leading his men Walter descended the steps into the
courtyard, which was now illuminated with torches, and handed his sword
to the Count of Evreux.

"You promised me, count," a tall knight standing by his side said,
"that if he were taken alive, the commander of this castle should be my
prisoner."

"I did so, Sir Phillip Holbeaut. When you proposed this adventure to
me, and offered to place your following at my command, I agreed to the
request you made me; but mind," he said sternly, "my knightly word
has been given for his safety. See that he receives fair and gentle
treatment at your hand. I would not that aught should befall so brave a
knight."

"I seek him no harm," the knight said angrily; "but I know that he is
one of the knights of the Black Prince's own suite, and that his ransom
will be freely paid, and as my coffers are low from the expenses of the
war, I would fain replenish them at the expense of the English prince."

"I said not that I doubted you, Sir Phillip," the count said calmly;
"but as the knight surrendered on my word, it was needful that I should
warn you to treat him as I myself should do did he remain in my hands,
and to give him fair treatment until duly ransomed."

"I should be glad, count," Walter said, "if you will suffer me to take
with me as companion in my captivity this man-at-arms. He is strongly
attached to me, and we have gone through many perils together; it will
lighten my captivity to have him by my side."

"Surely I will do so, Sir Walter, and wish that your boon had been a
larger one. The rest I will take back with me to Amiens, there to hold
until exchanged for some of those who at various times have fallen into
your king's hands. And now to work, men; lose not a moment in stripping
the castle of all that you choose to carry away, then apply fire to
the storehouses, granaries, and the hold itself. I would not that it
remained standing to serve as an outpost for the English."

The horses were brought from the stables. Walter and Ralph took their
horses by the bridle, and followed Sir Phillip Holbeaut through the now
open gates of the castle to the spot where the horses of the besiegers
were picketed. The knight, and his own men-at-arms, who had at the
beginning of the day numbered a hundred and fifty, but who were now
scarcely two-thirds of that strength, at once mounted with their
prisoners, and rode off from the castle. A few minutes later a glare of
light burst out from