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at a little distance； and there was an almost pathetic contrast between the
grim； steadfast impassiveness of the tough old warrior and Myles's
passionate exuberance of youth。
At the head of the party rode the Earl and his brother side by side； each
clad cap…a…pie in a suit of Milan armor； the cuirass of each covered with a
velvet juppon embroidered in silver with the arms and quarterings of the
Beaumonts。 The Earl wore around his neck an 〃S S〃 collar； with a
jewelled St。 George hanging from it； and upon his head a vizored bascinet；
ornamented with a wreath covered with black and yellow velvet and
glistening with jewels。
Lord George； as was said before； was clad in a beautiful suit of ribbed
Milan armor。 It was rimmed with a thin thread of gold； and； like his
brother； he wore a bascinet wreathed with black and yellow velvet。
Behind the two brothers and their equerries rode the rest in their
proper orderknights； gentlemen； esquires； men…at…armsto the number；
perhaps； of two hundred and fifty； spears and lances aslant； and banners；
permons； and pencels of black and yellow fluttering in the warm
September air。
From the castle to the town they rode； and then across the bridge； and
thence clattering up through the stony streets； where the folk looked down
upon them from the windows above； or crowded the fronts of the shops of
the tradesmen。 Lusty cheers were shouted for the Earl； but the great Lord
rode staring ever straight before him； as unmoved as a stone。 Then out of
the town they clattered； and away in a sweeping cloud of dust across the
country…side。
It was not until they had reached the windy top of Willoughby Croft；
ten miles away； that they met the King and his company。 As the two
parties approached to within forty or fifty yards of one another they
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stopped。
As they came to a halt； Myles observed that a gentleman dressed in a
plain blue…gray riding… habit； and sitting upon a beautiful white gelding；
stood a little in advance of the rest of the party； and he knew that that must
be the King。 Then Sir James nodded to Myles； and leaping from his horse；
flung the reins to one of the attendants。 Myles did the like； and then； still
following Sir James's lead as he served Lord Mackworth； went forward
and held Lord George's stirrup while he dismounted。 The two noblemen
quickly removed each his bascinet； and Myles； holding the bridle… rein of
Lord George's horse with his left hand； took the helmet in his right； resting
it upon his hip。
Then the two brothers walked forward bare… headed； the Earl； a little in
advance。 Reaching the King he stopped； and then bent his kneestiffly in
the armored platesuntil it touched the ground。 Thereupon the King
reached him his hand； and he； rising again； took it； and set it to his lips。
Then Lord George； advancing； kneeled as his brother had kneeled； and
to him also the King gave his hand。
Myles could hear nothing； but he could see that a few words of
greeting passed between the three； and then the King； turning； beckoned to
a knight who stood just behind him and a little in advance of the others of
the troop。 In answer； the knight rode forward； the King spoke a few words
of introduction； and the stranger； ceremoniously drawing off his right
gauntlet； clasped the hand； first of the Earl； and then of Lord George。
Myles knew that he must be the great Comte de Vermoise； of whom he
had heard so much of late。
A few moments of conversation followed； and then the King bowed
slightly。 The French nobleman instantly reined back his horse； an order
was given； and then the whole company moved forward； the two brothers
walking upon either side of the King； the Earl lightly touching the bridle…
rein with his bare hand。
Whilst all this was passing； the Earl of Mackworth's company had
been drawn up in a double line along the road…side； leaving the way open
to the other party。 As the King reached the head of the troop； another halt
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followed while he spoke a few courteous words of greeting to some of the
lesser nobles attendant upon the Earl whom he knew。
In that little time he was within a few paces of Myles； who stood
motionless as a statue； holding the bascinet and the bridle…rein of Lord
George's horse。
What Myles saw was a plain； rather stout man； with a face fat； smooth；
and waxy； with pale…blue eyes； and baggy in the lids； clean shaven； except
for a mustache and tuft covering lips and chin。 Somehow he felt a deep
disappointment。 He had expected to see something lion…like； something
regal； and； after all； the great King Henry was commonplace； fat；
unwholesome…looking。 It came to him with a sort of a shock that； after all；
a King was in nowise different from other men。
Meanwhile the Earl and his brother replaced their bascinets； and
presently the whole party moved forward upon the way to Mackworth。
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CHAPTER 23
That same afternoon the squires' quarters were thrown into such a
ferment of excitement as had； perhaps； never before stirred them。 About
one o'clock in the afternoon the Earl himself and Lord George came
walking slowly across the Armory Court wrapped in deep conversation；
and entered Sir James Lee's office。
All the usual hubbub of noise that surrounded the neighborhood of the
dormitory and the armory was stilled at their coming； and when the two
noblemen had entered Sir James's office； the lads and young men gathered
in knots discussing with an almost awesome interest what that visit might
portend。
After some time Sir James Lee came to the door at the head of the long
flight of stone steps； and whistling； beckoned one of the smaller pages to
him。 He gave a short order that sent the little fellow flying on some
mission。 In the course of a few minutes he returned； hurrying across the
stony court with Myles Falworth； who presently entered Sir James's office。
It was then and at this sight that the intense half…suppressed excitement
reached its height of fever…heat。 What did it all mean？ The air was filled
with a thousand vague； wild rumorsbut the very wildest surmises fell
short of the real truth。
Perhaps Myles was somewhat pale when he entered the office；
certainly his nerves were in a tremor； for his heart told him that something
very portentous was about to befall him。 The Earl sat at the table； and in
the seat that Sir James Lee usually occupied； Lord George half sat； half
leaned in the window…place。 Sir James stood with his back to the empty
fireplace； and his hands clasped behind him。 All three were very serious。
〃Give thee good den； Myles Falworth；〃 said the Earl； as Myles bowed
first to him and then to the others； 〃and I would have thee prepare thyself
for a great happening。〃 Then； continuing directly to the point： 〃Thou
knowest； sirrah； why we have been training thee so closely these three
years gone； it is that thou shouldst be able to hold thine own in the world。
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Nay； not only hold thine own； but to show thyself to be a knight of
prowess shouldst it come to a battle between thee and thy father's enemy；
for there lieth no half…way place for thee； and thou must be either great or
else nothing。 Well； sir； the time hath now come for thee to show thy mettle。
I would rather have chosen that thou hadst labored a twelvemonth longer；
but now； as I said； hath come a chance to prove thyself that may never
come again。 Sir James tells me that thou art passably ripe in skill。 Thou
must now show whether that be so or no。 Hast thou ever hear