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change of voice and manner； 〃these be jests that border too closely upon
bitter earnest for a merry breakfast。 It is ill to idle with edged tools。 Wilt
thou not stay and break thy fast with us； my Lord？〃
〃Pardon me； your Highness；〃 said the Earl； bowing； and smiling the
same smooth smile his lips had worn from the firstsuch a smile as Myles
had never thought to have seen upon his haughty face； 〃I crave your good
leave to decline。 I must return home presently； for even now； haply； your
uncle； his Grace of Winchester； is awaiting my coming upon the business
you wot of。 Haply your Highness will find more joyance in a lusty young
knight like Sir Myles than in an old fox like myself。 So I leave him with
you； in your good care。〃
Such was Myles's introduction to the wild young madcap Prince of
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Wales； afterwards the famous Henry V； the conqueror of France。
For a month or more thereafter he was a member of the princely
household； and； after a little while； a trusted and honored member。 Perhaps
it was the calm sturdy strength； the courage of the young knight； that first
appealed to the Prince's royal heart； perhaps afterwards it was the more
sterling qualities that underlaid that courage that drew him to the young
man； certain it was that in two weeks Myles was the acknowledged
favorite。 He made no protestation of virtue； he always accompanied the
Prince in those madcap ventures to London； where he beheld all manner of
wild revelry； he never held himself aloof from his gay comrades； but he
looked upon all their mad sports with the same calm gaze that had carried
him without taint through the courts of Burgundy and the Dauphin。 The
gay； roistering young lords and gentlemen dubbed him Saint Myles； and
jested with him about hair…cloth shirts and flagellations； but witticism and
jest alike failed to move Myles's patient virtue； he went his own gait in the
habits of his life； and in so going knew as little as the others of the mad
court that the Prince's growing liking for him was； perhaps； more than all
else； on account of that very temperance。
Then； by…and…by； the Prince began to confide in him as he did in none
of the others。 There was no great love betwixt the King and his son； it has
happened very often that the Kings of England have felt bitter jealousy
towards the heirs…apparent as they have grown in power； and such was the
case with the great King Henry IV。 The Prince often spoke to Myles of the
clashing and jarring between himself and his father； and the thought began
to come to Myles's mind by degrees that maybe the King's jealousy
accounted not a little for the Prince's reckless intemperance。
Once； for instance； as the Prince leaned upon； his shoulder waiting；
whilst the attendants made ready the barge that was to carry them down
the river to the city； he said； abruptly： 〃Myles； what thinkest thou of us all？
Doth not thy honesty hold us in contempt？〃
〃Nay； Highness；〃 said Myles。 〃How could I hold contempt？〃
〃Marry；〃 said the Prince； 〃I myself hold contempt； and am not as
honest a man as thou。 But； prithee； have patience with me； Myles。 Some
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day； perhaps； I too will live a clean life。 Now； an I live seriously； the King
will be more jealous of me than ever； and that is not a little。 Maybe I live
thus so that he may not know what I really am in soothly earnest。〃
The Prince also often talked to Myles concerning his own affairs； of
the battle he was to fight for his father's honor； of how the Earl of
Mackworth had plotted and planned to bring him face to face with the Earl
of Alban。 He spoke to Myles more than once of the many great changes of
state and party that hung upon the downfall of the enemy of the house of
Falworth； and showed him how no hand but his own could strike that
enemy down； if he fell； it must be through the son of Falworth。 Sometimes
it seemed to Myles as though he and his blind father were the centre of a
great web of plot and intrigue； stretching far and wide； that included not
only the greatest houses of England； but royalty and the political balance
of the country as well； and even before the greatness of it all he did not
flinch。
Then； at last； came the beginning of the time for action。 It was in the
early part of May； and Myles had been a member of the Prince's household
for a little over a month。 One morning he was ordered to attend the Prince
in his privy cabinet； and； obeying the summons； he found the Prince； his
younger brother； the Duke of Bedford； and his uncle； the Bishop of
Winchester； seated at a table； where they had just been refreshing
themselves with a flagon of wine and a plate of wafers。
〃My poor Myles；〃 said the Prince； smiling； as the young knight bowed
to the three； and then stood erect； as though on duty。 〃It shames my heart；
brotherand thou； uncleit shames my heart to be one privy to this thing
which we are set upon to do。 Here be we； the greatest Lords of England；
making a cat's…paw of this ladfor he is only yet a boyand of his blind
father； for to achieve our ends against Alban's faction。 It seemeth not over…
honorable to my mind。〃
〃Pardon me； your Highness；〃 said Myles； blushing to the roots of his
hair； 〃but； an I may be so bold as to speak； I reck nothing of what your
aims may be； I only look to restoring my father's honor and the honor of
our house。〃
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〃Truly；〃 said the Prince； smiling； 〃that is the only matter that maketh
me willing to lay my hands to this business。 Dost thou know why I have
sent for thee？ It is because this day thou must challenge the Duke of Alban
before the King。 The Earl of Mackworth has laid all his plans and the time
is now ripe。 Knowest that thy father is at Mackworth House？〃
〃Nay；〃 said Myles； 〃I knew it not。〃
〃He hath been there for nearly two days；〃 said the Prince。 〃Just now
the Earl hath sent for us to come first to Mackworth House。 Then to go to
the palace； for he hath gained audience with the King； and hath so
arranged it that the Earl of Alban is to be there as well。 We all go
straightway； so get thyself ready as soon as may be。〃
Perhaps Myles's heart began beating