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was interestedmuch interested in Myles and in the coming jousting in
which the young warrior was to prove himself； but he was interested in it
by way of a relaxation from the other and more engrossing matter。 So；
though he made some passing and half preoccupied inquiry about the feast
he was easily satisfied with the Earl's reasons for not holding it： which
were that he had arranged a consultation for that morning in regard to the
troops for the Dauphin； to which meeting he had summoned a number of
his own more important dependent nobles； that the King himself needed
repose and the hour or so of rest that his barber… surgeon had ordered him
to take after his mid…day meal； that Father Thomas had laid upon Myles a
petty penancethat for the first three days of his knighthood he should eat
his meals without meat and in his own apartmentand various other
reasons equally good and sufficient。 So the King was satisfied； and the
feast was dispensed with。
The next morning had been set for the jousting； and all that day the
workmen were busy erecting the lists in the great quadrangle upon which；
as was said before； looked the main buildings of the castle。 The windows
of Myles's apartment opened directly upon the bustling scenethe
carpenters hammering and sawing； the upholsterers snipping； cutting； and
tacking。 Myles and Gascoyne stood gazing out from the open casement；
with their arms lying across one another's shoulders in the old boyhood
fashion； and Myles felt his heart shrink with a sudden tight pang as the
realization came sharply and vividly upon him that all these preparations
were being made for him； and that the next day he should； with almost the
certainty of death； meet either glory or failure under the eyes not only of
all the greater and lesser castle folk； but of the King himself and noble
strangers critically used to deeds of chivalry and prowess。 Perhaps he had
never fully realized the magnitude of the reality before。 In that tight pang
at his heart he drew a deep breath； almost a sigh。 Gascoyne turned his head
abruptly； and looked at his friend； but he did not ask the cause of the sigh。
No doubt the same thoughts that were in Myles's mind were in his also。
It was towards the latter part of the afternoon that a message came
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from the Earl； bidding Myles attend him in his private closet。 After Myles
had bowed and kissed his lordship's hand； the Earl motioned him to take a
seat； telling him that he had some final words to say that might occupy a
considerable time。 He talked to the young man for about half an hour in
his quiet； measured voice； only now and then showing a little agitation by
rising and walking up and down the room for a turn or two。 Very many
things were disclosed in that talk that had caused Myles long hours of
brooding thought； for the Earl spoke freely； and without concealment to
him concerning his father and the fortunes of the house of Falworth。
Myles had surmised many things； but it was not until then that he
knew for a certainty who was his father's malignant and powerful enemy
that it was the great Earl of Alban； the rival and bitter enemy of the Earl of
Mackworth。 It was not until then that he knew that the present Earl of
Alban was the Lord Brookhurst； who had killed Sir John Dale in the
anteroom at Falworth Castle that morning so long ago in his early
childhood。 It was not until then that he knew all the circumstances of his
father's blindness； that he had been overthrown in the melee at the great
tournament at York； and that that same Lord Brookhurst had ridden his
iron…shod war…horse twice over his enemy's prostrate body before his
squire could draw him from the press； and had then and there given him
the wound from which he afterwards went blind。 The Earl swore to Myles
that Lord Brookhurst had done what he did wilfully； and had afterwards
boasted of it。 Then； with some hesitation； he told Myles the reason of Lord
Brookhurst's enmity； and that it had arisen on account of Lady Falworth；
whom he had one time sought in marriage； and that he had sworn
vengeance against the man who had won her。
Piece by piece the Earl of Mackworth recounted every circumstance
and detail of the revenge that the blind man's enemy had afterwards
wreaked upon him。 He told Myles how； when his father was attainted of
high…treason； and his estates forfeited to the crown； the King had granted
the barony of Easterbridge to the then newly… created Earl of Alban in
spite of all the efforts of Lord Falworth's friends to the contrary； that when
he himself had come out from an audience with the King； with others of
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his father's friends； the Earl of Alban had boasted in the anteroom； in a
loud voice； evidently intended for them all to hear； that now that he had
Falworth's fat lands； he would never rest till he had hunted the blind man
out from his hiding； and brought his head to the block。
〃Ever since then；〃 said the Earl of Mackworth 〃he hath been striving
by every means to discover thy father's place of concealment。 Some time；
haply； he may find it； and then〃
Myles had felt for a long time that he was being moulded and shaped；
and that the Earl of Mackworth's was the hand that was making him what
he was growing to be； but he had never realized how great were the things
expected of him should he pass the first great test； and show himself what
his friends hoped to see him。 Now he knew that all were looking upon him
to act； sometime； as his father's champion； and when that time should
come； to challenge the Earl of Alban to the ordeal of single combat； to
purge his father's name of treason； to restore him to his rank； and to set the
house of Falworth where it stood before misfortune fell upon it。
But it was not alone concerning his and his father's affairs that the Earl
of Mackworth talked to Myles。 He told him that the Earl of Alban was the
Earl of Mackworth's enemy also； that in his younger days he had helped
Lord Falworth； who was his kinsman； to win his wife； and that then； Lord
Brookhurst had sworn to compass his rui