Part 12 (1/2)
”He will take revenge for all this.”
”Upon whom?”
”Why, upon Dunstan to be sure.”
”But how can he? Dunstan is too powerful for that.”
”Wait and see.”
Such was the general tone of the conversation, from which the sentiments of the community might be inferred.
Elfric went, as he had been bidden to do, at the conclusion of the feast, to seek Edwy, and found him, it is needless to state, in a towering rage.
”Elfric,” he said, ”am I a king? or did I dream I was crowned today?”
”You certainly were.”
”And yet these insolent monks have dared to force me from the company of Elgiva to return to that sottish feast, and what is worse, I find they have dared to send her and her mother home under an escort, so that I cannot even apologise to them. As I live, if I am a king I will have revenge.”
”I trust so, indeed,” said Elfric, ”they deserve death.”
”I would it were in my power to inflict it; but this accursed monk--I go mad when I mention his name--is all too powerful. I believe Satan helps him.”
”Still there may be ways, if you only wait till you can look around you.”
”There may indeed.”
”Only have patience; all will be in your hands some day.”
”And if it be in my power I will restore the wors.h.i.+p of Woden and Thor, and burn every monk's nest in the land.”
”They were at least the G.o.ds of warriors.”
”Elfric, you will stand by me, will you not?”
”With my life.”
”Come to the window, now; see the old sots departing. There a priest, there a thane, there an earl--all drunk, I do believe; don't you think so?”
”Yes, yes,” said Elfric, disregarding the testimony of both his eyes that they were all perfectly sober.
Just then his eye caught a very disagreeable object, and he turned somewhat pale.
”What are you looking at?” said Edwy.
”There is that old fox, Dunstan, talking with my father; he will learn that I am here.”
”What does it matter?”
”Only that he will easily persuade my father to take me home.”