Part 6 (1/2)
The monk had until then looked troubled and given but scant attention to the words of the count. The moment, however, that he heard an abbey promised to him his eyes brightened and his forehead smoothed. With sparkling eyes he answered:
”Seigneur, if our holy abbot allows me, I shall carry out his orders and yours. May heaven protect me! I trust I may be able to carry your commission to a successful issue.”
At this point one of the count's officers entered, saying:
”Agreeable to your orders, several archers whom our riders brought on the cruppers of their horses were posted on the river bank. By the light of the moon they noticed a large vessel ascending the Seine. They compelled the sailors to land, threatening them, in case of refusal, to treat them to a volley of arrows. The master of the vessel is being brought in.”
”Have him come here immediately,” answered Rothbert; and turning to the abbot he explained: ”I have issued orders to allow no vessel to pa.s.s without questioning the skippers. They may be able to furnish us with some information on the fleet of the pirates; they may have picked up something.”
The master who was forthwith introduced was Eidiol, the dean of the Skippers' Guild, who had been so brutally treated by the count on that very day. a.s.suming a look of surprise, mingled with cordiality, Rothbert said to Eidiol:
”I did not expect to see you quite so soon again, my trusty skipper!”
and waving his hand towards the aged man, he said to the abbot: ”This man is the dean of the honorable Skippers' and Mariners' Guild of Paris.”
Greatly astonished at the cordial and respectful reception that he now received at the hand of Rothbert, who, that very forenoon had treated him with so much contempt, Eidiol looked suspiciously at the count and sought to explain to himself the cause of so sudden a change in his favor. As to Fultrade, the monk at first seemed nailed to the floor with stupefaction at the sight of the father of Anne the Sweet, but speedily recovering his self-control, said to Rothbert:
”Time presses. I shall depart instantly on the mission that you have charged me with.”
”Make it clear to the seigneurs and the abbots that we can not choose but win, provided we act concertedly.”
The monk vanished, and redoubling his affability toward Eidiol, Rothbert resumed: ”Be welcome, my trusty skipper. You could not possibly have arrived at a more opportune moment. Your advice will be useful to us.”
”Your archers must, no doubt, have thought so, seeing they threatened to let fly a volley of arrows at us if our vessel did not promptly land where they ordered.”
”Such severe measures are unavoidable at this moment, my worthy skipper. No doubt you have heard the news? The Northmans have reappeared at the mouth of the Seine.”
”Oh!” exclaimed Eidiol with perfect indifference. ”It is the Northmans, is it? Yes, I have learned of their approach. I even know, from the master of a lighter that was pulling up the river, that the pirates'
fleet dropped anchor this evening near the isle of Oissel, one of their former and favorite rendezvous.”
”By the sword of my great father, Rothbert the Strong!” cried Rothbert, stupefied and indignant at the unconcern of the skipper with regard to the invasion of the Northman pirates. ”This upsets me! What do you mean by such a display of apathy at the prospect of the terrible ills that are about to fall over our heads?!”
”Oh, I am by no means unconcerned touching the arrival of the pirates.
Instead of descending the river as far as St. Audoin, whither I was taking a cargo, I am now ascending the river to return to Paris, where I thought my presence might be needed.”
”That is right, my brave skipper! I was mistaken. You were not indifferent but calm, like all brave people in sight of danger.”
”To speak truly, I can not see wherein lies the danger.”
”Are you not fleeing before the approach of those pagans?”
”No, I am not fleeing. I am returning to Paris to embrace my wife and daughter. And I am all the happier about it, seeing I did not expect to be with them again until to-morrow evening. I meant, after that, to take council with my comperes upon what to do.”
”And who are your comperes?”
”Why, of course, the deans of the other guilds of the city of Paris--of the blacksmiths, carpenters, armorers, weavers, curriers, stone-cutters, and others.”
”Of course, the purpose of such a council is to organize the defense of Paris against the pirates! Glory to you, my towns-men! I feel proud of numbering such stalwarts as yourselves in my city!”
”Blessed be they who defend the Church! All their sins will be remitted!” put in the abbot who, until now overwhelmed with grief and fear, seemed to gather some hope from the words of the count.