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.AAYYBBYYBBr rBourbon has said.I will add, moreover, that the Queen might do well to considerthe question of the corruptibility of her appointed judges; for a man withoutlands or means, and no family name to uphold, might easily be tempted to sell hisjustice.''If they do,' Catharine snapped, 'they shall be hanged from the highest gallows;and the men they have wronged shall serve for their executioners.'She was silent for the space of three breaths, eyes locked with the youngnobleman's; then Brom O'Berin growled, 'Our thanks to the noble Duke of Savoy.'The young man bowed, and sat.'Who else will speak in favor of my lords of Bourbon and Savoy?'One by one, the other ten lords rose to second the Duke of Bourbon.The Queen'sGrand Council was unanimously against her.Catharine held her eyes closed a moment; her lips pressed tight.She looked up tosweep the table with a glare.'My lords, I am deeply grieved to find you all somuch opposed to the Queen's justice.' She gave them a brittle smile.'I thank youfor your honest council.Yet I am constant in my purpose; my judges shall remainon your estates.'The noblemen stirred in their seats, muttering to one another in low, huskyvoices.They seemed to comprise one large, restless animal, growling.The old Duke of Loguire rose slowly, and leaned heavily on the table.'My Queen,'he rumbled, 'consider: even kings may fault in judgment, and you are young instatecraft yet.It is known that many minds together may come to clearerknowledge than one mind alone; and here are gathered with you twelve men ofmost ancient and honorable lineage, of families grown hoary in statecraft, oldmen of old families; and, it is to be hoped, wise with the weight of their years.Will you persist in your course, when so many are so sure that you are wrong?'Catharine's face was pale, almost dead white.Her eyes were burning.'I will,' shesaid quietly.The Lord Loguire held her eyes for a long moment, then slowly sat.Catharine surveyed the faces around her, taking time to look deep into each pairof eyes.Then, lifting her chin, she said, 'My judges will remain on your estates, my lords.As to their corruptibility, you will find them almost saintly in their disregard formoney, wine, and -comforts.They care for one thing only, and that is justice.'aaTTnnssFFffooDDrrPPmmYYeeYYrrBB22.BBAAClick here to buyClick here to buywwmmwwoowwcc.AAYYBBYYBBr rShe paused to let her words sink in; and Rod noted that there were several beet-red faces among the great lords.At a rough guess, he decided, justice had notbeen quite as pure as it might have been on some of their estates.The Duke Loguire did not have a red face.The only emotion Rod could read inhim was grief.'This whole matter of the judges is, however, secondary to the purpose far which Ihave called you here today.' Catharine smiled, with more than a hint of malice.Heads jerked up in alarm, all around the board.Brom O'Berin looked moreshocked than any.Apparently Catharine had not consulted with her PrimeCouncillor; even Brom was due for a surprise.Each lord bent his head for a quick, whispered conference with his councillor;and the looks of alarm on their faces deepened into sullen anger.'On each of your estates,' said Catharine, 'there is a monastery.You have beenaccustomed to appointing the priests for the parishes of your demesnes fromyour own monasteries.'She looked down at the tabletop for a moment, then lifted her head again.'Herein this castle I am gathering the best theologians of all the monasteries.You shallchoose young brothers from your monks, one for each of your parishes, and sendthem here to me, to be trained by my monks.If in any case I do not approve ofyour choice in young men, I shall send them back to you, and demand others intheir places.When they have finished their studies and taken their Orders, I shallreturn them to you, to be your parish priests.'The lords slammed to their feet, shouting and gesturing, fists thudding on thetable.Catharine's voice crackled, into the uproar.'Enough! Be still!' Slowly, one by one,the Great Lords fell into sullen silence and sank back into their seats, glaring.But their councillors' faces seemed lit with a suppressed joy; their eyes wereburning, and each face held a smile just short of a grin.'I have spoken,' Catharine said, voice and eyes bath chill.'It shall be done [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]