ain by
the White Company at Brignais, and beside him a little group of German
noblemen, including the Earl of Salzburg and the Earl of Nassau, who
had ridden over the frontier with their formidable mercenaries at the
bidding of the French King. The ridged armor and the hanging nasals of
their bassinets were enough in themselves to tell every soldier that
they were from beyond the Rhine. At the other side of the table were a
line of proud and warlike Lords, Fiennes, Chatillon, Nesle, de Landas,
de Beaujeu, with the fierce knight errant de Chargny, he who had planned
the surprise of Calais, and Eustace de Ribeaumont, who had upon the same
occasion won the prize of valor from the hands of Edward of England.
Such were the chiefs to whom the King now turned for assistance and
advice.

"You have already heard, my friends," said he, "that the Prince of Wales
has made no answer to the proposal which we sent by the Lord Cardinal of
Perigord. Certes this is as it should be, and though I have obeyed the
call of Holy Church I had no fears that so excellent a Prince as Edward
of England would refuse to meet us in battle. I am now of opinion that
we should fall upon them at once, lest perchance the Cardinal's cross
should again come betwixt our swords and our enemies."

A buzz of joyful assent arose from the meeting, and even from the
attendant men-at-arms who guarded the door. When it had died away the
Duke of Orleans rose in his place beside the King.

"Sire," said he, "you speak as we would have you do, and I for one am of
opinion that the Cardinal of Perigord has been an ill friend of France,
for why should we bargain for a part when we have but to hold out our
hand in order to grasp the whole? What need is there for words? Let us
spring to horse forthwith and ride over this handful of marauders who
have dared to lay waste your fair dominions. If one of them go hence
save as our prisoner we are the more to blame."

"By Saint Denis, brother!" said the King, smiling, "if words could slay
you would have had them all upon their backs ere ever we left Chartres.
You are new to war, but when you have had experience of a stricken field
or two you would know that things must be done with forethought and in
order or they may go awry. In our father's time we sprang to horse and
spurred upon these English at Crecy and elsewhere as you advise, but
we had little profit from it, and now we are grown wiser. How say you,
Sieur de Ribeaumont?