roud knee to his king; "your
brother, Lord Montagu, has but left us. Would that our court had the
same, joyaunce for you as for him."

"Dear and honoured my liege," answered Warwick, his brow smoothing at
once,--for his affectionate though hasty and irritable nature was
rarely proof against the kind voice and winning smile of his young
sovereign,--"could I ever serve you at the court as I can with the
people, you would not complain that John of Montagu was a better
courtier than Richard of Warwick. But each to his calling. I depart
to-morrow for Calais, and thence to King Louis. And, surely, never envoy
or delegate had better chance to be welcome than one empowered to treat
of an alliance that will bestow on a prince deserving, I trust, his
fortunes, the sister of the bravest sovereign in Christian Europe."

"Now, out on thy flattery, my cousin; though I must needs own I provoked
it by my complaint of thy courtiership. But thou hast learned only half
thy business, good Warwick; and it is well Margaret did not hear thee.
Is not the prince of France more to be envied for winning a fair lady
than having a fortunate soldier for his brother-in-law?"

"My liege," replied Warwick, smiling, "thou knowest I am a poor judge of
a lady's fair cheek, though indifferently well skilled as to the valour
of a warrior's stout arm. Algates, the Lady Margaret is indeed worthy in
her excellent beauties to become the mother of brave men."

"And that is all we can wring from thy stern lip, man of iron? Well,
that must content us. But to more serious matters." And the king,
leaning his hand on the earl's arm, and walking with him slowly to and
fro the terrace, continued: "Knowest thou not, Warwick, that this French
alliance, to which thou hast induced us, displeases sorely our good
traders of London?"

"Mort-Dieu!" returned Warwick, bluntly, "and what business have the
flat-caps with the marriage of a king's sister? Is it for them to
breathe garlic on the alliances of Bourbons and Plantagenets? Faugh!
You have spoiled them, good my lord king,--you have spoiled them by your
condescensions. Henry IV. staled not his majesty to consultations with
the mayor of his city. Henry V. gave the knighthood of the hath to the
heroes of Agincourt, not to the vendors of cloth and spices."

"Ah, my poor knights of the Bath!" said Edward, good-humouredly, "wilt
thou never let that sore scar quietly over? Ownest thou not that the men
had their merits?"