ees. It was sheathed in a crimson scabbard, and the belt of Spanish
leather studded with silver bosses was wound crosswise around it. From
the hilt of the sword dangled the gilt spurs of his coming knighthood.
At a little distance behind his squire followed Myles, the centre of
all observation. He was clad in a novitiate dress, arranged under Lord
George's personal supervision. It had been made somewhat differently
from the fashion usual at such times, and was intended to indicate in a
manner the candidate's extreme youthfulness and virginity in arms. The
outer garment was a tabard robe of white wool, embroidered at the hem
with fine lines of silver, and gathered loosely at the waist with a belt
of lavender leather stitched with thread of silver. Beneath he was clad
in armor (a present from the Earl), new and polished till it shone with
dazzling brightness, the breastplate covered with a juppon of white
satin, embroidered with silver. Behind Myles, and upon either hand, came
his squires of honor, sponsors, and friends--a little company of
some half-dozen in all. As they advanced slowly up the great, dim,
high-vaulted room, the whole multitude broke forth into a humming buzz
of applause. Then a sudden clapping of hands began near the door-way,
ran down through the length of the room, and was taken up by all with
noisy clatter.

"Saw I never youth so comely," whispered one of the Lady Anne's
attendant gentlewomen. "Sure he looketh as Sir Galahad looked when he
came first to King Arthur's court."

Myles knew that he was very pale; he felt rather than saw the restless
crowd of faces upon either side, for his eyes were fixed directly before
him, upon the dais whereon sat the King, with the Earl of Mackworth
standing at his right hand, the Comte de Vermoise upon the left, and the
others ranged around and behind the throne. It was with the same tense
feeling of dreamy unreality that Myles walked slowly up the length of
the hall, measuring his steps by those of Gascoyne. Suddenly he
felt Lord George Beaumont touch him lightly upon the arm, and almost
instinctively he stopped short--he was standing just before the covered
steps of the throne.

He saw Gascoyne mount to the third step, stop short, kneel, and offer
the sword and the spurs he carried to the King, who took the weapon
and laid it across his knees. Then the squire bowed low, and walking
backward withdrew to one side, leaving Myles standing alone facing the
throne. T