenfor the brave stand you made. Now we will take off your garmentsand see where you are wounded. They seem to be soaked everywherewith blood."
"I received three or four gashes with their knives," Wulf saidfeebly, "and I think a spear wound. How are the others?"
"I know not about Guy," Harold said, "but your man is able to speak,and has not, I hope, received mortal injuries."
"Don't trouble yourself about me, Master Wulf," Osgod put in. "Ihave got a few pricks with the knaves' knives, and a spear-thrustor two, but as I was able to keep on my feet until the earl arrivedwith help, I think the wounds are of no great consequence."
"If aught happens to me," Wulf said to Harold, "I pray you to seeto him, my lord, and to take him as one of your own men. Had it notbeen for him the Bretons would have made short work of us."
He could barely utter the words, and again became insensible fromloss of blood.
When he recovered the leech was kneeling beside him, pouring oilinto his wounds and applying bandages.
"Do not try to talk," he said quietly, as Wulf opened his eyes."Lie quite still, the least movement might cause your wounds tobreak out afresh. They are serious, but I think not of a mortalnature."
"Guy?" Wulf whispered.
"He is in a more perilous condition than you are, but it is possiblethat he too may live. As for your man here, I have as yet but glancedat his wounds; but though cut sorely, I have no fear for his life.Now drink this potion, and then go off to sleep if you can."
Wulf drank off the contents of the goblet placed to his lips, andin a few minutes was fast asleep. When he woke it was broad daylight,and Beorn was sitting by his side. The latter put his finger to hislips.
"You are not to talk, Wulf. The leech gave me the strictest orderswhen he was here a short time since, and said that you seemed tobe doing well. Osgod he says will surely recover, and be none theworse for the letting out of some of his blood. The Bretons weretoo hasty with their strokes, and although he has a dozen woundsnone of them are serious. Guy de Burg is alive, but as yet theleech can say nothing. It has been a bad business. It seems thatDe Launey's men were most of them killed whilst they were asleep.The bodies of the sentries were found at their posts, but whetherthey were asleep, or whether, as is thought more likely, their foesstole up and killed them before they had time to utter a cry, weknow not. The Bretons attacked at two or three other points, butnowhere with such success, though many Normans have fallen. Everyonesays that the party which passed through De Launey's men would havereached the tents and probably killed most of those in them hadthey not stopped while some of their number attacked you and Guyde Burg. The duke and Harold have both said that your bravery savedus from a great disaster. I would that I had been with you, but thetent I was in was the farthest along the line, and the Bretons werein full flight before we came upon the scene."
Presently the Baron de Burg came to the side of the pallet on whichWulf was lying. "I cannot say that I owe you the life of my son,"he said, laying his hand gently upon Wulf's, "for I know not as yetwhether he will live, but he was sensible when we brought him tomy tent, and he told me that you had stood over him and defendedhim from the Bretons until you too fell. He was sensible all thetime, though unable to move."
"It was Osgod who did most of the fighting, my lord," Wulf said.
"He did much, Wulf, and it will be my pleasure to reward him, butthe duke, who is full of admiration at the slaughter done by threealone, has caused the bodies to be examined. Twelve of them werekilled with axe wounds, nine by sword wounds. Guy tells me that heknows that only two fell to his sword, therefore you must have slainseven. Truly a feat that any man might be proud of, to say nothingof a lad of your age. Guy is anxious to have you with him, and theleech said that if you keep quiet to-day, and none of your woundsbreak out afresh, it will do you no harm to be carried to my tent."
Accordingly the next day Wulf was carried across to Lord de Burg's,and his pallet set down by the side of Guy's. The latter was alittle better, and the leech had faint hopes of his recovery. Hisright arm had been broken by a blow with a club, and so badlyfractured that it had already been taken off near the shoulder. Hismost dangerous wound was a pike-thrust on the left side, which hadpenetrated his lungs. He smiled faintly as Wulf was placed by hisside. Wulf tried to smile back again, but he was too much shockedat the change in his friend's appearance. His cheeks had fallenin, and his face was deadly pale. His lips were almost colourless,and his eyes seemed unnaturally large. Wulf made an effort to speakcheerfully.
"We did not expect to come to this so soon, Guy," he said. "Wehave often talked about fighting, but we never thought that ourfirst serious fight would end like this."
"You have nothing to regret," Baron de Burg said. "You have bothdone your duty nobly, and one of gentle blood can wish for no betterend than to die doing his duty against great odds. God grant thatyou may both be spared, but if it be otherwise, death could notcome to you more gloriously than in giving your lives to save yourlords from surprise."
Wulf's recovery was comparatively rapid. He was greatly pleasedwhen, a week after his removal, Osgod was brought into the tent byHarold. He was still pale and feeble, but was able to walk, andassured his young lord that he should soon be ready for anotherfight with the Bretons.
"There will be no more fighting," Harold said. "Yesterday theirchiefs came in to make their submission and ask for mercy, and onthis being granted their fortress has surrendered this morning.They will pay a heavy fine in cattle, and their two strongestfortresses are to be garrisoned by Norman troops. A considerableslice of their territory is to be taken from them. In a week I hopewe shall all be on our way back to Rouen."
Guy was mending very slowly. Even yet the leech could not say withcertainty that his life would be saved, and warned his father thatin any case he would for a very long time be an invalid. In anotherweek the camp was broken up. Wulf declared that he was well enoughto sit a horse, but the leech insisted that he should be carriedon a litter.
"In another fortnight," he said, "you may be able to ride, but itwould not be safe to attempt to do so now. You are going on as wellas could be wished, and it would be madness to risk everything byh
aste."
Accordingly he and Guy were transported in litters to the baron'sresidence, where Wulf steadily recovered his health and strength.Osgod, who had received a heavy purse of gold from the baron, hadat the end of that time entirely recovered; Guy still lay pale andfeeble on his couch.
"I scarcely wish to live," he said one day to his father. "I cannever be a warrior now. What have I got to live for?"
"You have much to live for, Guy," his father said, "even if younever bestride a war-horse. You have made a name for yourself forbravery, and will always be held in respect. It is not as if youhad been from your birth weak and feeble. You will in time, I hope,come to be lord of our estates and to look after our people, andbe beloved by them; and, if you cannot yourself lead them in thefield, you can see that they go well equipped, and do honour toyour banner. There are other things besides fighting to live for."
"I would that you had had another son, father, and that Wulf hadbeen my brother. I should not so much have minded then that I couldnot myself carry the banner of De Burg into the field."
"Had he been one of ourselves, Guy, that might have come about,"his father said, "for if I have no other son I have a daughter. Butthis young Saxon has his own estates in his own country. He wouldnot settle down here as a Norman baron, and I would not lose Agnesnor be willing that she should go from us to dwell in a foreignland. But no one can say what the future will bring about. The dukehas promised one of his daughters to Harold, and should the marriagecome off it will bind the two peoples more closely together. Besides,you know, Edward of England has promised to Duke William that heshould succeed him."
"I was speaking to Wulf about that one day, father, and he saidthat Edward had no power to make the gift, for that the people ofEngland chose their king themselves, and that Edward's promise wouldgo for nothing with them. It is not with them as it is with us,where a prince can name his successor."
"That may be Saxon opinion, Guy, but it is not Norman, and assuredlyit is not the duke's; and friendly as are the relations between himand Harold, it is clear that until this question is settled nopermanent friendship can be looked for between the two nations."
Wulf was sorry when the time came that he could no longer lingerat Baron de Burg's chateau. The earl had more than once sent overto say that his presence was looked for at court as soon as he wassufficiently recovered to attend there, but he stayed on until hefelt so thoroughly strong and well that he could not make his healthany longer an excuse. On leaving, De Burg and his wife both pressedhim to come over whenever he could spare time.
"You know, Wulf," the former said, "how warm is the affection Guyhas for you, and he will look very eagerly for your visits. Justat present he has very few pleasures in life, and chief among themwill be your comings. We are all dull here, lad, and Agnes willmiss you sorely."
"I will ride over whenever I can. I should be ungrateful indeed didI not do so, after the great kindness you and Lady de Burg haveshown me; but even putting this aside I will come every day if Ican, if only for half an hour's talk with Guy."
"I am glad to see you back again, Wulf," Earl Harold said as thelad entered his room. "You look strong and well again, and might,methinks, have come to us before now."
"I could have done so, doubtless, my lord, but it pained me to leaveGuy, who is still on his couch, and will, I fear, never be strongand well again."
"We heard but a poor account of him from the duke's leech," Haroldsaid. "It is a sad thing; for one, who as a lad has shown suchbravery, would have turned out a gallant knight. I should have letyou linger there for some time yet, but the duke has frequentlyasked after you, and I thought it were best that you came over;though, in truth, there will be little for you to do here, and youwill be able to ride and see your friend when you will."
"Are we likely to go back to England soon, my lord?"
"I trust it will not be long. I have spoken of it more than onceto the duke, but he chides me for being weary of his company; whichindeed I am not, for no man could have treated another better thanhe has done me. Still," he said, walking up and down the room, "Iam impatient to be off, but I am no more free to choose my timehere that I was at Beaurain. It is a velvet glove that is placedon my shoulder, but there is an iron hand in it, I know right well."
"Is there no possibility of escaping, my lord?"
Harold looked keenly at the boy. "No, Wulf, treated as I am as aguest I cannot fly without incurring the reproach of the basestingratitude, nor even if I wished it could I escape. Under theexcuse of doing me honour, there are Norman soldiers at the gate,and a Norman sentry stands at my door. I must go through with itnow, and if need be promise all that William asks. This time thereis nowhere to send you to fetch aid for me. You have heard, Isuppose, that William has promised me his daughter in marriage?"
"Yes, my lord, I have heard it. Is the marriage to take place soon?"
Harold smiled. "The duke will not wish it to take place until hesees that he can secure my services by the marriage. If that timeshould never come I shall probably hear no more of it. Engagementshave been broken off before now many a time, and absolution for abroken promise of that kind is not hard to obtain. You must attendthe court this evening, Wulf."
Wulf bowed and withdrew, and in the evening attended the court inthe suite of Harold. As soon as the duke's eye fell upon him hecalled him up.
"Messieurs," he said to the barons present, "this lad is Wulf, Thaneof Steyning, and a follower of Earl Harold. He it was who, with theyoung Guy de Burg, and aided only by a Saxon man-at-arms, withstoodthe first rush of the Bretons, and so gained time by which I myselfand my barons were able to prepare ourselves to resist the attack.Had it not been for them we should all have been taken by surprise,and maybe slain. The Saxon and the two lads, Wulf and De Burg, allfell wounded well-nigh to death, but not before twenty-one Bretonslay dead around them. This was indeed a feat of arms that any ofyou, valiant knights and barons as you are, might have been proudto perform.
"Already I had promised him any boon that in reason he may ask forhaving borne to me the news that Earl Harold, my honoured guest andbrother-in-arms, had been cast on our shores, and I promise himnow, that should at any time it happen that I have any power orinfluence in England, his estates shall remain to him and to hisheirs free from all service or dues, even though he has withstoodme in arms;--nay, more, that they shall be largely added to. Shouldsuch issue never arise, and aught occur to render him desirous ofcrossing the seas hither, I promise him a baron's feu as a tokenof my gratitude for the great service he rendered me; and I am wellassured that, whether to a King of England or to a Duke of Normandy,he will prove himself a true and faithful follower. I call on youall here to witness this promise that I have made, and should therebe need, to recall it to my memory."
The Normans above all things admired valour, and when Wulf, afterkneeling and kissing the duke's hand, retired shamefacedly to acorner of the room, where he was joined by Beorn, one after anothercame up to him and said a few words of approbation.
"You have done well, young sir," Fitz-Osberne, one of the duke'smost trusted councillors said to him. "The duke is not given tooverpraise, and assuredly no one of your age has ever won suchcommendation from his lips. After making so fair a commencement,it will be your own fault indeed if you do not make a great namefor yourself in the future. There is not one of us who was in theduke's camp that evening but feels that he owes you much for thefew minutes' delay that saved us from being taken altogether bysurprise. You are young, and may think but little of the promise theduke has given you this evening, but the day may come when you will findit stand you in good stead."
Harold said nearly the same thing to Wulf when he saw him the next morning.
"But there is no chance of the duke ever having power in England, my lord,"Wulf said.
"I trust not, Wulf, but there is no doubt that his whole mind is bent uponobtaining the throne of England. He has spoken to me openly about it, andhas more than hinted to me that I, if married
to his daughter, would still,as Earl of Wessex, be the foremost man in the land next to its sovereignshould he ever gain the kingdom."
"And what said you, my lord, if I may be so bold as to ask?"
"I said but little, lad. I am a prisoner, and I am well assured that Ishall never return to England until William thinks that he can depend uponme. It is needful that I should return, and that quickly, for I hear thatthere is fresh trouble in Wales, and I have received an urgent message fromthe king to hasten to his side. It is hard to see what it is best to do."
Four days later a grand ceremony was announced to take place, but few knewwhat its nature was to be. That it was something beyond the ordinary wascertain by the number of barons and knights that were bidden to attend. Adais was erected in the courtyard of the palace, and on this a tablecovered with a cloth was placed.
"I don't like this business," Wulf said to Beorn, as with the other Saxonsthey took their place near the dais. "There is something very mysteriousabout it, and I believe that at last we are going to see what William'sfull intentions are."
A religious ceremony was first held, and then the duke rose to his feet andaddressed the barons. He first recalled to them the promise that Edward ofEngland had made to him, and then went on: "The saints have worked in myfavour," he said, "by sending here as my guest my well-belovedbrother-in-arms, the great Earl of Wessex. Between us there is the closestfriendship, and to cement and make even closer the bonds between us, he hasbecome betrothed to my daughter, and through the lands I shall bestow uponher he will become a baron of Normandy. Relying upon his affection andfriendship, I have called you here together to hear him swear in publicthat which he has already told me privately--that he will be my faithfulfeudatory, and will in all ways aid me to gain my lawful rights."
Harold changed colour. The matter had come upon him as a surprise.Doubtless he had in a vague way when discussing his future relations asson-in-law to the duke, expressed his warm friendship and a generalwillingness to be of service to him, but to be called upon to take an oathpublicly was a different matter. Most of those present had taken oaths ofallegiance to William and had broken them again and again, and Williamhimself had not less frequently broken his feudal oaths to his suzerain,the King of France. But Harold was a man with a deep sense of religion, anddid not esteem as lightly as these Norman barons an oath thus sworn; but hefelt that he had fallen into a trap, and that resistance would but consignhim to a prison, if not a grave.
He at once understood how hollow had been the pretended friendship of hishost; but he was in William's power, and unless as a friend the duke wouldnever permit so formidable a rival to quit his shores. As he hesitated hesaw a movement on the part of the Norman knights near the dais, andunderstood that they had been previously informed of William's intentions,and were there to enforce them. Their brows were bent on him angrily as hehesitated, and more than one hand went to the hilt of the wearer's sword.There was no drawing back, and placing his hand on the table he swore theoath William had dictated. When he concluded William snatched the clothfrom the table, and below it were seen a number of bones and sacred relicsthat had been brought from the cathedral.
Enlightened as Harold was, he was not altogether free from thesuperstitions of the age. For a moment he shuddered slightly and grew palerthan before, then he drew himself up to his full height, and looked calmlyinto the exulting face of William.
"I call you all to witness," the duke said in a loud voice, "that Harold,Earl of Wessex, has taken a solemn oath upon the holy relics to be myfaithful feudatory."
The shout that answered him was by no means universal, for there were manyamong the Norman nobles who were shocked at the base trick that the dukehad played upon a guest for whom he had professed the warmest friendship.The Saxon thanes could scarce contain their expressions of indignation, butHarold as he sat down among them made a gesture commanding silence.
"We sail for England to-morrow night," he said in low tones. "The duke toldme so as we came hither. The two ships will be in readiness for us toembark in the morning. I did not understand then the price I was to pay.Restrain yourselves now; when we are free men we can talk this over."
An hour later they returned to the palace, where there was a brief andformal interview between Harold and the duke. Both dissembled their realfeelings. The duke said that he regretted that the King of England's wishesforced his guest to start so suddenly, and that he much regretted hisdeparture. Harold thanked him for the hospitality he had shown him, butneither made any allusion whatever to the scene that had taken place in thecourtyard. Wulf rode over to say good-bye to Guy and his father. The latterwas walking up and down the hall with a gloomy face.
"I blush for what has taken place to-day, Wulf," he said. "Tell the earlthat had we known what was going to occur there are few indeed who wouldhave attended at the ceremony, and that I for one shall hold him in no waydishonoured if he breaks the vow that has thus been dishonourably extortedfrom him. It was a trick and a base one, and I would tell Duke William soto his face. What will men think of Norman faith when guests are thustricked to their disadvantage?"
For an hour Wulf remained talking with the baron and his family.
"I hope to see you again, Wulf," De Burg said, as the lad rose to takeleave. "Guy regards you as a brother, and though assuredly no Saxon willset foot on Norman soil after to-day's doings, we may yet meet again."
"I shall come over to England to see you, Wulf, if you come not here," Guysaid. "I begin to think that I shall get over this, although I may never bereally strong again. We shall often think and talk of you, Agnes and I; andI should like, of all things, to come and stay in your Saxon home."
"No one would be so welcome, Guy. If we are never to be brothers-in-arms aswe once talked of, we shall surely be brothers in heart, whether absent orpresent."
A few more words and Wulf took leave of them all and rode back to Rouen. Inthe morning the duke accompanied Harold to the river bank and there took acourteous farewell of him. It is not probable that he thought for a momentthat Harold would observe the oath, but he saw that its breach would bealmost as useful to him as its fulfilment, for it would enable him todenounce his rival as a perjured and faithless man, and to represent anyexpedition against England as being a sort of crusade to punish one who hadbroken the most solemn vows made on the holy relics. Harold himselfpreserved his usual calmness of demeanour, and stood talking quietly to theduke while the latter's presents of hawks and hounds were taken on boardthe ship, and the Saxons, silent and sullen, had passed over the gangway.Then an apparently affectionate embrace was exchanged between the tworivals. Harold crossed on to the ship, the great sails were hoisted, andthe two vessels proceeded down the river.
