and when they had heard my
tale, they turned aside to give Christian burial to my father and
brothers. They were holy men, those monks, and, for their sakes, I have
spared the cowl ever since. They tended me nearly as well as you have
done, and brought me to their Convent, where they would fain have made
a monk of me, but the wolf was too strong in me, and, ere a month was
passed, I had been so refractory a pupil, that they were right glad to
open the Convent gates. I walked forth to seek my fortune, without a
denier, with nothing but the sword I had taken from my father's hand,
and borne with me, much against the good men's will. I meant to seek
service with any one who would avenge me on the Count de Bearn. One
night I slept on the hill-side, one day I fasted, the next I fell in
with Sir Perduccas d'Albret's troop. I had seen him in my father's
company. He heard my tale, saw me a strong, spirited lad, and knew a
d'Aubricour would be no discredit to his free lances. So he took me as
his page, and thence--but the tale would be long--I became what you see
me."

"And you have never seen your own Castle again?"

"But once. D'Albret laughed when I called on him to revenge me on the
Count de Bearn, and bade me bide my time till I met him in battle. As
to my heritage, there was no hope for that. Once, when I had just
broken with Sir Nele Loring, and left his troop, and times were hard
with me, I took my horse and rode to Albricorte, but there was nought
but the bare mountain, and the walls black with fire. There was,
indeed, a wretched shepherd and his wife, who trembled and looked
dismayed when they found that one of the Albricortes still lived; but I
could get nothing from them, unless I had taken a sheep before me on
the saddle; so I rode off again to seek some fresh service, and, by
good hap, lit on Sir Reginald just as old Harwood was dead. All I have
from my father is my name, my shield, and an arm that I trust has
disgraced neither."

"No, indeed. Yours is a strange history, Gaston; such as we dream not
of in our peaceful land. Homeless, friendless, I know not how you can
be thus gay spirited?"

"A light heart finds its way through the world the easiest," said
Gaston, smiling. "I have nothing to lose, and no sorrows to waste time
on. But are you not going forth this cool evening, Sir Eustace? you
spoke of seeking fresh tidings of the Prince."

Eustace accordingly walked forth, attended by his yeom