affect to conceal the admiration which the
remarkable presence of Edward never failed to excite; lifting his hand
to his eyes, as if to shade them from a sudden blaze of light, he would
have fallen on both knees, but Edward with quick condescension raised
him, and, rising himself, said gayly,--

"Nay, Count de la Roche, brave and puissant chevalier, who hath crossed
the seas in honour of knighthood and the ladies, we would, indeed,
that our roiaulme boasted a lord like thee, from whom we might ask such
homage. But since thou art not our subject, it consoles us at least that
thou art our guest. By our halidame, Lord Scales, thou must look well
to thy lance and thy steed's girths, for never, I trow, hast thou met a
champion of goodlier strength and knightlier mettle."

"My lord king," answered the count, "I fear me, indeed, that a knight
like the Sieur Anthony, who fights under the eyes of such a king, will
prove invincible. Did kings enter the lists with kings, where, through
broad Christendom, find a compeer for your Highness?"

"Your brother, Sir Count, if fame lies not," returned Edward, slightly
laughing, and lightly touching the Bastard's shoulder, "were a fearful
lance to encounter, even though Charlemagne himself were to revive with
his twelve paladins at his back. Tell us, Sir Count," added the king,
drawing himself up,--"tell us, for we soldiers are curious in such
matters, hath not the Count of Charolois the advantage of all here in
sinews and stature?"

"Sire," returned De la Roche, "my princely brother is indeed mighty
with the brand and battle-axe, but your Grace is taller by half the
head,--and, peradventure, of even a more stalwart build; but that mere
strength in your Highness is not that gift of God which strikes the
beholder most."

Edward smiled good-humouredly at a compliment the truth of which was too
obvious to move much vanity, and said with a royal and knightly grace,
"Our House of York hath been taught, Sir Count, to estimate men's beauty
by men's deeds, and therefore the Count of Charolois hath long been
known to us--who, alas, have seen him not!--as the fairest gentleman
of Europe. My Lord Scales, we must here publicly crave your pardon. Our
brother-in-law, Sir Count, would fain have claimed his right to hold you
his guest, and have graced himself by exclusive service to your person.
We have taken from him his lawful office, for we kings are jealous, and
would not have our subjects more ho