h
nor French, but speaks with the tongue of the one, and fights under the
banner of the other."

"Sir!" cried De Clisson, with a voice of thunder, while his countrymen
clapped their hands to their swords. The squire, however, took no notice
of their angry faces, but continued with his master's message.

"He is now ready, sire," he said, "albeit his destrier has travelled
many miles this day, and fast, for we were in fear lest we come too late
for the jousting."

"Ye have indeed come too late," said the prince, "seeing that the prize
is about to be awarded; yet I doubt not that one of these gentlemen will
run a course for the sake of honor with this cavalier of France."

"And as to the prize, sire," quoth Sir Nigel, "I am sure that I speak
for all when I say this French knight hath our leave to bear it away
with him if he can fairly win it."

"Bear word of this to your master," said the prince, "and ask him which
of these five Englishmen he would desire to meet. But stay; your master
bears no coat-armor, and we have not yet heard his name."

"My master, sire, is under vow to the Virgin neither to reveal his name
nor to open his vizor until he is back upon French ground once more."

"Yet what assurance have we," said the prince, "that this is not some
varlet masquerading in his master's harness, or some caitiff knight,
the very touch of whose lance might bring infamy upon an honorable
gentleman?"

"It is not so, sire," cried the squire earnestly. "There is no man upon
earth who would demean himself by breaking a lance with my master."

"You speak out boldly, squire," the prince answered; "but unless I have
some further assurance of your master's noble birth and gentle name I
cannot match the choicest lances of my court against him."

"You refuse, sire?"

"I do refuse."

"Then, sire, I was bidden to ask you from my master whether you would
consent if Sir John Chandos, upon hearing my master's name, should
assure you that he was indeed a man with whom you might yourself cross
swords without indignity."

"I ask no better," said the prince.

"Then I must ask, Lord Chandos, that you will step forth. I have your
pledge that the name shall remain ever a secret, and that you will
neither say nor write one word which might betray it. The name is----"
He stooped down from his horse and whispered something into the old
knight's ear which made him start with surprise, and stare with much
curiosity at the distant Kni