or other of these, who was called to him
by a black-robed secretary. Advancing with bows the courtier talked to
him a while, then was dismissed by a gracious motion of the hand.

As the Englishmen entered this hall a herald called their names thus
from a written slip of paper:

"The Cavalier Geoffrey Carleon, Ambassador of England. The Cavalier Hugh
de Cressi, Messenger from the King of England, and the Captain Richard
Archer, his companion."

Now all talk was hushed and every eye turned to scan these strangers of
whose business, it would seem, something was already known.

"A fine man," said one lady to another of Hugh, "but why does he come
here in dinted armour?"

"Oh! he is English and the English are barbarians who like to be ready
to cut some one's throat," answered her companion. "But Holy Jesus!
look at the long fellow with the death's head who walks behind him, and
carries his luggage in a sack. His face makes my back creep."

Fortunately neither Hugh nor Dick understood these and other such
sayings which Sir Geoffrey repeated to them afterward and therefore
walked on with their host unconcerned. Once, however, Grey Dick nudged
his master and whispered in his ear:

"Be glad, our man is here. It is he who mocks us to those popinjays.
Nay, turn not to look; you will see plenty of his sweet face presently."

Now they stood before the chair of state, from which the Doge rose,
and advanced two steps to greet the Ambassador of England. When these
courtesies were over Sir Geoffrey presented Hugh to him, to whom
he bowed, and Dick, whose salute he acknowledged with a wave of his
jewelled hand. Afterward they talked, all crowding round to listen, Sir
Geoffrey himself, who spoke Italian well, acting as the interpreter.

"You come hither, Cavalier de Cressi," said the Doge, "on behalf of his
royal Grace, King Edward, who speaks of you in his letter in terms of
which any knight may well be proud. We understand that this captain
with you is your companion," and he glanced curiously at Dick out of the
corners of his dark eyes, adding, "If those are gifts which he bears
in that leathern sack and the long case in his hand, let our servants
relieve him of them."

"Let his servants leave me alone," growled Grey Dick when this was
translated. "Say to this fine lord, Sir Knight, that the gifts in the
sack are not for him, and that which the case scatters he would scarcely
care to have."

Sir Geoffrey made some explan