--of
your father's old, valiant, and faithful servant. Would you hold me out
as a prize to the best sword player?"

"Your ancestress," said the Duke, "was won at a tourney--you shall be
fought for in real melee. Only thus far, for Count Reinold's sake,
the successful prizer shall be a gentleman, of unimpeached birth, and
unstained bearings; but, be he such, and the poorest who ever drew the
strap of a sword belt through the tongue of a buckle, he shall have at
least the proffer of your hand. I swear it, by St. George, by my ducal
crown, and by the Order that I wear!--Ha! Messires," he added, turning
to the nobles present, "this at least is, I think, in conformity with
the rules of chivalry?"

Isabelle's remonstrances were drowned in a general and jubilant assent,
above which was heard the voice of old Lord Crawford, regretting the
weight of years that prevented his striking for so fair a prize. The
Duke was gratified by the general applause, and his temper began to flow
more smoothly, like that of a swollen river when it hath subsided within
its natural boundaries.

"Are we to whom fate has given dames already," said Crevecoeur, "to be
bystanders at this fair game? It does not consist with my honour to be
so, for I have myself a vow to be paid at the expense of that tusked and
bristled brute, De la Marck."

"Strike boldly in, Crevecoeur," said the Duke, "to win her, and since
thou canst not wear her thyself, bestow her where thou wilt--on Count
Stephen, your nephew, if you list."

"Gramercy, my lord!" said Crevecoeur, "I will do my best in the battle;
and, should I be fortunate enough to be foremost, Stephen shall try his
eloquence against that of the Lady Abbess."

"I trust," said Dunois, "that the chivalry of France are not excluded
from this fair contest?"

"Heaven forbid! brave Dunois," answered the Duke, "were it but for the
sake of seeing you do your uttermost. But," he added, "though there be
no fault in the Lady Isabelle wedding a Frenchman, it will be necessary
that the Count of Croye must become a subject of Burgundy."

"Enough," said Dunois, "my bar sinister may never be surmounted by the
coronet of Croye--I will live and die French. But, yet, though I should
lose the lands, I will strike a blow for the lady."

Le Balafre dared not speak aloud in such a presence, but he muttered to
himself,

"Now, Saunders Souplejaw, hold thine own!--thou always saidst the
fortune of our house was to be won by ma