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

ndproperthatthiscavaliershouldcarryittoFrancewithhimasasignoftheprowessthathehasshownthisday.” Ashespoke,theknight-errant,whohadremountedhiswarhorse,gallopedforwardtotheroyalstand,withasilkenkerchiefboundroundhiswoundedarm.Thesettingsuncastaruddyglareuponhisburnishedarms,andsenthislongblackshadowstreamingbehindhimupthelevelclearing.Pullinguphissteed,heslightlyinclinedhishead,andsatinthesternandcomposedfashionwithwhichhehadbornehimselfthroughout,heedlessoftheapplaudingshoutsandtheflutterofkerchiefsfromthelonglinesofbravemenandoffairwomenwhowerelookingdownuponhim. “Sirknight,”saidtheprince,“wehaveallmarvelledthisdayatthisgreatskillandvalorwithwhichGodhasbeenpleasedtoendowyou.Iwouldfainthatyoushouldtarryatourcourt,foratimeatleast,untilyourhurtishealedandyourhorsesrested.” “Myhurtisnothing,sire,noraremyhorsesweary,”returnedthestrangerinadeep,sternvoice. “WillyounotatleasthiebacktoBordeauxwithus,thatyoumaydrainacupofmuscadineandsupatourtable?” “Iwillneitherdrinkyourwinenorsitatyourtable,”returnedtheother.“Ibearnoloveforyouorforyourrace,andthereisnoughtthatIwishatyourhandsuntilthedaywhenIseethelastsailwhichbearsyoubacktoyourislandvanishingawayagainstthewesternsky.” “Thesearebitterwords,sirknight,”saidPrinceEdward,withanangryfrown. “Andtheycomefromabitterheart,”answeredtheunknownknight.“Howlongisitsincetherehasbeenpeaceinmyhaplesscountry?Wherearethesteadings,andorchards,andvineyards,whichmadeFrancefair?Wherearethecitieswhichmadehergreat?FromProvidencetoBurgundywearebesetbyeveryprowlinghirelinginChristendom,whorendandtearthecountrywhichyouhavelefttooweaktoguardherownmarches.Isitnotaby-wordthatamanmayridealldayinthatunhappylandwithoutseeingthatchuponrooforhearingthecrowofcock?Doesnotonefairkingdomcontentyou,thatyoushouldstrivesoforthisotheronewhichhasnoloveforyou?Pardieu!atrueFrenchman'swordsmaywellbebitter,forbitterishislotandbitterhisthoughtsasheridesthroughhisthriceunhappycountry.” “Sirknight,”saidtheprince,“youspeaklikeabraveman,andourcousinofFranceishappyinhavingacavalierwhoissofittoupholdhiscauseeitherwithtongueorwithsword.Butifyouthinksuchevilofus,howcomesitthatyouhavetrustedyourselvestouswithoutwarrantyorsafe-conduct?” “BecauseIknewthatyouwouldbehere,sire.Hadthemanwhositsuponyourrightbeenrulerofthisland,IhadindeedthoughttwicebeforeIlookedtohimforaughtthatwasknightlyorgenerous.”Withasoldierlysalute,hewheeledroundhishorse,and,gallopingdownthelists,disappearedamidthedensecrowdoffootmenandofhorsemenwhowerestreamingawayfromthesceneofthetournament. “Theinsolentvillain!”criedPedro,glaringfuriouslyafterhim.“Ihaveseenaman'stonguetornfromhisjawsforless.Woulditnotbewellevennow,Edward,tosendhorsementohalehimback?BethinkyouthatitmaybeoneoftheroyalhouseofFrance,oratleastsomeknightwhoselosswouldbeaheavyblowtohismaster.SirWilliamFelton,youarewellmounted,gallopafterthecaitiff,Iprayyou.” “Doso,SirWilliam,”saidtheprince,“andgivehimthispurseofahundrednoblesasasignoftherespectwhichIbearforhimfor,bySt.George!hehasservedhismasterthisdayevenasIwouldwishliegemanofminetoserveme.”Sosaying,theprinceturnedhisbackupontheKingofSpain,andspringinguponhishorse,rodeslowlyhomewardstotheAbbeyofSaintAndrew's.