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congratulation that poured upon the young conqueror。 Myles； his heart
swelling with a passion of triumphant delight； looked up and met the gaze
of Lady Alice fixed intently upon him。 A red spot of excitement still
burned in either cheek； and it flamed to a rosier red as he bowed his head
to her before turning away。
Gascoyne had just removed Myles's breastplate and gorget； when Sir
James Lee burst into the pavilion。 All his grim coldness was gone； and he
flung his arms around the young man's neck； hugging him heartily； and
kissing him upon either cheek。
Ere he let him go； 〃Mine own dear boy；〃 he said； holding him off at
arm's…length； and winking his one keen eye rapidly； as though to wink
away a dampness of which he was ashamed〃mine own dear boy； I do tell
thee truly this is as sweet to me as though thou wert mine own son；
sweeter to me than when I first broke mine own lance in triumph； and felt
myself to be a right knight。〃
〃Sir；〃 answered Myles； 〃what thou sayest doth rejoice my very heart。
Ne'theless； it is but just to say that both his breast…piece and over…girth
were burst in the stitches before he ran his course； for so I saw with mine
own eyes。〃
〃Burst in the stitches！〃 snorted Sir James。 〃Thinkest thou he did not
know in what condition was his horse's gearing？ I tell thee he went down
because thou didst strike fair and true； and he did not so strike thee。 Had
he been Guy of Warwick he had gone down all the same under such a
stroke and in such case。〃
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CHAPTER 28
It waS not until more than three weeks after the King had left Devlen
Castle that Lord George and his company of knights and archers were
ready for the expedition to France。 Two weeks of that time Myles spent at
Crosbey…Dale with his father and mother。 It was the first time that he had
seen them since； four years ago； he had quitted the low； narrow； white…
walled farmhouse for the castle of the great Earl of Mackworth。 He had
never appreciated before how low and narrow and poor the farm…house
was。 Now； with his eyes trained to the bigness of Devlen Castle； he looked
around him with wonder and pity at his father's humble surroundings。 He
realized as he never else could have realized how great was the fall in
fortune that had cast the house of Falworth down from its rightful station
to such a level as that upon which it now rested。 And at the same time that
he thus recognized how poor was their lot； how dependent upon the
charity of others； he also recognized how generous was the friendship of
Prior Edward； who perilled his own safety so greatly in affording the
family of the attainted Lord an asylum in its bitter hour of need and peril。
Myles paid many visits to the gentle old priest during those two weeks'
visit； and had many long and serious talks with him。 One warm bright
afternoon； as he and the old man walked together in the priory garden；
after a game or two of draughts； the young knight talked more freely and
openly of his plans； his hopes； his ambitions； than perhaps he had ever
done。 He told the old man all that the Earl had disclosed to him concerning
the fallen fortunes of his father's house； and of how all who knew those
circumstances looked to him to set the family in its old place once more。
Prior Edward added many things to those which Myles already knew
things of which the Earl either did not know； or did not choose to speak。
He told the young man； among other matters； the reason of the bitter and
lasting enmity that the King felt for the blind nobleman： that Lord
Falworth had been one of King Richard's council in times past； that it was
not a little owing to him that King Henry； when Earl of Derby； had been
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banished from England； and that though he was then living in the
retirement of private life； he bitterly and steadfastly opposed King
Richard's abdication。 He told Myles that at the time when Sir John Dale
found shelter at Falworth Castle； vengeance was ready to fall upon his
father at any moment； and it needed only such a pretext as that of
sheltering so prominent a conspirator as Sir John to complete his ruin。
Myles； as he listened intently； could not but confess in his own mind
that the King had many rational； perhaps just； grounds for grievance
against such an ardent opponent as the blind Lord had shown himself to be。
〃But； sir；〃 said he； after a little space of silence； when Prior Edward had
ended； 〃to hold enmity and to breed treason are very different matters。
Haply my father was Bolingbroke's enemy； but； sure； thou dost not believe
he is justly and rightfully tainted with treason？〃
〃Nay；〃 answered the priest； 〃how canst thou ask me such a thing？ Did
I believe thy father a traitor； thinkest thou I would thus tell his son thereof？
Nay； Myles； I do know thy father well； and have known him for many
years； and this of him； that few men are so honorable in heart and soul as
he。 But I have told thee all these things to show that the King is not
without some reason to be thy father's unfriend。 Neither； haply； is the Earl
of Alban without cause of enmity against him。 So thou； upon thy part；
shouldst not feel bitter rancor against the King for what hath happed to thy
house； nor even against William BrookhurstI mean the Earl of Albanfor；
I tell thee； the worst of our enemies and the worst of men believe
themselves always to have right and justice upon their side； even when
they most wish evil to others。〃
So spoke the gentle old priest； who looked from his peaceful haven
with dreamy eyes upon the sweat and tussle of the world's battle。 Had he
instead been in the thick of the fight； it might have been harder for him to
believe that his enemies ever had right upon their side。
〃But tell me this；〃 said Myles； presently； 〃dost thou； then； think that I
do evil in seeking to do a battle of life or death with this wicked Earl of
Alban； who hath so ruined my father in body and fortune？〃
〃Nay；〃 said Prior Edward； thoughtfully； 〃I say not that thou doest evil。
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War and bloodshed seem hard and cruel matters to me； but God hath given
that they be in the world； and may He forbid that such a poor worm as I
should say that they be all wrong and evil。 Meseems even an evil thing is
sometimes passing good when rightfully used。〃
Myles did not fully understand what the old man meant； but this much
he gathered； that his spiritual father did not think ill of his fighting the Earl
of Alban for his temporal father's sake。
So Myles went to France in Lord George's company； a soldier of
fortune； as his Captain was。 He was there for only six months； but those
six months wrought a great change in his life。 In the fierce factional battles
that raged around the walls of Paris； in the evil life which he saw at the
Burgundian court in Paris itself after the trucea court brilliant and
wicked； witty and cruelthe wonderful liquor of youth had evaporated
rapidly； and his character had crystallized as rapidly into the hardness of
manhood。 The warfare； the blood； the evil pleasures which he had seen
had been a fiery； crucible test to his soul； and I love my hero that he should
have come forth from it so well。 He was no longer the innocent Sir
Galahad who had walked in pure white up the Long Hall to be knighted by
the King； but his soul was of that grim； sterling； rugged sort that looked
out calmly from his gray eyes upon the wickedness and debauchery
around him； and loved it not。
Then one day a courier came； bringing a packet。 It was a letter from
the Earl； bidding Myles return straightway to Eng