But come hither, master mule, and be unloaded,
that thou mayest get thee to thy litter, without any music being
wasted on thee. Meantime do thou, good brother of Salisbury, go
to our consort's tent, and tell her that Blondel has arrived,
with his budget fraught with the newest minstrelsy. Bid her come
hither instantly, and do thou escort her, and see that our
cousin, Edith Plantagenet, remain not behind."
His eye then rested for a moment on the Nubian, with that
expression of doubtful meaning which his countenance usually
displayed when he looked at him.
"Ha, our silent and secret messenger returned?--Stand up, slave,
behind the back of De Neville, and thou shalt hear presently
sounds which will make thee bless God that He afflicted thee
rather with dumbness than deafness."
So saying, he turned from the rest of the company towards De
Vaux, and plunged instantly into the military details which that
baron laid before him.
About the time that the Lord of Gilsland had finished his
audience, a messenger announced that the Queen and her attendants
were approaching the royal tent.
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