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then finally having made sure of its poise and weight laid it
carefully in rest under his arm。 Then gathering up his bridle so
as to have his horse under perfect command； and covering himself
with the shield； which was slung round his neck； he rode out to do
battle。
Now； Nigel； young and inexperienced； all Nature's aid will not
help you against the mixed craft and strength of such a warrior。
The day will come when neither Manny nor even Chandos could sweep
you from your saddle； but now； even had you some less cumbrous
armor； your chance were small。 Your downfall is near； but as you
see the famous black chevrons on a golden ground your gallant
heart which never knew fear is only filled with joy and amazement
at the honor done you。 Your downfall is near； and yet in your
wildest dreams you would never guess how strange your downfall is
to be。
Again with a dull thunder of hoofs the horses gallop over the soft
water…meadow。 Again with a clash of metal the two riders meet。
It is Nigel now； taken clean in the face of his helmet with the
blunted spear； who flies backward off his horse and falls clanging
on the grass。
But good heavens！ what is this？ Manny has thrown up his hands in
horror and the lance has dropped from his nerveless fingers。 From
all sides； with cries of dismay； with oaths and shouts and
ejaculations to the saints； the horsemen ride wildly in。 Was ever
so dreadful； so sudden； so complete； an end to a gentle passage at
arms？ Surely their eyes must be at fault？ Some wizard's trick
has been played upon them to deceive their senses。 But no； it was
only too clear。 There on the greensward lay the trunk of the
stricken cavalier； and there； a good dozen yards beyond； lay his
helmeted head。
〃By the Virgin！〃 cried Manny wildly； as he jumped from his horse；
〃I would give my last gold piece that the work of this evening
should be undone！ How came it？ What does it mean？ Hither； my
Lord Bishop； for surely it smacks of witchcraft and the Devil。〃
With a white face the Bishop had sprung down beside the prostrate
body； pushing through the knot of horrified knights and squires。
〃I fear that the last offices of the Holy Church come too late；〃
said he in a quivering voice。 〃Most unfortunate young man！ How
sudden an end！ In medio vitae； as the Holy Book has it … one
moment in the pride of his youth； the next his head torn from his
body。 Now God and his saints have mercy upon me and guard me from
evil！〃
The last prayer was shot out of the Bishop with an energy and
earnestness unusual in his orisons。 It was caused by the sudden
outcry of one of the Squires who； having lifted the helmet from
the ground； cast it down again with a scream of horror。
〃It is empty！〃 he cried。 〃It weighs as light as a feather。〃
〃'Fore God； it is true！〃 cried Manny； laying his hand on it。
〃There is no one in it。 With what have I fought； father Bishop？
Is it of this world or of the next？〃
The Bishop had clambered on his horse the better to consider the
point。 〃If the foul fiend is abroad；〃 said he； 〃my place is over
yonder by the King's side。 Certes that sulphur…colored horse hath
a very devilish look。 I could have sworn that I saw both smoke
and flame from its nostrils。 The beast is fit to bear a suit of
armor which rides and fights and yet hath no man within it。〃
〃Nay； not too fast； father Bishop；〃 said one of the knights。 〃It
may be all that you say and yet come from a human workshop。 When
I made a campaign in South Germany I have seen at Nuremberg a
cunning figure； devised by an armorer； which could both ride and
wield a sword。 If this be such a one … 〃
〃I thank you all for your very gentle courtesy；〃 said a booming
voice from the figure upon the ground。
At the words even the valiant Manny sprang into his saddle。 Some
rode madly away from the horrid trunk。 A few of the boldest
lingered。
〃Most of all；〃 said the voice； 〃would I thank the most noble
knight； Sir Walter Manny； that he should deign to lay aside his
greatness and condescend to do a deed of arms upon so humble a
Squire。〃
〃'Fore God！〃 said Manny； 〃 if this be the Devil； then the Devil
hath a very courtly tongue。 I will have him out of his armor； if
he blast me！〃
So saying he sprang once more from his horse and plunging his hand
down the slit in the collapsed gorget he closed it tightly upon a
fistful of Nigel's yellow curls。 The groan that came forth was
enough to convince him that it was indeed a man who lurked within。
At the same time his eyes fell upon the hole in the mail corselet
which had served the Squire as a vizor； and he burst into
deep…chested mirth。 The King； the Prince and Chandos； who had
watched the scene from a distance； too much amused by it to
explain or interfere； rode up weary with laughter； now that all
was discovered。
〃Let him out！〃 said the King； with his hand to his side。 〃I pray
you to unlace him and let him out！ I have shared in many a
spear…running； but never have I been nearer falling from my horse
than as I watched this one。 I feared the fall had struck him
senseless； since he lay so still。〃
Nigel had indeed lain with all the breath shaken from his body；
and as he was unaware that his helmet had been carried off； he had
not understood either the alarm or the amusement that he had
caused。 Now freed from the great hauberk in which he had been
shut like a pea in a pod； he stood blinking in the light； blushing
deeply with shame that the shifts to which his poverty had reduced
him should be exposed to all these laughing courtiers。 It was the
King who brought him comfort。
〃You have shown that you can use your father's weapons；〃 said he；
〃 and you have proved also that you are the worthy bearer of his
name and his arms； for you have within you that spirit for which
he was famous。 But I wot that neither he nor you would suffer a
train of hungry men to starve before your door； so lead on； I pray
you； and if the meat be as good as this grace before it； then it
will be a feast indeed。〃
X。 HOW THE KING GREETED HIS SENESCHAL OF CALAIS
It would have fared ill with the good name of Tilford Manor house
and with the housekeeping of the aged Dame Ermyntrude had the
King's whole retinue； with his outer and inner marshal； his
justiciar； his chamberlain and his guard； all gathered under the
one roof。 But by the foresight and the gentle management of
Chandos this calamity was avoided； so that some were quartered at
the great Abbey and others passed on to enjoy the hospitality of
Sir Roger FitzAlan at Farnham Castle。 Only the King himself； the
Prince； Manny； Chandos； Sir Hubert de Burgh； the Bishop and two or
three more remained behind as the guests of the Lorings。
But small as was the party and humble the surroundings； the King
in no way relaxed that love of ceremony； of elaborate form and of
brilliant coloring which was one of his characteristics。 The
sumpter…mules were unpacked； squires ran hither and thither； baths
smoked in the bed…chambers； silks and satins were unfolded； gold
chains gleamed and clinked； so that when at last； to the long
blast of two court trumpeters； the company took th