[ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]
Then their hooves thundered across the bridge over the Pshora.
"Those things will not cross running water," said Eudoric, looking back. "Slow down,
Jillo. These nags must bear us many leagues, and we must not founder them at the start."
so here we are," Eudoric told Doctor Baldonius. "Ye've seen your family, lad?"
"Certes. They thrive, praise to the Divine Pair. WThere's Lusina?"
"Well-ah-ahem-the fact is, she is not here."
"Oh? Then where?"
"Ye put me to shame, Eudoric. I promised you her hand in return for the two yards of
dragon hide. Well, ye've fetched me the hide, at no small effort and risk, but I cannot fulfill my
side of the bargain."
"Wherefore?"
"Alas! My undutiful daughter ran off with a strolling player last summer, whilst ye were
chasing dragons-or perchance 'twas the other way round. I'm right truly sorry. . . ."
Eudoric frowned silently for an instant, then said, "Fret not, esteemed Doctor. I shall
recover from the wound-provided, that is, that you salve it by making up my losses in more
materialistic fashion."
Baldonius raised bushy gray brows. "So? Ye seem not so griefstricken as I should have
expected, to judge from the lover's sighs and tears wherewith ye parted from the jade last spring.
Now ye'lI accept money instead?"
"Aye, sir. I admit that my passion had somewhat cooled during our long separation. Was it
file:///D|/Documents%20and%20Settings/harr...%20Best%20of%20L%20Sprague%20De%20Camp.txt (144 of 149) [2/5/2004 12:29:04 AM]
file:///D|/Documents%20and%20Settings/harry/Desktop/L%20Sprag...De%20Camp%20-%20The%20Best%20of%20L%20Sprague%20De%20Camp.txt
likewise with her? What said she of me?"
"Aye, her sentiments did indeed change. She said you were too much an opportunist
altogether to please her. I would not wound your feelings. . . ."
Eudoric waved a deprecatory hand. "Continue, pray. I have been somewhat toughened by my
months in the rude, rough world, and I am interested."
"Well, I told her she was being foolish; that ye were a shrewd lad who, an ye survived the
dragon hunt, would go far. But her words were: 'That is just the trouble, Father. He is too shrewd
to be very lovable."
"Hmph," grunted Eudoric. "As one might say: I am a man of enterprise, thou art an
opportunist, he is a conniving scoundrel. 'Tis all in the point of view. Well, if she prefers the
fools of this world, I wish her joy of them. As a man of honor, I would have wedded Lusina had she
wished. As things stand, trouble is saved all around."
"To you, belike, though I misdoubt my headstrong lass'll find the life of an actor's wife
a bed of violets:
'Who'd wed on a whim is soon filled to the brim
Of worry and doubt, till he longs for an out.
So if ye would wive, beware of the gyve
Of an ill-chosen mate; 'tis a harrowing fate.'
But enough of that. What sum had ye in mind?"
"Enough to cover the cost of my good destrier Morgrim and my panoply of plate, together
with lance and sword, plus a few other chattels and incidental expenses of travel. Fifteen hundred
marks should cover the lot."
"Fif-teen hundred! Whew! I could ne'er afford-nor are these moldy patches of dragon hide
worth a fraction of the sum."
Eudoric sighed and rose. "You know what you can afford, good my sage." He picked up the
roll of dragon hide. "Your colleague Doctor Calporio, wizard to the Count of Treveria, expressed a
keen interest in this material. In fact, he offered me more than I have asked of you, but I
thought it only honorable to give you the first chance."
"What!" cried Baldonius. "That mountebank, charlatan, that faker? Misusing the hide and
not deriving a tenth of the magical benefits from it that I should? Sit down, Eudoric; we will
discuss these things."
An hour's haggling got Eudoric his fifteen hundred marks. Baldonius said, "Well, praise
the Divine Couple that's over. And now, beloved pupil, what are your plans?"
"Would ye believe it, Doctor Baldonius," said Jillo, "that my poor, deluded master is
about to disgrace his lineage and betray his class by a base commercial enterprise?"
"Forsooth, Jillo? What's this?"
"He means my proposed coach line," said Eudoric.
"Good Heaven, what's that?"
[ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]