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the house； shalt have thy suit weighed with as much respect and
consideration as though thou wert my peer in all things； Such is my
answer。 Art thou satisfied？〃
〃I could ask no more；〃 answered Myles。
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CHAPTER 29
That night Myles lodged at Mackworth House。 The next morning； as
soon as he had broken his fast； which he did in the privacy of his own
apartments； the Earl bade him and Gascoyne to make ready for the barge；
which was then waiting at the river stairs to take them to Scotland Yard。
The Earl himself accompanied them； and as the heavy snub…nosed boat；
rowed by the six oarsmen in Mackworth livery； slid slowly and heavily up
against the stream； the Earl； leaning back in his cushioned seat； pointed
out the various inns of the great priests or nobles； palatial town residences
standing mostly a little distance back from the water behind terraced high…
walled gardens and lawns。 Yon was the Bishop of Exeter's Close； yon was
the Bishop of Bath's； that was York House； and that Chester Inn。 So
passing by gardens and lawns and palaces； they came at last to Scotland
Yard stairs； a broad flight of marble steps that led upward to a stone
platform above； upon which opened the gate…way of the garden beyond。
The Scotland Yard of Myles Falworth's day was one of the more
pretentious and commodious of the palaces of the Strand。 It took its name
from having been from ancient times the London inn which the tributary
Kings of Scotland occupied when on their periodical visits of homage to
England。 Now； during this time of Scotland's independence； the Prince of
Wales had taken up his lodging in the old palace； and made it noisy with
the mad； boisterous mirth of his court。
As the watermen drew the barge close to the landing…place of the stairs；
the Earl stepped ashore； and followed by Myles and Gascoyne； ascended
to the broad gate…way of the river wall of the garden。 Three men…at…arms
who lounged upon a bench under the shade of the little pent roof of a
guard…house beside the wall； arose and saluted as the well…known figure of
the Earl mounted the steps。 The Earl nodded a cool answer； and passing
unchallenged through the gate； led the way up a pleached walk； beyond
which； as Myles could see； there stretched a little grassy lawn and a stone…
paved terrace。 As the Earl and the two young men approached the end of
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the walk； they were met by the sound of voices and laughter； the clinking
of glasses and the rattle of dishes。 Turning a corner； they came suddenly
upon a party of young gentlemen； who sat at a late breakfast under the
shade of a wide…spreading lime…tree。 They had evidently just left the tilt…
yard； for two of the guestssturdy； thick…set young knightsyet wore a
part of their tilting armor。
Behind the merry scene stood the gray； hoary old palace； a steep flight
of stone steps； and a long； open； stone…arched gallery； which evidently led
to the kitchen beyond； for along it hurried serving… men； running up and
down the tall flight of steps； and bearing trays and dishes and cups and
flagons。 It was a merry sight and a pleasant one。 The day was warm and
balmy； and the yellow sunlight fell in waving uncertain patches of light；
dappling the table…cloth； and twinkling and sparkling upon the dishes； cups；
and flagons。
At the head of the table sat a young man some three or four years older
than Myles； dressed in a full suit of rich blue brocaded velvet；
embroidered with gold…thread and trimmed with black fur。 His face； which
was turned towards them as they mounted from the lawn to the little stone…
flagged terrace； was frank and open； the cheeks smooth and fair； the eyes
dark and blue。 He was tall and rather slight； and wore his thick yellow hair
hanging to his shoulders； where it was cut square across； after the manner
of the times。 Myles did not need to be told that it was the Prince of Wales。
〃Ho； Gaffer Fox！〃 he cried； as soon as he caught sight of the Earl of
Mackworth； 〃what wind blows thee hither among us wild mallard drakes？
I warrant it is not for love of us； but only to fill thine own larder after the
manner of Sir Fox among the drakes。 Whom hast thou with thee？ Some
gosling thou art about to pluck？〃
A sudden hush fell upon the company； and all faces were turned
towards the visitors。
The Earl bowed with a soft smile。 〃Your Highness；〃 said he； smoothly；
〃is pleased to be pleasant。 Sir； I bring you the young knight of whom I
spoke to you some time sinceSir Myles Falworth。 You may be pleased to
bring to mind that you so condescended as to promise to take him into
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your train until the fitting time arrived for that certain matter of which we
spoke。〃
〃Sir Myles；〃 said the Prince of Wales； with a frank； pleasant smile； 〃I
have heard great reports of thy skill and prowess in France； both from
Mackworth and from others。 It will pleasure me greatly to have thee in my
household； more especially；〃 he added； 〃as it will get thee； callow as thou
art； out of my Lord Fox's clutches。 Our faction cannot do without the Earl
of Mackworth's cunning wits； Sir Myles； ne'theless I would not like to put
all my fate and fortune into his hands without bond。 I hope that thou dost
not rest thy fortunes entirely upon his aid and countenance。〃
All who were present felt the discomfort of the Prince's speech； It was
evident that one of his mad； wild humors was upon him。 In another case
the hare…brained young courtiers around might have taken their cue from
him； but the Earl of Mackworth was no subject for their gibes and
witticisms。 A constrained silence fell； in which the Earl alone maintained a
perfect ease of manner。
Myles bowed to hide his own embarrassment。 〃Your Highness；〃 said
he； evasively； 〃I rest my fortune； first of all； upon God； His strength and
justice。〃
〃Thou wilt find safer dependence there than upon the Lord of
Mackworth；〃 said the Prince； dryly。 〃But come；〃 he added； with a sudden
change of voice and manner； 〃these be jests that border too closely upon
bitter earnest for a merry breakfast。 It is ill to idle with edged tools。 Wilt
thou not stay and break thy fast with us； my Lord？〃
〃Pardon me； your Highness；〃 said the Earl； bowing； and smiling the
same smooth smile his lips had worn from the firstsuch a smile as Myles
had never thought to have seen upon his haughty face； 〃I crave your good
leave to decline。 I must return home presently； for even now； haply； your
uncle； his Grace of Winchester； is awaiting my coming upon the business
you wot of。 Haply your Highness will find more joyance in a lusty young
knight like Sir Myles than in an old fox like myself。 So I leave him with
you； in your good care。〃
Such was Myles's introduction to the wild young madcap Prince of
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Wales； afterwards the famous Henry V； the conqueror of France。
For a month or more thereafter he was a member of the princely
household； and； after a little while； a trusted and honored member。 Perhaps
it was the calm sturdy strength； the courage of the young knight； that first
appealed to the Prince's royal heart； perhaps afterwards it was the more
sterling qualities that underlaid that courage that drew him to the young
man； certain it was that in two weeks Myles was the acknowledged
favorite。 He made no protestation of virtue； he always accompanied the
Prince in those madcap ventures to London； where he beheld all manner of
wild revelry； he never held himself aloof from his gay comrades； but he
looked upon all their mad sports with the same calm gaze that had carried
him without taint through the courts of Burgundy and the Dauphin。 The
gay； roistering young lords and gentlemen dubbed him Saint Myles； and
jested with him about hai