royal stable. With his usual impulsive generosity Bayard gave
handsome presents to the messengers, and then went to spend the evening
with the Sire de Ligny, who treated him as though he were his own son,
giving him wise advice for his future life, and above all bidding him keep
honour always before his eyes. This command did he keep in very truth until
his death. At last, when it grew late, de Ligny said to him: "Picquet, my
friend, I think you will be starting to-morrow morning before I have risen,
may God bless you!" and embraced him with tears, while Bayard on his knees
said good-bye to his kind master.

More presents awaited him, for that night there arrived two complete and
costly suits from the Sire de Ligny, who also sent his own favourite
chestnut horse, so that when the young squire set forth at daybreak he was
splendidly equipped in every way with horses, servants, armour, and clothes
suitable to his position. As we have seen, dress was a very expensive thing
in those days, when gentlemen of rank wore velvet, brocade, and satin, both
for evening and riding costume as a matter of course.

It was a slow journey into Picardy, for Bayard wished his horses to arrive
in good condition, and only travelled a moderate distance every day. When
he arrived at the little town of Aire, his destination, all the young
officers of the garrison came out to meet him, for the fame of his jousting
with Messire Claude de Vauldray had already reached them. They would not
listen to his modest disclaimers, but feasted and made much of their new
comrade. One lively young noble of the company, probably quite deceived by
the fine show that Bayard made with all his handsome parting gifts, and
taking him for a man of wealth, said to him: "My good companion, you must
make people talk about you, and endeavour to acquire the good favour of
all the fair ladies of this country, and you cannot do better than give us
a tournament, for it is a long time since we have had one in this town."
The poor boy must have been somewhat taken aback by this suggestion, but he
was far too plucky to show it, so he replied with ready goodwill, "On my
faith, Monsieur de Tardieu, is that all? You may be sure that this will
please me even more than yourself. If you will have the goodness to send me
the trumpeter to-morrow morning, and if we have leave of our captain, I
will take care that you shall be satisfied."

All that night Bayard was too excited to sleep, an