"T. H. White - The Once and Future King" - читать интересную книгу автора (White T.H)

"I am sure it is a trap. I am sure the King has gone away for the night on purpose that you should go to
her, and thea Agravaine will be there to catch you."
"Arthur would never do a thing Like that,"


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"He has."
"Nonsense. I have known Arthur since you were in the nursery, and he wouldn't do it."
"But it is a risk!"
"If it is a risk, I shall enjoy it."
"Please!"
This time he put his hand in the small of Gareth's back, and began moving him seriously to the door.
"Now, my dear kitchen page just listen. In the first place, I know Arthur: in the second place, I know
Agravaine. Do you think I ought to be afraid of him?"
"But treachery..."
"Gareth, once when I was a young fellow a lady came skipping past me, chasing after a peregrine which
had snapped its creance. The trailing part of the creance got wound up in a tree, and the peregrine hung
there at the top. The lady persuaded me to climb the tree, to get her hawk. I was never much of a
climber. When I did get to the top, and had freed the hawk, the lady's husband turned up in full armour
and said he was going to chop my head off. All the hawk business had been a trap to get me out of my
armour, so that he would have me at his mercy. I was in the tree in my shirt, without even a dagger."
"Yes?"
"Well, I knocked him on the head with a branch. And he was a much better man than poor old
Agravaine, even if we have grown rheumaticky since those bright days."
"I know you can deal with Agravaine. But suppose he attacks you with an armed band?"
"He won't do anything."
"He will."
There was a scratch at the door, a gentle drumming. A mouse might have made it, but Lancelot's eyes
grew vague.
"Well, if he does," he said shortly, "then I shall have to fight the band. But the situation is imaginary."
"Couldn't you stay away tonight?"
They had reached the door, and the King's captain spoke decisively.
"Look," he said, "if you must know, the Queen has sent for me. I could hardly refuse, once I was sent
for, could I?"
"So my treachery to the Old Ones will be useless?"


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"Not useless. Anybody who knew would love you for facing it. But we can trust Arthur."
"And you will go in spite of everything?"
"Yes, kitchen page, and I shall go this minute. Good gracious, don't look so tragic about it. Leave it to
the practised scoundrel and run away to bed."
"It means Good-bye."
"Nonsense, it means Good night. And, what is more, the Queen is waiting."