I think it right, therefore, to hear what the Englishman has to say
for his side. Sebert Oswaldsson, speak in your defence."
Not even a draft appeared to stir the human tapestry about them. Sebert
started like a man awakened from sleep, when he realized that every eye was
hanging upon him. Swiftly, his glance passed around the circle, from the
averted faces of his countrymen to the foreign master on the throne, then
bitterly he bent his head to his fate.
"I have nothing to say. Your justice may most rightly be meted out."
"Nothing to say?" The King's measured voice sounded sharply through the hush.
For the first time, he lowered his hand and bent forward where the fire-glow
could touch him.
As she caught sight of his face Elfgiva shrank and clutched at her women. "Ah,
Saints, I am thankful now that it is dark!" she murmured.
Sebert sustained the look with proud steadiness. "Nothing that would be of use
to me," he said; "and I do not choose to pleasure you by setting up a weak
plea for you to knock down again. The right which gave Britain to the Saxons
has given England to the Danes, and it is not by words that such a right can
be disputed. If your messengers had not taken me by surprise--" He paused,
with an odd curl to his lips that could hardly be called a smile; but Canute
gave him grim command to finish, and he obeyed with rising color.
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