nd formed a part of his state; and so
distinguished was this body, that no higher favour could have been
offered. Edward likewise paid to Sir Eustace a considerable sum as the
purchase of his illustrious captive, and this, together with the
ransoms of the two other prisoners, enabled him to reward the faithful
men-at-arms, some of whom took service with other Knights, and others
returned to England. Leonard Ashton having no pleasant reminiscences
of his first campaign, and having been stripped of all his property by
his chosen associates, was desirous of returning to his father; and
Eustace, after restoring his equipments to something befitting an
Esquire of property, and liberally supplying him with the expenses of
his journey, bade him an affectionate farewell, and saw him depart, not
without satisfaction at no longer feeling himself accountable for his
conduct.

"There he goes," said Gaston, "and I should like to hear the tales he
will amaze the good Somersetshire folk with. I trow he will make them
believe that he took Du Guesclin himself, and that the Prince knighted
you by mistake."

"His tale of the witches will be something monstrous," said Eustace;
"but still, methinks he is much the better for his expedition: far less
crabbed in temper, and less clownish in manners."

"Ay," said Gaston, "if he were never to be under any other guidance
than yours, I think the tough ash-bough might be moulded into something
less unshapely. You have a calmness and a temper such as he cannot
withstand, nor I understand. 'Tis not want of spirit, but it is that
you never seem to take or see what is meant for affront. I should think
it tameness in any other."

"Well, poor fellow, I wish he may prosper," said Eustace. "But now,
Gaston, to our own affairs. Let us see what remains of the gold."

"Ah! your bounty to our friend there has drawn deeply on our purse,"
said Gaston.

"It shall not be the worse for you, Gaston, for I had set aside these
thirty golden crowns for you before I broke upon my own store. It is
not such a recompense as Reginald or I myself would have wished after
such loving and faithful service; but gold may never recompense truth."

"As for recompense," said Gaston, "I should be by a long score the
debtor if we came to that. If it had not been for Sir Reginald, I
should be by this time a reckless freebooter, without a hope in this
world or the next; if it had not been for you, these bones of mine