company to the
banquet, when horses' feet were heard at the gate announcing some fresh
arrival. The Seneschal went to receive the guests, and presently was
heard ushering in the noble Prince, Arnulf, Count of Flanders.

Richard's face became pale--he turned from Carloman by whose side he had
been standing, and walked straight out of the hall and up the stairs,
closely followed by Osmond. In a few minutes there was a knock at the
door of his chamber, and a French Knight stood there saying, "Comes not
the Duke to the banquet?"

"No," answered Osmond: "he eats not with the slayer of his father."

"The King will take it amiss; for the sake of the child you had better
beware," said the Frenchman, hesitating.

"He had better beware himself," exclaimed Osmond, indignantly, "how he
brings the treacherous murderer of William Longsword into the presence of
a free-born Norman, unless he would see him slain where he stands. Were
it not for the boy, I would challenge the traitor this instant to single
combat."

"Well, I can scarce blame you," said the Knight, "but you had best have a
care how you tread. Farewell."

Richard had hardly time to express his indignation, and his wishes that
he was a man, before another message came through a groom of Lothaire's
train, that the Duke must fast, if he would not consent to feast with the
rest.

"Tell Prince Lothaire," replied Richard, "that I am not such a glutton as
he--I had rather fast than be choked with eating with Arnulf."

All the rest of the day, Richard remained in his own chamber, resolved
not to run the risk of meeting with Arnulf. The Squire remained with
him, in this voluntary imprisonment, and they occupied themselves, as
best they could, with furbishing Osmond's armour, and helping each other
out in repeating some of the Sagas. They once heard a great uproar in
the court, and both were very anxious to learn its cause, but they did
not know it till late in the afternoon.

Carloman crept up to them--"Here I am at last!" he exclaimed. "Here,
Richard, I have brought you some bread, as you had no dinner: it was all
I could bring. I saved it under the table lest Lothaire should see it."

Richard thanked Carloman with all his heart, and being very hungry was
glad to share the bread with Osmond. He asked how long the wicked Count
was going to stay, and rejoiced to hear he was going away the next
morning, and the King was going with him.

"What was that great nois