I WENT TO SEE SISTER CIKA THIS AFTERNOON, AND WE SAT IN the spirit-garden, and she said I look less like a scarecrow than a month ago, and quite handsome considering I’m English, and the only true strength is inner strength.…She is witty, sometimes, and very calm, and visiting the nunnery is the only good thing that has happened today.
Downstairs, everyone is still so irritable and argumentative. That’s why I asked Lord Stephen to excuse me after supper. At least I can write up here in my room.
Not long before we ate, Bertie came round for the first time since he was arrow-shot.
“Milon says you’ll want to know what’s been decided,” he began. “This afternoon, the French leaders and Marquis Boniface and the Doge accepted the offer of Prince Alexius Angelus and—”
“The fools!” shouted Sir William. “Disastrous!” And he hurled his beaker of wine at the wall.
“Milon says if you break your fast with us—”
“I’ll break his head,” snarled Sir William. “What’s wrong with them all?”
Long after Bertie had left, Sir William went on cursing and complaining, and Lord Stephen told Serle that if we have to go to Constantinople, he didn’t see how we could get home for at least three more years, and Rhys reported there’s something wrong with all our horses, and one moment they’re restless, the next listless.…
At supper we began to talk about Holt, and Rhys told us he wondered whether after three years he’d have anything to come back to.
“Why ever not?” Lord Stephen asked.
“Like that story,” Rhys said, “about the man who gave his son his croft and strip of land, and then his son threw him out with nothing but half a horse blanket.”
“He threw out his own father?” exclaimed Serle.
“My son’s got my cottage and croft,” said Rhys.
“Disgraceful!” snorted Sir William. “You stablemen and cowherds, you’re bloody animals!” He slurped down a whole beaker of wine, and turned to me. “Well, I’m not leaving anything to chance,” he announced loudly. “You needn’t think you or Tom are getting anything from me. I’m not giving you a penny or an acre before I die.…”