ndured tough
blows, and saved his head at Novara, but had been crushed like an egg
shell by a stone from the walls at Barletta, which had nearly been his
own destruction: and how that which he at present wore (beautifully
chased and in a classical form) was taken from a dead Italian Count on
the field of Ravenna, but always sat amiss on him; and how he had broken
his good sword upon one of the rascally Swiss only a couple of months
ago at Marignano. Having likewise disabled his right arm, and being
well off through the payment of some ransoms, he had come home partly to
look after his family, and partly to provide himself with a full suit of
English harness, his present suit being a patchwork of relics of
numerous battle-fields. Only one thing he desired, a true Spanish
sword, not only Toledo or Bilboa in name, but nature. He had seen
execution done by the weapons of the soldiers of the Great Captain, and
been witness to the endurance of their metal, and this made him demand
whether Master Headley could provide him with the like.

Giles took the moment for stepping forward and putting Abenali's work
into the master's hand. The Condottiere was in raptures. He pronounced
it as perfect a weapon as Gouzalo de Cordova himself could possess;
showed off its temper and his own dexterity by piercing and cutting up
an old cuirass, and invited the bystanders to let him put it to further
proof by letting him slice through an apple placed on the open palm of
the hand.

Giles's friendship could not carry him so far as to make the venture;
Kit Smallbones observed that he had a wife and children, and could not
afford to risk his good right hand on a wandering soldier's bravado;
Edmund was heard saying, "Nay, nay, Steve, don't be such a fool," but
Stephen was declaring he would not have the fellow say that English lads
hunt back from what rogues of France and Italy would dare.

"No danger for him who winceth not," said the knight.

Master Headley, a very peaceful citizen in his composition in spite of
his trade, was much inclined to forbid Stephen from the experiment, but
he refrained, ashamed and unwilling to daunt a high spirit; and half the
household, eager for the excitement, rushed to the kitchen in quest of
apples, and brought out all the women to behold, and add a clamour of
remonstrance.

Sir John, however, insisted that they should all be ordered back again.
"Not that the noise and clamour of women folk makes any odds