In the centre was a raised dais,
hung round with cloth of blue embroidered with lions rampant. Upon the
dais stood a cushioned throne for the King, and upon the steps below,
ranged in the order of their dignity, were seats for the Earl, his
guests, the family, the ladies, knights, and gentlemen of the castle.
In front, the scaffolding was covered with the gayest tapestries and
brightest-colored hangings that the castle could afford. And above,
parti-colored pennants and streamers, surmounted by the royal ensign of
England, waved and fluttered in the brisk wind.

At either end of the lists stood the pavilions of the knights. That of
Myles was at the southern extremity and was hung, by the Earl's desire,
with cloth of the Beaumont colors (black and yellow), while a wooden
shield bearing three goshawks spread (the crest of the house) was nailed
to the roof, and a long streamer of black and yellow trailed out in the
wind from the staff above. Myles, partly armed, stood at the door-way of
the pavilion, watching the folk gathering at the scaffolding. The ladies
of the house were already seated, and the ushers were bustling hither
and thither, assigning the others their places. A considerable crowd
of common folk and burghers from the town had already gathered at
the barriers opposite, and as he looked at the restless and growing
multitude he felt his heart beat quickly and his flesh grow cold with a
nervous trepidation--just such as the lad of to-day feels when he sees
the auditorium filling with friends and strangers who are to listen
by-and-by to the reading of his prize poem.

Suddenly there came a loud blast of trumpets. A great gate at the
farther extremity of the lists was thrown open, and the King appeared,
riding upon a white horse, preceded by the King-at-arms and the heralds,
attended by the Earl and the Comte de Vermoise, and followed by a crowd
of attendants. Just then Gascoyne, who, with Wilkes, was busied lacing
some of the armor plates with new thongs, called Myles, and he turned
and entered the pavilion.

As the two squires were adjusting these last pieces, strapping them in
place and tying the thongs, Lord George and Sir James Lee entered
the pavilion. Lord George took the young man by the hand, and with a
pleasant smile wished him success in the coming encounter.

Sir James seemed anxious and disturbed. He said nothing, and after
Gascoyne had placed the open bascinet that supports the tilting helm
in its