"Prince, remember that G.o.d has said, "Honour thy father.""
"Has he not somewhere also said, "Parents, provoke not your children to anger"?"
"G.o.d judge between you, then," said the bishop, "but I warn you that you appear the greater transgressor."
"Meanwhile," said Edric, "I feel like a man who is being put unjustly to the torture. What is the accusation against me?--let it be stated in plain words."
"That just after the army disbanded in October, you visited the camp of Sweyn, and gave him to understand that the country was at his mercy, opposition being removed."
"What day of the month?"
"I do not know the exact day."
"Perhaps it was in the Greek calends," said Edric.
"I do not know when the Greek calends are, nor do I want to; my mother spent her time, I thank G.o.d, in teaching me to speak the truth, and to be true to my country, and not in teaching me outlandish gibberish."
"Still," said the bishop, "it is important to learn the day."
"Alfgar can perhaps inform you, but one day must have been much like another to him in the Danish camp."
"His statement would need verification," said Ednoth.
"He is as true and brave as any man here."
"Of course, all Danes are true and brave," said Edric.
"He is a Christian."
"Yes; I think he became one on St. Brice"s day," suggested Edric.
"To save his life, no doubt," said the sheriff.
Meanwhile Ethelred had changed colour, and Edric cried out:
"Have we not forgotten in whose presence we are? The king, who was quite ignorant of the mistaken zeal which misinterpreted his wishes that day, cannot bear to be reminded of it. He is all too merciful and gentle for such days as ours."
"I suppose he put on mourning for Elfhelm," whispered Edmund in the bishop"s ear.
"Forget not that he is your father."
"We are wasting time," said the king. "Edric, what is your answer to this accusation?"
"That when the army disbanded I went on pilgrimage to the shrine of St. Joseph at Glas...o...b..ry, and can produce, in the time requisite for a messenger to go and return, an attestation to that effect. Here," he said, putting his hand to his bosom, and drawing out a reliquary, "is a holy thorn plucked from St. Joseph"s tree."
"Art thou not ashamed, my son, to have brought such a charge against the venerator of the Saints, one of the few in whom faith yet lives?"
"No, for I do not believe he was ever there at all."
"Witness the holy thorn."
"Thorns may be plucked in bushels round Dorchester or any other place."
"It is a question of pure testimony," said the bishop.
"It is," added the sheriff and the reeve.
"Then, may I produce my witness?" said Edmund.
"Certainly," said the king.
"By all means," added Edric.
The bishop called an attendant, and ordered him to fetch Alfgar.
"Before he enters I must remind you all," said Edric, "that the word of a Dane is to be opposed to that of a Christian."
"I have already said that Alfgar is a Christian."
But Edric had already, by his adroit suggestion about St. Brice"s day, predisposed the company to doubt the genuineness of Alfgar"s conversion.
A long pause succeeded, which no one seemed to care to break. Ethelred was anxious for his favourite; the traitor himself was studying how to meet the accusation; the Prince was furious, and was striving in vain to repress his surging pa.s.sions, the others were perplexed.
The messenger returned after a time to say that Alfgar had left the palace.
"Left the palace!" said Edmund.
"About half-an-hour since."
"There is some vile treason here," said Edmund.
"Treason! on whose part?" said Edric.
"Thine, villain."
"I am glad you think so, for you give me an opportunity of demonstrating to the court how unreasonable your hatred makes you, and how unjust. I have not left the king"s presence since your first appearance."
"It is true," said Ethelred.
Edmund was completely baffled.
"It appears to me," said the king, "that he fears the discovery of his villainy, and has taken himself off. I will offer a fitting reward to the man who shall produce him; meanwhile, it is useless to continue this scene."
"Wait at least a few minutes," said Edmund, and went forth himself.
Vainly he sought through all the courts of the palace--once he thought Alfgar, whose fidelity he never suffered himself to doubt, might be in the chapel, and went there in vain.
At last he found a servitor who had seen him go with some men into the city, and hurried forth in search of him. He pa.s.sed through all the streets inflaming the curiosity of the watchmen; the darkness (for there were very few lamps or lights of any kind, in those days, for public use) was intense, a drizzling rain was falling, and at length, weary, wet, and dispirited, he returned to the palace, and found that the council, tired of waiting, had at length broken up.