ject, the lady keeper made the queen
acquainted with her son's passion, and how, fearing that unless he
obtained Isabella he would commit some desperate deed against himself or
others, she had asked for that delay of two days in order that her
majesty might devise the best means of saving the life of her son. The
queen replied that had she not pledged her royal word, she would have
found a way to smooth over that difficulty, but that, for no
consideration, could she retract her promise or defraud Richard of the
hope she had given him.

The lady keeper reported the queen's answer to her son, but nothing
could overcome his headstrong presumption. Arming himself at all points
he mounted a powerful charger, and presented himself before Clotald's
house, and shouted for Richard to come to the window. Richard was
dressed as a bridegroom, and was on the point of setting out for the
palace with his friends, but hearing himself thus summoned, he went with
some surprise and showed himself at an open window. "Hark you, Richard;
I have something to say to you," said Count Ernest. "Our lady the queen
ordered you to go forth on her service and perform exploits that should
render you worthy of the peerless Isabella. You set out, and returned
with ships laden with wealth, with which you think you have bought your
title to Isabella. But though our lady the queen promised her to you, it
was under the belief that there was no one at her court who could serve
her better than you, or more justly aspire to the fair Spaniard's hand;
but in this it may be that her majesty was mistaken. Being of that
opinion, and holding it for very truth, I say that you have done no such
deeds as can make you worthy of Isabella, nor can you ever perform any
to raise you to that honour; and if you dare to maintain the contrary, I
defy you to the death."

"I am in no wise called upon to take up your defial," replied Richard;
"because I confess not only that I do not merit Isabella, but that no
man living does so. Confessing, therefore, the truth of what you allege,
I say again, that your defial touches not me; nevertheless, I accept it
in order to chastise your insolence." So saying, he left the window and
called for his arms.

Richard's family and the friends who had assembled to escort him to the
palace were thrown into confusion by this untoward incident. The
challenge having been so publicly given, it could not be but that some
one should report it to the