of the world,"

cried alleyne, "but i would fain ask your rede upon the matter.

you have known my father and my kin: is not my family one of good

standing and repute?"

"beyond all question."

"and yet you warn me that i must not place my love too high."

"were minstead yours, alleyne, then, by st. paul! i cannot think

that any family in the land would not be proud to take you among

them, seeing that you come of so old a strain. but while the

socman lives----ha, by my soul!" if this is not sir oliver's step

i am the more mistaken."

as he spoke, a heavy footfall was heard without, and the portly

knight flung open the door and strode into the room.

"why, my little coz," said he, "i have come across to tell you

that i live above the barber's in the rue de la tour, and that

there is a venison pasty in the oven and two flasks of the right

vintage on the table. by st. james! a blind man might find the

place, for one has but to get in the wind from it, and follow the

savory smell. put on your cloak, then, and come, for sir walter

hewett and sir robert briquet, with one or two others, are

awaiting us."

"nay, oliver, i cannot be with you, for i must to montaubon this

day."

"to montaubon? but i have heard that your company is to come

with my forty winchester rascals to dax."

"if you will take charge of them, oliver. for i will go to

montaubon with none save my two squires and two archers. then,

when i have found the rest of my company i shall lead them to

dax. we set forth this morning."

"then i must back to my pasty," said sir oliver. "you will find

us at dax, i doubt not, unless the prince throw me into prison,

for he is very wroth against me."

"and why, oliver?"

"pardieu! because i have sent my cartel, gauntlet, and defiance

to sir john chandos and to sir william felton."

"to chandos? in god's name, oliver, why have you done this?"

"because he and the other have used me despitefully."

"and how?"

"because they have passed me over in choosing those who should

joust for england. yourself and audley i could pass, coz, for

you are mature men; but who are wake, and percy, and beauchamp?

by my soul! i was prodding for my food into a camp-kettle when

they were howling for their pap. is a man of my weight and

substance to be thrown aside for the first three half-grown lads

who have learned the trick of the tilt-yard? but hark ye, coz, i

think of sending my cartel also to the prince."

"oliver! oliver! you are mad!"

"not i, i' faith! i care not a denier whether he be prince or

no. by saint james! i see that your squire's eyes are starting

from his head like a trussed crab. well, friend, we are all

three men of hampshire, and not lightly to be jeered at."

"has he jeered at you than?"

"pardieu! yes, 'old sir oliver's heart is still stout,' said one

of his court. 'else had it been out of keeping with the rest of

him,' quoth the prince. 'and his arm is strong,' said another.

'so is the backbone of his horse,' quoth the prince. this very

day i will send him my cartel and defiance."

"nay, nay, my dear oliver," said sir nigel, laying his hand upon

his angry friend's arm. "there is naught in this, for it was but

saying that you were a strong and robust man, who had need of a

good destrier. and as to chandos and felton, bethink you that if

when you yourself were young the older lances had ever been

preferred, how would you then have had the chance to earn the

good name and fame which you now bear? you do not ride as light

as you did, oliver, and i ride lighter by the weight of my hair,

but it would be an ill thing if in the evening of our lives we

showed that our hearts were less true and loyal than of old. if

such a knight as sir oliver buttesthorn may turn against his own

prince for the sake of a light word, then where are we to look

for steadfast faith and constancy?"

"ah! my dear little coz, it is easy to sit in the sunshine and

preach to the man in the shadow. yet you could ever win me over

to your side with that soft voice of yours. let us think no more

of it then. but, holy mother! i had forgot the pasty, and it

will be as scorched as judas iscariot! come, nigel, lest the

foul fiend get the better of me again."

"for one hour, then; for we march at mid-day. tell aylward,

alleyne, that he is to come with me to montaubon, and to choose

one archer for his comrade. the rest will to dax when the prince

starts, which will be before the feast of the epiphany. have

pommers ready at mid-day with my sycamore lance, and place my

harness on the sumpter mule."

with these brief directions, the two old soldiers strode off

together, while alleyne hastened to get all in order for their

journey.

chapter xxvi.

how the three comrades gained a mighty treasure

it was