CHAPTER XXIV. HOW A CHAMPION CAME FORTH FROM THE EAST.

swithhim,ortomeethimwithsword,mace,battle-axe,ordagger.Hebademesay,however,thathewouldfightonlywithatrueEnglishman,andnotwithanymongrelwhoisneitherEnglishnorFrench,butspeakswiththetongueoftheone,andfightsunderthebanneroftheother.” “Sir!”criedDeClisson,withavoiceofthunder,whilehiscountrymenclappedtheirhandstotheirswords.Thesquire,however,tooknonoticeoftheirangryfaces,butcontinuedwithhismaster'smessage. “Heisnowready,sire,”hesaid,“albeithisdestrierhastravelledmanymilesthisday,andfast,forwewereinfearlestwecometoolateforthejousting.” “Yehaveindeedcometoolate,”saidtheprince,“seeingthattheprizeisabouttobeawardedyetIdoubtnotthatoneofthesegentlemenwillrunacourseforthesakeofhonorwiththiscavalierofFrance.” “Andastotheprize,sire,”quothSirNigel,“IamsurethatIspeakforallwhenIsaythisFrenchknighthathourleavetobearitawaywithhimifhecanfairlywinit.” “Bearwordofthistoyourmaster,”saidtheprince,“andaskhimwhichofthesefiveEnglishmenhewoulddesiretomeet.Butstayyourmasterbearsnocoat-armor,andwehavenotyetheardhisname.” “Mymaster,sire,isundervowtotheVirginneithertorevealhisnamenortoopenhisvizoruntilheisbackuponFrenchgroundoncemore.” “Yetwhatassurancehavewe,”saidtheprince,“thatthisisnotsomevarletmasqueradinginhismaster'sharness,orsomecaitiffknight,theverytouchofwhoselancemightbringinfamyuponanhonorablegentleman?” “Itisnotso,sire,”criedthesquireearnestly.“Thereisnomanuponearthwhowoulddemeanhimselfbybreakingalancewithmymaster.” “Youspeakoutboldly,squire,”theprinceanswered“butunlessIhavesomefurtherassuranceofyourmaster'snoblebirthandgentlenameIcannotmatchthechoicestlancesofmycourtagainsthim.” “Yourefuse,sire?” “Idorefuse.” “Then,sire,IwasbiddentoaskyoufrommymasterwhetheryouwouldconsentifSirJohnChandos,uponhearingmymaster'sname,shouldassureyouthathewasindeedamanwithwhomyoumightyourselfcrossswordswithoutindignity.” “Iasknobetter,”saidtheprince. “ThenImustask,LordChandos,thatyouwillstepforth.Ihaveyourpledgethatthenameshallremaineverasecret,andthatyouwillneithersaynorwriteonewordwhichmightbetrayit.Thenameis——”Hestoopeddownfromhishorseandwhisperedsomethingintotheoldknight'searwhichmadehimstartwithsurprise,andstarewithmuchcuriosityatthedistantKnight,whowassittinghischargeratthefurtherendofthearena. “Isthisindeedsooth?”heexclaimed. “Itis,mylord,andIswearitbySt.IvesofBrittany.” “Imighthaveknownit,”saidChandos,twistinghismoustache,andstilllookingthoughtfullyatthecavalier. “Whatthen,SirJohn?”askedtheprince. “Sire,thisisaknightwhomitisindeedgreathonortomeet,andIwouldthatyourgracewouldgrantmeleavetosendmysquireformyharness,forIwoulddearlylovetorunacoursewithhim.” “Nay,nay,SirJohn,youhavegainedasmuchhonorasonemancanbear,anditwerehardifyoucouldnotrestnow.ButIprayyou,squire,totellyourmasterthatheisverywelcometoourcourt,andthatwinesandspiceswillbeservedhim,ifhewouldrefreshhimselfbeforejousting.” “Mymasterwillnotdrink,”saidthesquire. “Lethimthennamethegentlemanwithwhomhewouldbreakaspear.” “Hewouldcontendwiththesefiveknights,eachtochoosesuchweaponsassuithimbest.” “Iperceive,”saidtheprince,“thatyourmasterisamanofgreatheartandhighofenterprise.Butthesunalreadyislowinthewest,andtherewillscarceb