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the royal procession advanced slowly up the hall。 Through the stillness
could be heard the muffled sound of the footsteps on the carpet； the dry
rustling of silk and satin garments； and the clear clink and jingle of chains
and jewelled ornaments； but not the sound of a single voice。
After the moment or two of bustle and confusion of the King taking
his place had passed； another little space of expectant silence fell。 At last
there suddenly came the noise of acclamation of those who stood without
the doorcheering and the clapping of handssounds heralding the
immediate advent of Myles and his attendants。 The next moment the little
party entered the hall。
First of all； Gascoyne； bearing Myles's sword in both hands； the hilt
resting against his breast； the point elevated at an angle of forty…five
degrees。 It was sheathed in a crimson scabbard； and the belt of Spanish
leather studded with silver bosses was wound crosswise around it。 From
the hilt of the sword dangled the gilt spurs of his coming knighthood。 At a
little distance behind his squire followed Myles； the centre of all
observation。 He was clad in a novitiate dress； arranged under Lord
George's personal supervision。 It had been made somewhat differently
from the fashion usual at such times； and was intended to indicate in a
manner the candidate's extreme youthfulness and virginity in arms。 The
outer garment was a tabard robe of white wool； embroidered at the hem
with fine lines of silver； and gathered loosely at the waist with a belt of
lavender leather stitched with thread of silver。 Beneath he was clad in
armor （a present from the Earl）； new and polished till it shone with
dazzling brightness； the breastplate covered with a juppon of white satin；
embroidered with silver。 Behind Myles； and upon either hand； came his
squires of honor； sponsors； and friends a little company of some half…
dozen in all。 As they advanced slowly up the great； dim； high…vaulted
room； the whole multitude broke forth into a humming buzz of applause。
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Then a sudden clapping of hands began near the door…way； ran down
through the length of the room； and was taken up by all with noisy clatter。
〃Saw I never youth so comely；〃 whispered one of the Lady Anne's
attendant gentlewomen。 〃Sure he looketh as Sir Galahad looked when he
came first to King Arthur's court。〃
Myles knew that he was very pale； he felt rather than saw the restless
crowd of faces upon either side； for his eyes were fixed directly before
him； upon the dais whereon sat the King； with the Earl of Mackworth
standing at his right hand； the Comte de Vermoise upon the left； and the
others ranged around and behind the throne。 It was with the same tense
feeling of dreamy unreality that Myles walked slowly up the length of the
hall； measuring his steps by those of Gascoyne。 Suddenly he felt Lord
George Beaumont touch him lightly upon the arm； and almost
instinctively he stopped shorthe was standing just before the covered
steps of the throne。
He saw Gascoyne mount to the third step； stop short； kneel； and offer
the sword and the spurs he carried to the King； who took the weapon and
laid it across his knees。 Then the squire bowed low； and walking backward
withdrew to one side； leaving Myles standing alone facing the throne。 The
King unlocked the spur chains from the sword… hilt； and then； holding the
gilt spurs in his hand for a moment； he looked Myles straight in the eyes
and smiled。 Then he turned； and gave one of the spurs to the Earl of
Mackworth。
The Earl took it with a low bow； turned； and came slowly down the
steps to where Myles stood。 Kneeling upon one knee； and placing Myles's
foot upon the other； Lord Mackworth set the spur in its place and latched
the chain over the instep。 He drew the sign of the cross upon Myles's
bended knee； set the foot back upon the ground； rose with slow dignity；
and bowing to the King； drew a little to one side。
As soon as the Earl had fulfilled his office the King gave the second
spur to the Comte de Vermoise； who set it to Myles's other foot with the
same ceremony that the Earl had observed； withdrawing as he had done to
one side。
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An instant pause of motionless silence followed； and then the King
slowly arose； and began deliberately to unwind the belt from around the
scabbard of the sword he held。 As soon as he stood； the Earl and the Count
advanced； and taking Myles by either hand； led him forward and up the
steps of the dais to the platform above。 As they drew a little to one side；
the King stooped and buckled the sword…belt around Myles's waist； then；
rising again； lifted his hand and struck him upon the shoulder； crying； in a
loud voice。
〃Be thou a good knight！〃
Instantly a loud sound of applause and the clapping of hands filled the
whole hall； in the midst of which the King laid both hands upon Myles's
shoulders and kissed him upon the right cheek。 So the ceremony ended；
Myles was no longer Myles Falworth； but Sir Myles Falworth； Knight by
Order of the Bath and by grace of the King！
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CHAPTER 25
It was the custom to conclude the ceremonies of the bestowal of
knighthood by a grand feast given in honor of the newly…created knight。
But in Myles's instance the feast was dispensed with。 The Earl of
Mackworth had planned that Myles might be created a Knight of the Bath
with all possible pomp and ceremony； that his personality might be most
favorably impressed upon the King； that he might be so honorably
knighted as to make him the peer of any who wore spurs in all England；
and； finally； that he might celebrate his new honors by jousting with some
knight of high fame and approved valor。 All these desiderata chance had
fulfilled in the visit of the King to Devlen。
As the Earl had said to Myles； he would rather have waited a little
while longer until the lad was riper in years and experience； but the
opportunity was not to be lost。 Young as he was； Myles must take his
chances against the years and grim experience of the Sieur de la
Montaigne。 But it was also a part of the Earl's purpose that the King and
Myles should not be brought too intimately together just at that time。
Though every particular of circumstance should be fulfilled in the
ceremony； it would have been ruination to the Earl's plans to have the
knowledge come prematurely to the King that Myles was the son of the
attainted Lord Falworth。 The Earl knew that Myles was a shrewd；
coolheaded lad； but the King had already hinted that the name was
familiar to his ears； and a single hasty answer or unguarded speech upon
the young knight's part might awaken him to a full knowledge。 Such a
mishap was； of all things； to be avoided just then； for； thanks to the
machinations of that enemy of his father of whom Myles had heard so
much； and was soon to hear more； the King had always retained and still
held a bitter and rancorous enmity against the unfortunate nobleman。
It was no very difficult matter for the Earl to divert the King's attention
from the matter of the feast。 His Majesty was very intent just then upon
supplying a quota of troops to the Dauphin； and the chief object of his visit
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to Devlen was to open negotiations with the Earl looking to that end。 He
was interestedmuch interested in Myles and in the comi