The Prince and the Page: A Story of the Last Crusade

ombra da l'

ui feese in

su Tamigi an

. Inf

e made gaieties distasteful to him; and the disastrous commencement of the Crusade weighed on his spirits. But when state and show were necessary, he provi

ility and of the citizens of Trapani, on such a scale, that the English rose high in general esteem; and many were the

relief it was to be free from the prying mistrustful eyes of Hamlyn de Valence. Looking after little John of Dunster was, however, no small part of his trouble; the urchin was so certain to get into some mischief if left to himself- now treading on a lady's train, now upsetting a flagon of wine, now nearly impaling himself upon the point of a whole spitful of ortolan

im fast asleep at the unexampled hour of eight! His wakening was a strange one. His l

to Mass? Has he missed me?" cried Richard, starting up in

comes back," he came near and lowered his voice,

ould I flee? Are Y

n, his face clearing u

e of the trait

Montforts, what has

y. "I said you were no such thing! I

traitor, verily he d

w now, John, wha

t be one of them! You cannot have written tha

nry!" Richard stood

s littl

, and rushed out. Then they came back again, and dragged him by the hair of his head into the mire, and shouted that so their father had been dragged through the streets of Evesham. And then they went off to the Mare

ost horrible, but it is no deed of mine!"

You had no part in it! I sha

laying a detaining han

ger? Is anything st

oh! do not look so fierce!-that you sent a letter to warn your brethren where to meet, and fall on the Prince. A

said Richard, "but I am not therefore leagued with traitors or murderers! I

u will n

will stay and pro

fort! And I saw you

ing written the letter?"

, and muttered someth

nformed Richard that the Prince required his presence. The space between his tent and the royal pavilion was short, but in those few steps Richard had time to glance over the dange

ncern on the faces of all, making Edward's more than ever like a rigid marble statue; while Edmund had evidently been weeping bitterly, though his f

eproachful sternness that went to his heart, "we have sent for you to answer

ne present here think me capable of sharing in it! Whoever dares to accu

ing actual part in a crime that took place beyond the sea; but there is only

dmund made some sugges

Mohun of D

ith a flush on his face, and a bold though wistful loo

d and earnest to be amused even for a moment. "Tell us whom you sai

seen his wrait

were as serious as those of the boy, as he comme

fter, that it had been less tall, and was beard

e added the question whether this visitor had spoken; and John related the inquiry for Richard by the

ss his account of Richard's injunction to secresy; and then asked about the letter-wr

er, is the son of a family deeply concerned in the Mad Parliament. By Sir Reginald, on his arrival at Castel San Giovanni, a messenger is despatched, bearing letters

that you could not serve both, it had been better for you. I credit not that you incited them to the assas

h, "I deny all collusion with my brothers. I have neithe

this letter?" de

the Grand Prior of Eng

credulous amaz

rt?" conti

consorts not with

will point to some way of clearing yourself of being art and part in this foul act of murder, you may be sent scot free from the camp; but if you wilfully maintain thi

e on the faith of a Christian gentleman that I have neither had, nor attempted to have, any dealings with either of my brothers, Gu

t Hamlyn de Valen

the lie in thy throat, and will prove on thy body that thou

dgment of God," said R

"have we your permission

"since to that holy judgm

which seemed to the boy to upbraid him with the want of confidence, for which, however, he would not condescend to ask. Richard felt that, let the issue of the combat be what it would, he had lost that full trust on the part of t

e it was Ash Wednesday. In the meantime Richard was left solitary; under no restraint, but universally avoided. The judicial combat did not make him uneasy; the two youths had

biting axe an

d in the righteousness of his own cause sufficiently to have

o no good motive; trust and affection were gone, and Richard felt no tie to retain him where he was, save his duty as a crusader. Let him fail in the combat, and the best he could look for would be to be ignominiously branded and expelled: let him gain, and he much doubted whether, though the ordeal of battle was always respected, he would regain his former position. With keen suffering and indignation, he rebelled against Edward's harshness and distrust. He-who had brought him there-who ought to have known him better! Moreover, there was the crushing sense of the guilt of his brothers; guilt most horrible in its sacrilegious audacity, and doubly shoc

e suit of sackcloth, was informing her friends that she had made a vow not to wash her face till the whole adder brood of Montfort had been crushed; and that she truste

fficulty of obtaining a godfather for the combat. No one chose even to be asked, lest they might be suspected of approving of the

et his eyes. He read in English-"A steed and a lance are ready for the lioncel wh

y utterly unrestrained, passed over Richard. Yet, if he should not accept the offer, what was before him? A shameful death, perhaps; if he fa

ings of the tent were raised, and an archer b

ou?" demand

ou not old passages-in the fo

in the days of his outlaw life

of young Sir Simon's men-at-arms, you see, and took to the woods, like other folk, after Kenilworth was given up, till stout men were awanting for this Crusade. And he knew Sir Guy when he came to the camp yon by Tunis, and spake with him; moreover, he went in the train of him of Almayne to Viterbo, and had s

ess was well-nigh unbearable. Danger faced him for the next day! Disgrace was everywhere. Should he leave it behind

allen so far short of the atrocity of this. He knew that his father had rather have seen each one of his five sons slain, or helpless cripples like th

ho have stained the Church with blood. Let my brothers know that my heart yearned to them

for secret conferences, and Hob Longbow could only growl, "As you will

Hamlyn might make an end of me! But for thee, my poor Leonillo, I ha