The National tribune., 1888-12-13
THE BOY DUKE.
Continued from 1st page.l

Master Herman told the truth when he re-
ported, on his return to Arras, that the young
Duke of the NOrmans was
NONE THE LESS a DUKE BECAUSE he WAS 4
BOY.
At later hour the Count and the Baron held
q conference with Richard, in which they dis
eussed his proposed undertaking with less ex-
citement, if but little more approval, than they
had manifested when they heard him first an
nouuce it; but, though he listened with atten-
tiOn to all they had to say, they found that he
was not be shaken in his purpose.
lie adhered to his opinion that it would not
be best for Bernard to go with him on his visit
to the Duke of Brittany; but he was very
willing that Bothon and Sir Ivo should bear
him company.
A belted knight and a warrior so well re-
nOwned as BOthOn of Bayeux would make his
retinue sufficiently imposing; and yet theiF
presence in his company could give the Breton
Duke no cause to think his loyalty mistrusted,
since it was known that Richard seldom traV-
ecd very far without them.
On the following morning, therefore, at
the break of day." having seen Master Herman
and his men depart for ArTas, escorted for
safety by Sir Rolfe himself-the Baron starting
off on this duty with an air of disgusted resig-
nation, and the Fleming going away with
tears in his eyes and a benedietiOn on his lips
after taking leave of RichaFd-the Boy Duke,
with his young Esquire, his two stanch, faith
full Danes, and guard of so Norman soldiers,
set out for Brittany.
The Count of Rouen rode with him some dis
tance on the way; and when they parted he
beCkoned BOthOn of Bayeux aside, and said to
him:
81 leave the Duke to your care, since must
leave him, BOthon-to your care and Sir 1vO's.
He should not go on such an expedition if
could hinder it; but go he will, and you must
IL 4 7 E.Tl
| that"
| Bothon answered, simply:
Count if you hear that any evil has hap
| pened to the Duke, you can tell my kinsmen
to have masses for my SOUL"
| al know, good BothOn," said the Count,
| that you will not live to let your Lord come
| TO harm but even if no danger seems to men
| ace him, take heed that your sword is not too
far away; there may be peril where you least
| expect it. 1 should have no fear for him, if he
/ were not going out of Normandy; but these
| Bretons are not his own. And look you, Bo-
| thon-trust him not, too much, to such guard
| ian as that headstrong Squire of his"
| Nay, Count Osmond is a good lad. You
/ forget he is the son of ROlfe de CentOVille, ("
| said Bothon, with an accent of remOnstrance.
"Oh good lad enough; Sir Rolfe's own son
/ for loyalty and daring" said the Count; /" but
/ he is nothing more than boy. Well, well!
weary you with all these charges, Bothon; you
would guard the Duke as faithfully without
my bidding. But in truth, I shall not have
an easy mind until know that ne is safe in
/ ROuen."
| Little did the anxious Count imagine that
| Richards help and succor, in the darkest dan
| ger of his life, would be no belted knight or
warrior Dane, but the faithful young Esquire,
! who, like his Lord, was nothing but boy"
1t had been settled that the Boy Duke, on
returning from his expedition to Brittany,
| should proceed to ROuen, instead Of going back
to CentoviIle and that Bernard should re-
| join him there, when he had concluded his
| business at Bayeux.
This business, be it remarked, was chiefly to
ascertain the state Of feeling among the people
of Bayeux and the foresters Of Guer in regard
to the possibility of war with King Louis, in
case it should appear that Richards rights
could not be gained from him without resort to
arms. Bernard himself, hating the King for
his more than suspected completely with Ar
/ nulf the Wicked, was burning for war and ven
geanee; but, as the Norman Lords had agreed
upon the policy of preserving the country in
a peaceful state, if possible, during the period
of Richards actual bOyhOod-hOWever Loyalty
they might regard him as, in theory, their
leader, both in peace and war-the Count felt
it needful to fully know their minds, in view
of the general feeling that peace could hardly
be maintained much longer, unless the King
restored to their young Duke his fortress o.
| Eyreux.
[ TT, L. ~o,Fy,-@r7