scended. "Pardon my
boldness, sire," he said to the king, "but I would fain tell you
what the lad himself has hitherto been ignorant of. He is not, as he
supposes, the son of Giles Fletcher, citizen and bowmaker, but is the
lawfully born son of Sir Roland Somers, erst of Westerham and Hythe, who
was killed in the troubles at the commencement of your majesty's reign.
His wife, Dame Alice, brought the child to Giles Fletcher, whose wife
had been her nurse, and dying left him in her care. Giles and his wife,
if called for, can vouch for the truth of this, and can give you proofs
of his birth."

Walter listened with astonishment to Geoffrey's speech. A thrill of
pleasure rushed through his veins as he learned that he was of gentle
blood and might hope to aspire to a place among the knights of King
Edward's court. He understood now the pains which Geoffrey had bestowed
in seeing that he was perfected in warlike exercises, and why both he
and Giles had encouraged rather than repressed his love for martial
exercises and his determination to abandon his craft and become a
man-at-arms when he reached man's estate.

"Ah is it so?" the king exclaimed. "I remember Sir Roland Somers, and
also that he was slain by Sir Hugh Spencer, who, as I heard on many
hands, acted rather on a private quarrel than, as he alleged, in my
interest, and there were many who avowed that the charges brought
against Sir Roland were unfounded. However, this matter must be inquired
into, and my High Justiciar shall see Master Giles and his wife, hear
their evidence, and examine the proofs which they may bring forward.
As to the estates, they were granted to Sir Jasper Vernon and cannot
be restored. Nevertheless I doubt not that the youth will carve out for
himself a fortune with his sword. You are his master, I suppose? I would
fain pay you to cancel his apprenticeship. Sir Walter Manny has promised
to enroll him among his esquires."

"I will cancel his indentures willingly, my liege," the armourer
answered, "and that without payment. The lad has been to me as a son,
and seeing his high spirit, and knowing the gentle blood running in his
veins, I have done my best so to teach him and so to put him in the way
of winning back his father's rank by his sword."

"He hath gone far towards it already," the king said, "and methinks
may yet gain some share in his father's inheritance," and he glanced
at little Mistress Edith Vernon and then smiled at the queen.