vowed to honesty; but if he breaks faith
again, I have that in me which shall break him. As for you, Bishop of
Beauvais'--one saw the old war-priest blink--'I know nothing of your
part in this business, and am willing to think charitably. If you, an
old man, have any of the grace of God left in you, bestow some of it on
your master. Teach him to serve God as you serve Him, Beauvais. I will
try to be content with that.' He turned to Des Barres, the finest
soldier of the three. 'William,' he said more gently, for he really
liked the man, 'I hope to meet you in a better field, and side by side.
But if face to face again, William,' and he lifted his hand, 'beware of
me.'

None of them had a word to say, but with troubled faces left the
presence; which shows (to some men's thinking) that Richard's strength
lay in his cause. That was not the opinion of Des Barres, nor is it
mine. Meeting them afterwards, when he made a pact of friendship and
alliance with Tancred, and renewed that which he had had with Philip, he
showed them a perfectly open countenance. Nevertheless, he took
possession of Messina, as he had said he would, and built a great tower
upon the wall, which he called Mate-Grifon. Then he sent for his sister
and Jehane, and kept a royal Christmas in the conquered city.

Trouble was not over. There were constant strifes between nation and
nation, man and man. Winter storms delayed the Queen-Mother; Richard
fretted and fumed at the wasting of his force, but saw not the worst of
the matter. If vice was eating his army, jealousy was eating Philip's
sour little heart, and rage that of Saint-Pol. Saint-Pol, with Gurdun to
back him, had determined to kill the English King; with them went, or
was ready to go, Des Barres. He was not such a steady hater by any
means. Some men seek temptation, others fall under it; Des Barres was of
this kind.

Of temptation there was a plenty, since Richard was the most fearless of
men. When he had forgiven an injury it did not exist for him any more.
He was glad to see Des Barres, glad to play, talk, grumble, or swear
with him--a most excellent enemy. One day, idling home from a hawking
match, he got tilting with the Frenchman, with reeds for lances. Neither
seemed in earnest until Richard's horse slipped on a loose stone and
threw him. This was near the gate. You should have seen the change in
Des Barres. 'Hue! Hue! Passavant!' he yelled, possessed with the devil
of destruction; and came