sent for the most trusty equerry of his stables and gave into his
charge young Bayard, with the assurance that one day he would do him great
credit. The Bishop of Grenoble, having accomplished his business, did not
tarry long after this, but having humbly thanked the Duke of Savoy, took
leave of him and of his nephew, and returned to his own home.

Those spring and summer months spent at the Court of Savoy remained a happy
memory to Bayard all his life. On feast-days and holidays the whole company
would go out into the woods or the meadows, the Duchess Blanche with her
young maidens and attendant ladies, while the knights and squires and pages
waited upon them as they dined under the trees, and afterwards played games
and made the air ring with their merry songs. Or there were hunting and
hawking parties which lasted for more than one day, or river excursions
down as far as the Lake of Bourget, where the Duke had a summer palace. It
must have been on occasions such as these when the gallant young Bayard met
with the maiden who caught his boyish fancy, and to whom he remained
faithful at heart until the end of his days. Yet this pretty old-world
story of boy-and-girl affection made no farther progress, and when the
knight and lady met in the years to come, once more under the hospitable
care of the good Duchess Blanche, they met as congenial friends only. The
fair maiden of Chambery is known to history solely by her later married
name of Madame de Frussasco (or Fluxas), and in the records of chivalry
only by the tournament in which the "Good Knight without Fear and without
Reproach" wore her colours and won the prize in her name.

[Illustration: CHARLES VIII KING OF FRANCE _from a medallion_.]

CHAPTER II

The King heard that the Duke of Savoy was coming to his Court, and he sent
the Comte de Ligny to conduct the Duke on his way, and to receive him with
due honour. They met him about six miles from Lyons, and gave him a warm
welcome, after which the two princes rode side by side, and had much talk
together, for they were cousins and had not met for a long time. Now this
Monseigneur de Ligny was a great general, and with his quick, observant eye
he soon took notice of young Bayard, who was in the place of honour close
to his lord, and he inquired: "Who is that gallant little lad riding his
horse so well that it is quite a pleasure to see him?"

"Upon my word," replied the Duke, "I never had such a delightful pag