sides the walls were hung with tapestry
representing hunting and battle scenes, at the farther end, where the
bed stood, the stone wall of the fourth side was covered with cloth of
blue, embroidered with silver goshawks. Even now, in the ripe springtime
of May, the room was still chilly, and a great fire roared and crackled
in the huge gaping mouth of the stone fireplace. Not far from the blaze
were clustered the greater part of those present, buzzing in talk, now
and then swelled by murmuring laughter. Some of those who knew Myles
nodded to him, and two or three spoke to him as he stood waiting, whilst
the groom went forward to speak to the Earl; though what they said and
what he answered, Myles, in his bewilderment and trepidation, hardly
knew.

As was said before, the livery was the last meal of the day, and was
taken in bed. It was a simple repast--a manchette, or small loaf of
bread of pure white flour, a loaf of household bread, sometimes a lump
of cheese, and either a great flagon of ale or of sweet wine, warm
and spiced. The Earl was sitting upright in bed, dressed in a furred
dressing-gown, and propped up by two cylindrical bolsters of crimson
satin. Upon the coverlet, and spread over his knees, was a large wide
napkin of linen fringed with silver thread, and on it rested a silver
tray containing the bread and some cheese. Two pages and three gentlemen
were waiting upon him, and Mad Noll, the jester, stood at the head of
the bed, now and then jingling his bawble and passing some quaint jest
upon the chance of making his master smile. Upon a table near by were
some dozen or so waxen tapers struck upon as many spiked candlesticks
of silver-gilt, and illuminating that end of the room with their bright
twinkling flames. One of the gentlemen was in the act of serving the
Earl with a goblet of wine, poured from a silver ewer by one of the
squires, as the groom of the chamber came forward and spoke. The Earl,
taking the goblet, turned his head, and as Myles looked, their eyes met.
Then the Earl turned away again and raised the cup to his lips, while
Myles felt his heart beat more rapidly than ever.

But at last the meal was ended, and the Earl washed his hands and his
mouth and his beard from a silver basin of scented water held by another
one of the squires. Then, leaning back against the pillows, he beckoned
to Myles.

In answer Myles walked forward the length of the room, conscious that
all eyes were fixed upon