e young and eager, so I choose you as I would fain
have been chosen when I was of your age."

"I thank you, fair sir," said Nigel. "It is great honor that one so
famous as yourself should condescend to do some small deed upon me."

"But we must have cause for quarrel, Nigel. Now here I drink to the
ladies of Brittany, who of all ladies upon this earth are the most fair
and the most virtuous, so that the least worthy-amongst them is far
above the best of England. What say you to that, young sir?"

Nigel dipped his finger in his glass and leaning over he placed its wet
impress on the Breton's hand. "This in your face!" said he.

Beaumanoir swept off the red drop of moisture and smiled his approval.
"It could not have been better done," said he. "Why spoil my velvet
paltock as many a hot-headed fool would have done. It is in my mind,
young sir, that you will go far. And now, who follows up this quarrel?"

A growl ran round the table.

Beaumanoir ran his eye round and shook his head. "Alas!" said he, "there
are but twenty of you here, and I have thirty at Josselin who are so
eager to advance themselves that if I return without hope for all of
them there will be sore hearts amongst them. I pray you, Richard, since
we have been at these pains to arrange matters, that you in turn will do
what you may. Can you not find ten more men?"

"But not of gentle blood."

"Nay, it matters not, if they will only fight."

"Of that there can be no doubt, for the castle is full of archers and
men-at-arms who would gladly play a part in the matter."

"Then choose ten," said Beaumanoir.

But for the first time the wolf-like squire opened his thin lips.
"Surely, my lord, you will not allow archers," said he.

"I fear not any man."

"Nay, fair sir, consider that this is a trial of weapons betwixt us
where man faces man. You have seen these English archers, and you know
how fast and how strong are their shafts. Bethink you that if ten of
them were against us it is likely that half of us would be down before
ever we came to handstrokes."

"By Saint Cadoc, William, I think that you are right," cried the Breton.
"If we are to have such a fight as will remain in the memories of men,
you will bring no archers and we no crossbows. Let it be steel upon
steel. How say you then?"

"Surely we can bring ten men-at-arms to make up the thirty that you
desire, Robert. It is agreed then that we fight on no quarrel of England
and France, but ov