and), and
Gaston of Bearn, and (I think) Lady Tibors of Vezelay. Then came the
usher suddenly into the room with his wand, and by the door fell upon
one knee, a sort of state which Count Richard had always disliked. It
made him testy.

'"Well, Gaucelm, well," he said; "on your two legs, my man, if you are
to please me."

'"Lord King--" Gaucelm began, then stopped. My lord bayed at him.

'"Oy Deus!" he said in our tongue, below his breath; and Jehane slid off
his knee and on to her own. So fell kneeling the whole company, till
Gaston of Bearn, more mad than most, sprang up, shouting, "Hail, King of
the English!" and better, "Hail, Count of Anjou!" We all began on that
cry; but he stopped us with a poignant look.

'"God have mercy on me: I am very wicked," he said, and covered up his
face. No one spoke. Jehane bent herself far down and kissed his foot.

'Then he sent for the heralds, and in burst Hugh Puiset, Bishop of
Durham, with his flaming face, outstripping all the others and decency
at once. By this time King Richard had recovered himself. He heard the
tale without moving a feature, and gave a few short commands. The first
was that the body of the dead King should be carried splendidly to
Fontevrault; and the next that a pall should be set up in his private
chapel here at Poictiers, and tall candles set lighted about it. So soon
as this was done he left the chamber, all standing, and went alone to
the chapel. He spent the night there on his knees, himself only with a
few priests. He neither sent for Countess Jehane, nor did she presume to
seek him. Her women tell me that she prayed all night before a Christ in
her bed-chamber; and well she might, with a queen's crown in fair view.
In two or three days' time King Richard pressed out, very early, for
Fontevrault. I went with him, and so did Hugh of Durham, the Bishop of
Poictiers, and the Dauphin of Auvergne. These, with the Chancellor of
Poictou, the household servants and guards, were all we had with us. The
Countess was to be ready upon word from him to go with her ladies and
the court whithersoever he should appoint. Bertran de Born went away in
the night, and King Richard never saw him again; but I shall have to
speak of his last _tenzon_, and his last Sirvente of Kings, by heaven!

'Before he went King Richard kissed the Countess Jehane twice in the
great hall. "Farewell, my queen," he said plainly, and, as some think,
but not I, deliberately. "God be thy