will have a shooting match. But, sirrah, if you prove
yourself to be a boaster you shall be whipped round the walls, for I
love not tall words and small deeds. And now, young Master de Cressi,
what is this message of yours?"

Hugh thrust his hand into his bosom, and produced a sealed packet which
was addressed to "His Grace King Edward of England, sent from Andrew
Arnold, priest, by the hand of Hugh de Cressi."

"Can you read?" the King asked of Hugh when he had spelt out this
superscription.

"Ay, Sire; at least if the writing be that of Sir Andrew Arnold, for he
was my master."

"A learned one and a brave, Hugh de Cressi. Well, break seal; we
listen."

Hugh obeyed, and read as follows:

"Your Grace:

"Mayhap, Sire, you will remember me, Andrew Arnold, late master of the
Templars in this town of Dunwich, in whose house, by your warrant for
certain services rendered to your grandsire, your sire, and to yourself,
I still dwell on as a priest ordained. Sire, the bearer of this, Hugh de
Cressi, my godchild, is the son of Geoffrey de Cressi, of this town, the
great wool-merchant, with whom your Highness has had dealings----"

"In truth I have!" interrupted the King, with a laugh. "Also I think the
account is still open--against myself. Well, it shall be paid some day,
when I have conquered France. Forward!"

"Sire, this Hugh is enamoured of Eve Clavering, daughter of Sir John
Clavering of Blythburgh, a cousin of his House, a very beauteous maiden,
commonly known as Red Eve, and she in turn is enamoured of and betrothed
to him----"

Here Queen Philippa suddenly became interested.

"Why is the lady called Red Eve, sir?" she asked in her soft voice.
"Because her cheeks are red?"

"No, Madam," answered Hugh, blushing; "because she always loves to wear
red garments."

"Ah, then she is dark!"

"That is so, Madam; her eyes and hair are black as ash-buds."

"God's truth! Lady," interrupted King Edward, "is this young man's
message of the colour of the eyes of his mistress, which, without doubt,
being in love, he describes falsely? On with the letter!"

"Out of this matter," continued Hugh, "rose a feud yesterday, during
which Hugh de Cressi killed his cousin John, fighting _a outrance_, and
his servant, Richard the Archer, who accompanies him, commonly known as
Grey Dick, slew three men with as many arrows, two of them being Normans
whose names are unknown to us, and the third a grieve to Sir John
Clavering, c