At Agincourt

rvitors came up with word that Count Charles d'Estourn

o, you had best go down

e up with you; it wi

once we

give such a poor light, and I should hardly have known you again. Besides, you were wrapped up in your cloak. But you told me that you w

you allow me to present you to my lady mistress?

those who were present yesterda

upstairs

rles d'Estournel, who desir

he raised to his lips, "seeing that my esquire, Master Guy Aylmer, was able to rende

ve received no mercy at their hands. In my surprise at being so suddenly attacked I even forgot to raise a shout for the watch, though it is hardly likely that they would have heard me had I done so; the lazy knaves are never on the spot when they are wanted. However, we gave the ruffians a lesson that those of them who escaped are not likely to forget readily, for out of the fourteen who attacked me we accounted for ten, of whom your retainer levelled no less than six with that staff of his, and I doubt whe

ce their betters are ever quarrelling among themselves, we can har

ollow them, though I myself would far rather draw my sword against the enemies of France than against my countrymen. But methinks," and here h

the one case and not in the other. Even now I am ignorant why I have been brought here. There is a truce at present between England and France, and assuredly there are more English in the service of nobles of Burgu

y not be always that one which he assigns for any action." Then, changing the subject, he went on. "I have come to take Master Guy for a walk with me, and to introduce him to so

urn in time to escort me for a walk

e but to say the hour at which you will start; but indee

ostages. As the Duke of Burgundy has English archers in his pay, and France is at truce with England, there seems less reason than

estate at his disposal. You know the fable of the wolf and the lamb; a poor excuse is deemed sufficient at all times in France when there is a great noble on one side and a simple knight on the other, and I reckon that the duke did not calculate upon the willingness of your Sir Eustace to permit his wife and children to come here, or upon the dame's willingness to do so, and in no way expected matters to turn out as they have done, for there is now no shadow of excuse for him to

ot love him ov

t was a dastardly murder all the same; and although we are bound to support him, it alienated not a few. Then he condescends to consort with these sorry knaves the butchers, and others of low estate, to take them into his counsels, and to thrust them upon us, at which, I may tell you, there is grievous discontent. All this is rank treason to the duke, I have no doubt, but it is true nevertheless. Here we are at our first stopping-place. This is as it is kept by a Burgund

addle placed on a framework roughly representing a high war-horse; one or two were swinging heavy maces, whirling them round their heads and bringing them down occasionally upon great sand-bags si

noted not that De Jouvaux's wine had mounted into your head last night, and

re of Sir Eustace de Villeroy. I am sure you will welcome him when I tell you that he saved my life last night when attacked by a band of cut-throats. Guy, these are my friends Count Pi

in thus saving to us our friend D'Estournel. Tell us how the matter occurred, Charles; in sooth, we shall have to take these ruffians of Pari

half-past ten by the bell of St. Germain as I sallied out. I was making my way home like a peaceful citizen, when two men came out from a narrow

eful citizen, Charles," o

wo could assail me at once, and I held my ground for some time pretty fairly, only receiving a few scratches. Presently I saw another opening, and, parrying a thrust, I ran my sword through the fellow's throat. He fell with a loud outcry, which was fortunate, for it came to the ears of my friend here, and brought him and a stout retainer-a prodigiously tall fellow, with a staff longer than himself-to my aid. They were but just in time, for the ruffians, furious at the fall of another of their companion

body when he came along. It is evident, gentlemen, that when we indulge in drinking parties we must go home in couples. Of course, Charles, you must lay a complaint before the duke, and he

od will come of it. The duke will speak to the p

p it for them. Such doings are intolerable, and we will make up parties to scour the streets at night. Men passing peacea

, De Vesoul," D'Estournel said. "Perchance I may light on one or more of the f

our turn, Charles

less last night as I did, or else I would have asked him to have a bout with me. He held his own so we

s true, in English fashion, but I know little of feints and tric

tle or mêlée I fancy that they are of but little use, though indeed I have never yet had the chance of trying. We will introduce you to the master, and I hope that you will come here

night saved my life in a street brawl. He is at present an esquire of Sir Eustace de Villeroy, and has travelled hither with the knight's dame, who has co

ount Charles, the more so since

ave been well taught in English fashion, but as you know, ma?tre, we were

all; yet science is not to be regarded as useless, since it not only makes sword-play a noble pastime, but

sure in attending your school regularly, whenever my lady has no need of my presence. I am now in the position of the weak antagonist yo

t you could do that," Coun

rdsmen, and it was only their number that rendered them dangerous. Ther

to my rooms, gentlemen, and drink a glass or two of wine and make the better acquaintance of my friend? He is bo

ied him, saying that he had not yet seen his tall friend of the night before, and must personally

the archer. "I hope that you will accept this ring in token of my gratitude; I have had it enlarged this morning so that

l that it is rather the other way, for my arms were beginning to get stiff for want of use. I only wish that the fray had lasted a bit longer, for

end; assuredly I could

ken his leave Guy went

he had spen

s well that you should have some employment, for time would hang but wearily on your hands were you to remain long caged up here.

d the cathedral, where Dame Margaret and her daughter knelt for some time in prayer before one of the shrines; then crossing the bridge again they followed along the broad pavement between the foot of the walls and the

re once entombed there can have but little hope of escape. Surely there cannot be so many state prisoners as to need for their keeping,

ss as a prison, the castle was never really built fo

that they did not use it as our place of det

ould detain you. I imagine that they would like nothing better than for you to get a

it open to us to fly. But in sooth it seems to me that nothing short of the arrival of an English army could d

till, were they to come here it would be open to you to fly, for all Artois is Burgundian; and though the duke might not be able to hold his position here, Artois and Flanders would l

stille they saw a crowd in th

body of the scoundrel butchers at their work of slaying some enemy under the pret

tumult, and then coming up into the main street again resumed their wa

ace is t

often stays at one of the hotels of the great lords. These palaces are all fortified buildings. Our country castle

; I do not think that I sha

down into the country. They say it is pretty; once fairly

live in one of those quiet spots I should be as content

that when the king comes to his senses I may be able to obtain an interview with him, and even if I cannot have leave to retu

morning to the salle d'armes, for his wound being on his left sho

ceties of sword-playing, but indeed you are so quick of eye and wrist that you can afford to do without them. Still, doubtless after

during this time to the

r the pretence that they are Armagnacs, but really because they had expressed themselves as hostile to the doings of these tyrants. I have cast your horoscope, and I find that the conjunction of the planets at your birth was eminently favourable. It seems to me that about this time you will pass through many perilous adventures, but you are destined to escape any d

nk that the Italian held in his own country, "and can only trust that your predictions will be ver

a great battle, and by the hand of a sovereign; though by whom the battle will be fought

ortune is good, but to be knighted by a royal hand would

ny cases predictions bring about their own fulfilment; and truly I am rejoice

rs had passed. The fact, however, that it was to be bestowed by royal hand added greatly to the value of the honour. Knighthood was common in those days; it was bestowed almost as a matter of course upon young men of good birth, especially if they took up the profession of arms. Every noble had some, while not a few had many knights in their service, discharging what would now be the duties of officers when their levies were called out, and they could themselves bestow the rank upon any man possessing a certain amount of land; but to be knighted by a distinguished leader, or by a sovereign, was a distinction greatly prized, an