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MEN OF IRON
knight to arise。 The senior squire drew his dagger； cut the leather points；
and drew off the helm； disclosing the knight's facea face white as death；
and convulsed with rage； mortification； and bitter humiliation。
〃I was not rightly unhorsed！〃 he cried； hoarsely and with livid lips； to
the Marshal and his attendants； who had ridden up。 〃I unhelmed him fairly
enough； but my over…girth and breast…strap burst； and my saddle slipped。 I
was not unhorsed； I say； and I lay claim that I unhelmed him。〃
〃Sir；〃 said the Marshal calmly； and speaking in French； 〃surely thou
knowest that the loss of helmet does not decide an encounter。 I need not
remind thee； my Lord； that it was so awarded by John of Gaunt； Duke of
Lancaster； when in the jousting match between Reynand de Roye and John
de Holland； the Sieur Reynand left every point of his helm loosened； so
that the helm was beaten off at each stroke。 If he then was justified in
doing so of his own choice； and wilfully suffering to be unhelmed； how
then can this knight be accused of evil who suffered it by chance？〃
〃Nevertheless；〃 said the Sieur de la Montaigne； in the same hoarse；
breathless voice； 〃I do affirm； and will make my affirmation good with my
body； that I fell only by the breaking of my girth。 Who says otherwise
lies！〃
〃It is the truth he speaketh；〃 said Myles。 〃I myself saw the stitches
were some little what burst； and warned him thereof before we ran this
course。
〃Sir；〃 said the Marshal to the Sieur de la Montaigne； 〃how can you
now complain of that thing which your own enemy advised you of and
warned you against？ Was it not right knightly for him so to do？〃
The Sieur de la Montaigne stood quite still for a little while； leaning on
the shoulder of his chief squire； looking moodily upon the ground； then；
without making answer； he turned； and walked slowly away to his pavilion；
still leaning on his squire's shoulder； whilst the other attendant followed
behind； bearing his shield and helmet。
Gascoyne had picked up Myles's fallen helmet as the Sieur de la
Montaigne moved away； and Lord George and Sir James Lee came
walking across the lists to where Myles still sat。 Then； the one taking his
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horse by the bridle…rein； and the other walking beside the saddle； they led
him before the raised dais where the King sat。
Even the Comte de Vermoise； mortified and amazed as he must have
been at the overthrow of his best knight； joined in the praise and
congratulation that poured upon the young conqueror。 Myles； his heart
swelling with a passion of triumphant delight； looked up and met the gaze
of Lady Alice fixed intently upon him。 A red spot of excitement still
burned in either cheek； and it flamed to a rosier red as he bowed his head
to her before turning away。
Gascoyne had just removed Myles's breastplate and gorget； when Sir
James Lee burst into the pavilion。 All his grim coldness was gone； and he
flung his arms around the young man's neck； hugging him heartily； and
kissing him upon either cheek。
Ere he let him go； 〃Mine own dear boy；〃 he said； holding him off at
arm's…length； and winking his one keen eye rapidly； as though to wink
away a dampness of which he was ashamed〃mine own dear boy； I do tell
thee truly this is as sweet to me as though thou wert mine own son；
sweeter to me than when I first broke mine own lance in triumph； and felt
myself to be a right knight。〃
〃Sir；〃 answered Myles； 〃what thou sayest doth rejoice my very heart。
Ne'theless； it is but just to say that both his breast…piece and over…girth
were burst in the stitches before he ran his course； for so I saw with mine
own eyes。〃
〃Burst in the stitches！〃 snorted Sir James。 〃Thinkest thou he did not
know in what condition was his horse's gearing？ I tell thee he went down
because thou didst strike fair and true； and he did not so strike thee。 Had
he been Guy of Warwick he had gone down all the same under such a
stroke and in such case。〃
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CHAPTER 28
It waS not until more than three weeks after the King had left Devlen
Castle that Lord George and his company of knights and archers were
ready for the expedition to France。 Two weeks of that time Myles spent at
Crosbey…Dale with his father and mother。 It was the first time that he had
seen them since； four years ago； he had quitted the low； narrow； white…
walled farmhouse for the castle of the great Earl of Mackworth。 He had
never appreciated before how low and narrow and poor the farm…house
was。 Now； with his eyes trained to the bigness of Devlen Castle； he looked
around him with wonder and pity at his father's humble surroundings。 He
realized as he never else could have realized how great was the fall in
fortune that had cast the house of Falworth down from its rightful station
to such a level as that upon which it now rested。 And at the same time that
he thus recognized how poor was their lot； how dependent upon the
charity of others； he also recognized how generous was the friendship of
Prior Edward； who perilled his own safety so greatly in affording the
family of the attainted Lord an asylum in its bitter hour of need and peril。
Myles paid many visits to the gentle old priest during those two weeks'
visit； and had many long and serious talks with him。 One warm bright
afternoon； as he and the old man walked together in the priory garden；
after a game or two of draughts； the young knight talked more freely and
openly of his plans； his hopes； his ambitions； than perhaps he had ever
done。 He told the old man all that the Earl had disclosed to him concerning
the fallen fortunes of his father's house； and of how all who knew those
circumstances looked to him to set the family in its old place once more。
Prior Edward added many things to those which Myles already knew
things of which the Earl either did not know