|
|
|
|
|
|
the sad news and present the pleas of the Londoners for remission and assistance. The king was in a vile mood. He glared at Geoffrey and consulted the date on the letters. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
''Did you crawl from London on your hands and knees that you have taken so long in coming to me?" John snarled. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
"No, my lord," Geoffrey replied drily, "but I believe I have ridden thrice around England in doing so. So quickly did you ride that I could not catch you. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
That time Geoffrey did not have to try to control his voice. He could not find one at first. If the king was implying that London had been burnt down just to avoid his levy, he was quite mad. Then Geoffrey caught the malicious gleam in the dark eyes fixed upon his. No, the king was not madat least, no madder than he had ever been. He is merely trying to bait me into anger, Geoffrey thought. Although the burns had begun to heal in the time he had been on the road, Geoffrey knew the scars were still plain on his face and hands. Thus John knew his nephew had been engaged in fighting the fire and that his sympathy would be with the city. It was either a cruel type of fun or the king hoped that Geoffrey could be driven into rudeness or defiance. But why? |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Then it came to him. If Geoffrey's manner was offensive, John might use that as an excuse to deny the petition of the Londoners. Geoffrey liked neither the king's humor nor his deviousness. Either way, he determined, John would not have the satisfaction of winning this battle of wits and self-control. Geoffrey lowered his eyes demurely, the very picture of a modest young man, and told the tale he had learned from the alderman of Southwark of the candle that fell into the straw in St. Mary's Church. He added, before John could comment on the fact that a wide river separated Southwark from London, a description of the wind that blew the conflagration across the bridge to destroy London. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
By the time Geoffrey emerged from the king's chamber, |
|
|
|
|
|