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gay； roistering young lords and gentlemen dubbed him Saint Myles； and
jested with him about hair…cloth shirts and flagellations； but witticism and
jest alike failed to move Myles's patient virtue； he went his own gait in the
habits of his life； and in so going knew as little as the others of the mad
court that the Prince's growing liking for him was； perhaps； more than all
else； on account of that very temperance。
Then； by…and…by； the Prince began to confide in him as he did in none
of the others。 There was no great love betwixt the King and his son； it has
happened very often that the Kings of England have felt bitter jealousy
towards the heirs…apparent as they have grown in power； and such was the
case with the great King Henry IV。 The Prince often spoke to Myles of the
clashing and jarring between himself and his father； and the thought began
to come to Myles's mind by degrees that maybe the King's jealousy
accounted not a little for the Prince's reckless intemperance。
Once； for instance； as the Prince leaned upon； his shoulder waiting；
whilst the attendants made ready the barge that was to carry them down
the river to the city； he said； abruptly： 〃Myles； what thinkest thou of us all？
Doth not thy honesty hold us in contempt？〃
〃Nay； Highness；〃 said Myles。 〃How could I hold contempt？〃
〃Marry；〃 said the Prince； 〃I myself hold contempt； and am not as
honest a man as thou。 But； prithee； have patience with me； Myles。 Some
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day； perhaps； I too will live a clean life。 Now； an I live seriously； the King
will be more jealous of me than ever； and that is not a little。 Maybe I live
thus so that he may not know what I really am in soothly earnest。〃
The Prince also often talked to Myles concerning his own affairs； of
the battle he was to fight for his father's honor； of how the Earl of
Mackworth had plotted and planned to bring him face to face with the Earl
of Alban。 He spoke to Myles more than once of the many great changes of
state and party that hung upon the downfall of the enemy of the house of
Falworth； and showed him how no hand but his own could strike that
enemy down； if he fell； it must be through the son of Falworth。 Sometimes
it seemed to Myles as though he and his blind father were the centre of a
great web of plot and intrigue； stretching far and wide； that included not
only the greatest houses of England； but royalty and the political balance
of the country as well； and even before the greatness of it all he did not
flinch。
Then； at last； came the beginning of the time for action。 It was in the
early part of May； and Myles had been a member of the Prince's household
for a little over a month。 One morning he was ordered to attend the Prince
in his privy cabinet； and； obeying the summons； he found the Prince； his
younger brother； the Duke of Bedford； and his uncle； the Bishop of
Winchester； seated at a table； where they had just been refreshing
themselves with a flagon of wine and a plate of wafers。
〃My poor Myles；〃 said the Prince； smiling； as the young knight bowed
to the three； and then stood erect； as though on duty。 〃It shames my heart；
brotherand thou； uncleit shames my heart to be one privy to this thing
which we are set upon to do。 Here be we； the greatest Lords of England；
making a cat's…paw of this ladfor he is only yet a boyand of his blind
father； for to achieve our ends against Alban's faction。 It seemeth not over…
honorable to my mind。〃
〃Pardon me； your Highness；〃 said Myles； blushing to the roots of his
hair； 〃but； an I may be so bold as to speak； I reck nothing of what your
aims may be； I only look to restoring my father's honor and the honor of
our house。〃
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〃Truly；〃 said the Prince； smiling； 〃that is the only matter that maketh
me willing to lay my hands to this business。 Dost thou know why I have
sent for thee？ It is because this day thou must challenge the Duke of Alban
before the King。 The Earl of Mackworth has laid all his plans and the time
is now ripe。 Knowest that thy father is at Mackworth House？〃
〃Nay；〃 said Myles； 〃I knew it not。〃
〃He hath been there for nearly two days；〃 said the Prince。 〃Just now
the Earl hath sent for us to come first to Mackworth House。 Then to go to
the palace； for he hath gained audience with the King； and hath so
arranged it that the Earl of Alban is to be there as well。 We all go
straightway； so get thyself ready as soon as may be。〃
Perhaps Myles's heart began beating more quickly within him at the
nearness of that great happening which he had looked forward to for so
long。 If it did； he made no sign of his emotion； but only asked； 〃How must
I clothe myself； your Highness？〃
〃Wear thy light armor；〃 said the Prince； 〃but no helmet； a juppon
bearing the arms and colors that the Earl gave thee when thou wert
knighted； and carry thy right…hand gauntlet under thy belt for thy challenge。
Now make haste； for time passes。〃
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CHAPTER 30
Adjoining the ancient palace of Westminster； where King Henry IV
was then holding his court； was a no less ancient stone building known as
the Painted Room。 Upon the walls were depicted a series of battle scenes
in long bands reaching around this room； one above another。 Some of
these pictures had been painted as far back as the days of Henry III； others
had been added since his time。 They chronicled the various wars of the
King of England； and it was from them that the little hall took its name of
the Painted Room。
This ancient wing； or offshoot； of the main buildings was more retired
from the hurly…burly of outer life than other parts of the palace； and thither
the sick King was very fond of retiring from the business of State； which
ever rested more and more heavily upon his shoulders； sometimes to
squander in quietness a spare hour or two； sometimes to idle over a
favorite book； sometimes to play a game of chess with a favorite courtier。
The cold painted walls had been hung with tapestry； and its floor had been
spread with arras carpet。 These and the cushioned couches and chairs that
stood around gave its gloomy antiquity an air of comfortan air even of
luxury。
It was to this favorite retreat of the King's that Myles was brought that
morning with his father to face the great Earl of Alban。
In the anteroom the little party of Princes and nobles who escorted the
father and son had held a brief consultation。 Then the others had entered；
leaving Myles and his blind father in charge of Lord Lumley and two
knights of the court； Sir Reginald Hallowell and Sir Piers Averell。
Myles； as he stood patiently waiting； with his father's arm resting in
his； could hear the muffled sound of voices from beyond the arras。 Among
others； he recognized the well…remembered tones of the King。 He fancied
that he heard his own name mentioned more than once； and then the sound
of talking ceased。 The next moment the arras was drawn aside； and the
Earl entered the antechamber again。
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〃All is ready； cousin；〃 said he to Lord Falworth； in a suppressed voice。
〃Essex hath done as he promised； and Alban is within there now。〃 Then；
turning to Myles； speaking in the same low voice； and betraying more
agitation than Myles had thought it possible for him to show； 〃Sir Myles；〃
said he； 〃remember all that hath been told thee。 Thou knowest what thou
hast to say and do。〃 Then； without further word； he took Lord Falworth by
the hand； and led the way into the room； Myles following close behind。
The King half sat； half inclined； upon a cushioned seat close to which
stood the two Princes。 There were some dozen others present； mostly
priests and noblemen of high quality who clustered in a group at a little
distance。 Myles knew most of them at a glance having seen them come
a