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distance。 Myles knew most of them at a glance having seen them come
and go at Scotland Yard。 But among them all； he singled out only onethe
Earl of Alban。 He had not seen that face since he was a little child eight
years old； but now that he beheld it again； it fitted instantly and vividly
into the remembrance of the time of that terrible scene at Falworth Castle；
when he had beheld the then Lord Brookhurst standing above the dead
body of Sir John Dale； with the bloody mace clinched in his hand。 There
were the same heavy black brows； sinister and gloomy； the same hooked
nose； the same swarthy cheeks。 He even remembered the deep dent in the
forehead； where the brows met in perpetual frown。 So it was that upon that
face his looks centred and rested。
The Earl of Alban had just been speaking to some Lord who stood
beside him； and a half…smile still hung about the corners of his lips。 At first；
as he looked up at the entrance of the newcomers； there was no other
expression； then suddenly came a flash of recognition； a look of wide…eyed
amazement； then the blood left the cheeks and the lips； and the face grew
very pale。 No doubt he saw at a flash that some great danger overhung him
in this sudden coming of his old enemy； for he was as keen and as astute a
politician as he was a famous warrior。 At least he knew that the eyes of
most of those present were fixed keenly and searchingly upon him。 After
the first start of recognition； his left hand； hanging at his side； gradually
closed around the scabbard of his sword； clutching it in a vice…like grip。
Meantime the Earl of Mackworth had led the blind Lord to the King；
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where both kneeled。
〃Why； how now； my Lord？〃 said the King。 〃Methought it was our
young Paladin whom we knighted at Devlen that was to be presented； and
here thou bringest this old man。 A blind man； ha！ What is the meaning of
this？〃
〃Majesty；〃 said the Earl； 〃I have taken this chance to bring to thy
merciful consideration one who hath most wofully and unjustly suffered
from thine anger。 Yonder stands the young knight of whom we spake； this
is his father； Gilbert Reginald； whilom Lord Falworth； who craves mercy
and justice at thy hands。〃
〃Falworth；〃 said the King； placing his hand to his head。 〃The name is
not strange to mine ears； but I cannot place it。 My head hath troubled me
sorely to…day； and I cannot remember。〃
At this point the Earl of Alban came quietly and deliberately forward。
〃Sire；〃 said he； 〃pardon my boldness in so venturing to address you； but
haply I may bring the name more clearly to your mind。 He is； as my Lord
of Mackworth said； the whilom Baron Falworth； the outlawed； attainted
traitor； so declared for the harboring of Sir John Dale； who was one of
those who sought your Majesty's life at Windsor eleven years ago。 Sire； he
is mine enemy as well； and is brought hither by my proclaimed enemies。
Should aught occur to my harm； I rest my case in your gracious hands。〃
The dusty red flamed into the King's pale； sickly face in answer； and
he rose hastily from his seat。
〃Aye；〃 said he； 〃I remember me nowI remember me the man and the
name！ Who hath dared bring him here before us？〃 All the dull heaviness
of sickness was gone for the moment； and King Henry was the King
Henry of ten years ago as he rolled his eyes balefully from one to another
of the courtiers who stood silently around。
The Earl of Mackworth shot a covert glance at the Bishop of
Winchester； who came forward in answer。
〃Your Majesty；〃 said he； 〃here am I； your brother； who beseech you as
your brother not to judge over…hastily in this matter。 It is true that this man
has been adjudged a traitor； but he has been so adjudged without a hearing。
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I beseech thee to listen patiently to whatsoever he may have to say。
The King fixed the Bishop with a look of the bitterest； deepest anger；
holding his nether lip tightly under his teetha trick he had when strongly
moved with angerand the Bishop's eyes fell under the look。 Meantime
the Earl of Alban stood calm and silent。 No doubt he saw that the King's
anger was likely to befriend him more than any words that he himself
could say； and he perilled his case with no more speech which could only
prove superfluous。
At last the King turned a face red and swollen with anger to the blind
Lord； who still kneeled before him。
〃What hast thou to say？〃 he said； in a deep and sullen voice。
〃Gracious and merciful Lord；〃 said the blind nobleman； 〃I come to
thee； the fountain…head of justice； craving justice。 Sire； I do now and here
deny my treason； which denial I could not before make； being blind and
helpless； and mine enemies strong and malignant。 But now； sire； Heaven
hath sent me help； and therefore I do acclaim before thee that my accuser；
William Bushy Brookhurst； Earl of Alban； is a foul and an attainted liar in
all that he hath accused me of。 To uphold which allegation； and to defend
me； who am blinded by his unknightliness； I do offer a champion to prove
all that I say with his body in combat。〃
The Earl of Mackworth darted a quick look at Myles； who came
forward the moment his father had ended； and kneeled beside him。 The
King offered no interruption to his speech； but he bent a look heavy with
anger upon the young man。
〃My gracious Lord and King；〃 said Myles； 〃I； the son of the accused；
do offer myself as his champion in this cause； beseeching thee of thy grace
leave to prove the truth of the same； being a belted knight by thy grace and
of thy creation and the peer of any who weareth spurs。〃 Thereupon； rising；
he drew his iron gauntlet from his girdle； and flung it clashing down upon
the floor； and with his heart swelling within him with anger and
indignation and pity of his blind father； he cried； in a loud voice； 〃I do
accuse thee； William of Alban； that thou liest vilely as aforesaid； and here
cast down my gage； daring thee to take it up。
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The Earl of Alban made as though he would accept the challenge； but
the King stopped him hastily。
〃Stop！〃 he cried； harshly。 〃Touch not the gage！ Let it lielet it lie； I tell
thee； my Lord！ Now then；〃 said he； turning to the others； 〃tell me what
meaneth all this coil？ Who brought this man hither？〃
He looked from one to another of those who stood silently around； but
no one answered。
〃I see；〃 said he； 〃ye all have had to do with it。 It is as my Lord of
Alban sayeth； ye are his enemies； and ye are my enemies as well。 In this I
do smell a vile plot。 I cannot undo what I have done； and since I have
made this young man a knight with mine own hands； I cannot deny that he
is fit to challenge my Lord of Alban。 Ne'theless； the High Court of
Chivalry shall adjudge this case。 Meantime；〃 said he； turning to the Earl
Marshal； who was present； 〃I give thee this attainted Lord in charge。
Convey him presently to the Tower； and let him abide our pleasure there。
Also； thou mayst take up yon gage； and keep it till it is redeemed
according to our pleasure。〃
He stood thoughtfully for a moment； and then raising his eyes； looked
fixedly at the Earl of Mackworth。 〃I know；〃 he said； 〃that I be a right sick
man； and there be some who are already plotting to overthrow those who
have held up my hand with their own strength for all these years。〃 Then
speaking more directly： 〃My Lord Earl of Mackworth； I see your hand in
this before all others。 It was thou who so played upon me as to get me to
knight this young man； and thus make him worthy to challenge my Lord
of Alban。 It was thy doings that brought him here to…day； backed by mine
own sons and my brother and by these noblemen。〃 Then turning suddenly
to the Earl of Alban： 〃Come； my Lord；〃 said he； 〃I am aweary with all this
coil。 Lend me thine arm to leave this place。〃 So it was that he left the room；
leaning upon the Earl of Alban's arm； and followed by the