Silvain

“ Silvain cried. “I am Silvain de St. Lo, a knight of France.”
“I am the captain of the guard of my lord of Mantua. Do you come from the King of France?”
Silvain saw the wrinkled scarred face of an old soldier of fortune look at him cunningly.
“I come from myself. My news is that you are in danger.”
The Mantuan looked round at his men at arms and laughed, and Silvain went on:
“Sir, you know what you have with you that is worth taking. I know that three miles away there is an ambush laid to take it. There are forty men against you. If you can break through, go your way and God be with you. ”

“ Silvain,' I said reproachfully, 'this is not as we used to meet. I come to you with open arms, and you receive me with doubt and suspicion. Are we not, as we always were and always shall be, friends staunch and true? You are the same Silvain; I am the same Louis; unchanged, as you will find me if you care to prove me.'
"Avicia had risen and crept close to my side. ”

“ Chance favoured him, and he encountered Adair in one of the roads leading to Versailles, a solitary road, and so narrow that no two acquaintances could pass without recognition. M. Silvain played his little part well, and seemed disconcerted at seeing his late antagonist, and as if inclined to turn and avoid him. Adair, however, hastened to hold out his hand, and press it upon the apparently reluctant Frenchman.
“Why,” said Ernest, retaining the hand of the other while speaking, “you surely do not bear any malice, Silvain. Life is too short for such folly.” ”

“ His suffering would be his own, and would not bring misery upon others. And in the light of the inevitable, his honourable feelings and the promptings of conscience--to which I believed both Silvain and Kristel to be amenable--would assist him to bear it in silence, however bitter and poignant it might be. I decided that Silvain was the better able, upon moral grounds, to bear the suffering, although, had it devolved upon me to deliberately contribute to the happiness of only one of the brothers, my choice would have fallen upon Silvain. ”

“ He was for going off alone to some humbler place and when Silvain swore they should lodge together he had many shy excuses and apologies. And Thibaut, though he made a sour face at the little remote tavern to which they came, could not much blame the lad who would plainly have been well content to part from them. And Louis, like a good youth, fell to grooming his horse and cleaning his armor while Silvain went out to see the town.
None so busy, none so rich he had found in all his travels. ”

“ Silvain said gently. “I have my fame that I could lay at the feet of God if I die tonight. And my life is not lived yet.”
Lodovico looked at his wife. Lodovico’s thin lips smiled.
“You are right. He wants nothing of you. That is what a woman can not forgive. What will you give him, Beatrice? Death?” He turned to Silvain. “You have made an enemy, sir.” ”

“ Silvain said gently.
“And I have done nothing? Is that it? Why, child, the world will talk of Beatrice of Milan when you are dead and dust. I have had power over men. But let me be what you say. I have done nothing, I am nothing! Then in God’s name why do you come to serve me?”
“I serve those who need, lady. For the joy of the venture and the honor.”
She flung out her white arms and pointed at him:
“He saves others! himself he will not save!” And she laughed. “A saint you are, not a knight nor a man.”
It was there or thereabouts that Lodovico came in. ”

“ So have I seen a man when the shadow of death fell cold upon him.”
But Silvain pushed on fast and came through the Apennines and beyond Pisa and there in the country by the sea saw the banners of the French army.
He was kneeling by a wayside shrine to give thanks when horsemen rode out from the vanguard and challenged him and brought him to their captain.
⁠A KNIGHT who sat tall on a great charger shaded his eyes to look.
Silvain cried out “Bayard!” and galloped on. “I said in my heart that it would be you, brother. There is none but Bayard to lead the vanguard of France.” ”

“ We are alone, you and I, Silvain, with no ties beyond us to weaken or strengthen the affection which unites us and makes our hearts as one.'
"Silvain looked up with a loving light in his eyes; his nature was ever responsive to the call of affection.
"'Yes, Kristel,' he said, 'nothing can weaken the ties which unite us. They are perfect, complete. Our hearts truly are one.'
"'Then you will be guided by me, Silvain?'
"'Yes.'
"'Good! We will continue our travels, and nothing shall ever part us.'
"'Nothing can ever part us, Kristel,' said Silvain. ”

“ With Silvain I was well acquainted, and what I learned and knew of him was admirable. Kristel I knew less intimately, having fewer opportunities. My first meeting with Silvain took place in England, long before I met my wife. On the continent it is the practice of many fathers to send their sons to foreign countries for a few years, to see something of other customs than their own before they settle down to the serious business of life. ”

“ He was standing at the money office of an opera house; between him and the money-taker some difficulty had arisen with respect to the payment, and Silvain, being but imperfectly acquainted with the language, had a difficulty in understanding and in making himself understood. I put the matter straight for them, and Silvain and I entered the opera house together, and sat next to each other during the performance. Being foreigners we naturally conversed, and the foundation of a friendship was laid which was as sincere on his side as it was on mine. ”

“ It is difficult to be silent, whether you are sulky or not, when a lively Frenchman resolves that you shall speak, and is not content with being the sole orator of a party; and although at first neither Adair nor the stranger seemed to evince the least inclination to sociability, M. Silvain’s determined exertions gradually acted as a solvent, and he dexterously entangled first the one and then the other in conversation with himself, finally managing to link them together in a discussion which they approached reluctantly, but in which they at length engaged with some spirit. ”

“ The girl looked searchingly at her lover, conceiving from the expression of his face and from his being defenceless, that he might have received a hurt, the rather that Silvain was too mortified to speak on the instant.
“He has not stabbed you?” asked Mary, vehemently.
“What a word, Mademoiselle!” said Ernest. “We do not stab, except under very exceptional circumstances. M. Silvain is perfectly unhurt, and I hope will pardon my awkwardness in knocking his sword out of his hand.”
He picked up Silvain’s weapon, and replaced it, with his own, in the box, which he quietly locked. ”

“ Beatrice and Lodovico looked at each other, and his dark face smiled and she shrugged her shoulders and nodded and turned with a sneer on her lip to watch Silvain.
“The fair Clarissa lives for Bonivard,” Lodovico purred. “It is unfortunate. But she is young and he will not live forever.” Silvain checked and turned. “Men do not live forever in prison. Men who are in the way.” ”

“ Suddenly Silvain checked.
“They have a captain there, brother,” he said loudly. “He will hold us here till we have worn out our strength. And then we are meat for his supper. Here we stay waiting till he is ready to eat us and there is the road to France.” He pointed to the other fork of the valley across the Italian front.
After a first grimace of horror Messire Thibaut took his cue. “By my bones, it is time to go,” he grinned. “We should be off with the baggage and leave the noble knights to fight it out behind us.” ”

“ Assured of Silvain’s safety, she relapsed into her ordinary cold manner, and infused some slight touch of the most irritating compassion for the man who had sought to avenge a woman’s wrongs without being able to do so effectively. She alluded to Adair as one who was so evidently Silvain’s superior, both in intellect and physical prowess, that the latter must avoid annoying him for the future, and must leave Mary (or Matilde, as she would still be to Silvain) to protect herself in the best way a helpless girl might. ”

“ He acknowledged my efforts in monosyllables, but volunteered nothing of himself or Avicia. At the end of about an hour's walk we arrived at a village, in which there was one poor inn, and there we halted. Before we entered Silvain said,
"'A word first. I have been seemingly churlish and ungrateful, but I am not so. My heart is overflowing with thankfulness; presently, perhaps, I may have courage to unbosom myself. You are as you were; life is fair and sweet to you.'
"It was only because he paused here that I spoke: 'And will be to you, Silvain.'
"'Never again,' he said. ”

“ Sir Silvain de St. Lo, we judge you victor. For you have conquered by skill in arms and by courtesy. You have the honor of this trial.”
Then the marshals came to Silvain and took off his helmet and led him between them to the Lady Beatrice and he knelt at her feet, and she put over his head a golden chain, and there were trumpets for him and shouting.
IN THIS manner Silvain came to lodge in the castle of Milan. For Lodovico, as the custom was, made him the guest of honor at a banquet and then would not let him go, swearing that he could not afford to lose a knight of such prowess. ”

“ Mischief to Matilde, and the lady, and more people besides. Now, be off.”
“You will have to account to me for all this, Monsieur,” said Silvain, as he went to the door.
“Stop,” said Ernest Adair, in a furious voice. “Stop a second. I have humoured your folly and swagger long enough. Take warning now. If ever you provoke me again into inflicting personal chastisement on you, it is the last you will want, M. Silvain.”
“The tiger has tasted blood, and is ferocious,” said Silvain, contemptuously, as the door opened for him. He pointed to his arm, in illustration of his meaning, and departed. ”

“ Bayard cried.
One thing Silvain had forgotten, the desire of men to save themselves. What was said in council in that army was not long secret and when that story of a league of enemies passed through the ranks every man was zealous to push on into safety. The marshal had no need to drive them though he drove hard and they marched through the Italian summer, ruthless to themselves and their horses, unwearying. ”

“ Bonivard and his Clarissa came tumbling downstairs, Silvain thrust them out before him and shut the door of the tower and locked it and tossed the keys into the river. Bonivard and he took the girl between them and ran along the ramparts. From the tower the clamor of the imprisoned guard came dull on the night air.
“They will rouse the town,” Bonivard panted.
“Time is all,” said Silvain. “Do not fear yet, brother.” ”

“ Bonivard grasped his hand.
“I should thank God for you. This is a hard venture. But tell me how did you know I came for her? If any man suspects me, there is no hope for me or her.”
Silvain laughed.
“I think no man knows you but me, Louis. You are the wariest youth in the world. But you puzzled me. You were so eager to hear of knightly ventures, yet when one came you would not take it. I thought then it was for your own sake you were careful. But still you puzzled me. When I found you here in Pavia I saw light. You were not your own man. You have saved yourself for a nobler venture. ”

“ Silvain asked him if he had news of the king and the army of France. “—— a word have I heard,” said Gilbert and drank to French swords and King Charles.
“And God send him a horse with a good wind,” said Philibert.
“What sir? Is the army in retreat? I did not know that.”
“Nor did I. But I can guess. If a man goes rabbiting where wasps nest, he will soon be running.”
“Drink again, cousin,” Gilbert laughed and passed the wine along. “See your luck through the wine, it is none so black.”
“Nor is the king’s,” said Silvain. “He has won many a victory and none stand against him.” ”

“ Have not Atkinson’s and Rimmel’s, scent-men of London, better than all the sweet waters of Paris?” said Adair, with one of his favourite irreverences of memory. “But I rejoice in a friend’s luck. And perhaps you may owe it to me,” he added.
“How so?”
“Madame knows that we are acquainted, and may mean a delicate attention to me,” said the other, eyeing Silvain keenly.
“I should be glad to think so,” said Silvain, “but nothing of the kind was said to me.”
“Of course,” said Ernest. “Women can, sometimes, hold their tongues at the proper time. ”

“ WHEN he rode against Ercole, who was accounted the stronger of the three champions, each man broke his first lance fairly with no advantage and at the second, Silvain, riding faster and coming forward sharply in the saddle at the shock, struck Ercole upon the helmet and hurled him down. Then Gottfried came out and tried to use Silvain’s own tactics against him, but rode so fast that his aim at Silvain’s head was wild and Silvain swayed from it, and the point missed while Gottfried crashed upon Silvain’s lance and was brought up with shattered shield and the lancehead in his arm. ”

“ It was not prompted solely by friendship; an insatiable curiosity possessed me to ascertain the real facts of the case, and, as I have already said, to verify them in detail.
"'Kristel lives?' I said to Silvain.
"'As nearly,' he replied, 'as a man can be convinced of anything, the knowledge of which is acquired by spiritual means, so am I convinced that Kristel lives.'
"'And will recover?'
"'That is beyond me,' said Silvain gravely. 'I hope so--I pray so. You inspire strange thoughts, Louis. Though parted from Kristel by great distances, I hold communion with him while he lives. ”