Page 252 - A Knight of the White Cross
P. 252
round your neck."
Gervaise took out the small brooch, that fastened the collar of his silken
doublet, and then knelt on one knee. The girl fastened the clasp round his
neck, and as he rose he hid the heart beneath the doublet, and fastened the
collar.
"Lady Claudia," he said earnestly, "I accept your favour in the spirit in
which you bestow it. So long as I live I shall prize and value it beyond any
honour I may gain, and as I feel it next to my heart, it will ever recall to me
that you gave it me as a pledge of your esteem and trust, and I will strive to
the utmost so to bear myself that I may be worthy of the gift."
None of the others spoke while the little ceremony was being performed.
Caretto glanced at the countess with an amused smile, but the latter looked
grave, and somewhat vexed. However, she made an effort to dispel the
cloud on her face, and, when Gervaise ceased speaking, said, "This has
been a somewhat more serious business than I intended, Sir Gervaise. But
do not think that I regret in any way the course it has taken; 'tis well for a
maiden on the threshold of womanhood that she should place before herself
a lofty ideal, and that she should entertain a warm feeling of friendship for
one worthy of it. So also it is good for a young knight to know that he has
the trust and confidence of a pure and innocent maiden; such a knowledge
will aid him to be in all ways true to the vows he has taken, and to
remember always that he is bound to be not only a valiant knight of his
Order, but a sincere soldier of the Cross."
Then she went on more lightly. "Have you heard, Sir Gervaise, that there is
a question of making you a noble of Genoa?"
"No, indeed," Gervaise replied, in great surprise; "such an idea never
entered into my thoughts."
"Nevertheless, I know that it was spoken of last night, and although it has
not yet been finally settled, and will not be until the council meet this
afternoon, I should not tell you if I did not think that it was as good as
