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called bachelorsyoung men ranging from eighteen to twenty years of age。 This class was supposed to exercise a sort of government over the other and younger squiresto keep them in order as much as possible； to marshal them upon occasions of importance； to see that their arms and equipments were kept in good order； to call the roll for chapel in the morning； and to see that those not upon duty in the house were present at the daily exercise at arms。 Orders to the squires were generally transmitted through the bachelors； and the head of that body was expected to make weekly reports of affairs in their quarters to the chief captain of the body。
From this overlordship of the bachelors there had gradually risen a system of fagging； such as is or was practised in the great English public schoolsenforced services exacted from the younger ladswhich at the time Myles came to Devlen had； in the five or six years it had been in practice； grown to be an absolute though unwritten law of the bodya law supported by all the prestige of long…continued usage。 At that time the bachelors numbered but thirteen； yet they exercised over the rest of the sixty…four squires and pages a rule of iron； and were taskmasters； hard； exacting； and oftentimes cruel。
The whole company of squires and pages was under the supreme command of a certain one…eyed knight； by name Sir James Lee； a soldier seasoned by the fire of a dozen battles； bearing a score of wounds won in fight and tourney； and withered by hardship and labor to a leather…like toughness。 He had fought upon the King's side in all the late wars； and had at Shrewsbury received a wound that unfitted him for active service； so that now he was fallen to the post of Captain of Esquires at Devlen Castlea man disappointed in life； and with a temper imbittered by that failure as well as by cankering pain。
Yet Perhaps no one could have been better fitted for the place he held than Sir James Lee。 The lads under his charge were a rude； rough； unruly set； quick； like their elders； to quarrel； and to quarrel fiercely； even to the drawing of sword or dagger。 But there was a cold； iron sternness about the grim old man that quelled them； as the trainer with a lash of steel might quell a den of young wolves。 The apartments in which he was lodged； with his clerk； were next in the dormitory of the lads； and even in the midst of the most excited brawlings the distant sound of his harsh voice； 〃Silence； messieurs！〃 would bring an instant hush to the loudest uproar。
It was into his grim presence that Myles was introduced by Gascoyne。 Sir James was in his office； a room bare of ornament or adornment or superfluous comfort of any sortwithout even so much as a mat of rushes upon the cold stone pavement to make it less cheerless。 The old one… eyed knight sat gnawing his bristling mustaches。 To anyone who knew him it would have been apparent that； as the castle phrase went； 〃the devil sat astride of his neck；〃 which meant that some one of his blind wounds was aching more sorely than usual。
His clerk sat beside him； with account…books and parchment spread upon the table； and the head squire； Walter Blunt； a lad some three or four years older than Myles； and half a head taller； black…browed； powerfully built； and with cheek and chin darkened by the soft budding of his adolescent beard； stood making his report。
Sir James listened in grim silence while Gascoyne told his errand。
〃So； then； pardee； I am bid to take another one of ye； am I？〃 he snarled。 〃As though ye caused me not trouble enow； and this one a cub； looking a very boor in carriage and breeding。 Mayhap the Earl thinketh I am to train boys to his dilly…dally household service as well as to use of arms。〃
〃Sir；〃 said Gascoyne； timidly； 〃my Lord sayeth he would have this one entered direct as a squire of the body； so that he need not serve in the household。〃
〃Sayest so？〃 cried Sir James； harshly。 〃Then take thou my message back again to thy Lord。 Not for Mackworthno； nor a better man than he will I make any changes in my government。 An I be set to rule a pack of boys； I will rule them as I list； and not according to any man's bidding。 Tell him； sirrah； that I will enter no lad as squire of the body without first testing an he be fit at arms to hold that place。〃 He sat for a while glowering at Myles and gnawing his mustaches； and for the time no one dared to break the grim silence。 〃What is thy name？〃 said he； suddenly。 And then； almost before Myles could answer； he asked the head squire whether he could find a place to lodge him。
〃There is Gillis Whitlock's cot empty；〃 said Blunt。 〃He is in the infirmary； and belike goeth home again when he cometh thence。 The fever hath gotten into his bones； and〃
〃That will do；〃 said the knight； interrupting him impatiently。 〃Let him take that place； or any other that thou hast。 And thou； Jerome；〃 said he to his clerk； 〃thou mayst enter him upon the roll； though whether it be as page or squire or bachelor shall be as I please； and not as Mackworth biddeth me。 Now get ye gone。〃
〃Old Bruin's wound smarteth him sore；〃 Gascoyne observed； as the two lads walked across the armory court。 He had good…naturedly offered to show the new…comer the many sights of interest around the castle； and in the hour or so of ramble that followed； the two grew from acquaintances to friends with a quickness that boyhood alone can bring about。 They visited the armory； the chapel； the stables； the great hall； the Painted Chamber； the guard…house； the mess…room； and even the scullery and the kitchen； with its great range of boilers and furnaces and ovens。 Last of all Myles's new friend introduced him to the armor…smithy。
〃My Lord hath sent a piece of Milan armor thither to be repaired；〃 said he。 〃Belike thou would like to see it。〃
〃Aye；〃 said Myles； eagerly； 〃that would I。〃
The smith was a gruff； good…natured fellow； and showed the piece of armor to Myles readily and willingly enough。 It was a beautiful bascinet of inlaid workmanship； and was edged with a rim of gold。 Myles scarcely dared touch it； he gazed at it with an unconcealed delight that warmed the smith's honest heart。
〃I have another piece of Milan here；〃 said he。 〃Did I ever show thee my dagger； Master Gascoyne？〃
〃Nay；〃 said the squire。
The smith unlocked a great oaken chest in the corner of the shop； lifted the lid； and brought thence a beautiful dagger with the handle of ebony and silver…gilt； and a sheath of Spanish leather； embossed and gilt。 The keen； well… tempered blade was beautifully engraved and inlaid with niello…work； representing a group of figures in a then popular subjectthe dance of Death。 It was a weapon at once unique and beautiful； and even Gascoyne showed an admiration scarcely less keen than Myles's openly…expressed delight。
〃To whom doth it belong？〃 said he； trying the point upon his thumb nail。
〃There；〃 said the smith； 〃is the jest of the whole； for it belongeth to me。 Sir William Beauclerk bade me order the weapon through Master Gildersworthy； of London town； and by the time it came hither； lo！ he had died； and so it fell to my hands。 No one here payeth the price for the trinket； and so I must e'en keep it myself； though I be bu