tle information. Sir John
Chandos was at Bordeaux, and had daily attended the council, to which
the Prince was devoting more attention than usual; a vessel had also
arrived bearing letters from England to the Prince; this was all the
information that could be obtained.

The next morning Eustace, with Gaston, Arthur, and Ingram, all full of
expectation, and delighted at the change from the gloomy solitary old
Castle, were all posting on their way back to Bordeaux. They slept at
an hostel about twelve miles from the town, first, however, by desire
of the Prince's messengers, sending Ingram on to announce their speedy
arrival, and about ten in the morning rode into town.

There was evidently some grand spectacle at hand, for the Bordelais,
gentle and simple, in holiday habits, were proceeding in the direction
of the palace; but the Knight and his attendants had no time to wait
for inquiries, and pressed on with the stream to the gates of the
courtyard, where they found warders placed, to keep back the dense
throng of people. At the mention of Sir Eustace's name they readily
and respectfully admitted him and his companions into the court.

"Ha!" cried Gaston, "what means this? is there a tilt towards? This
reminds me of the good old days, ere the Prince fell ill. The lists,
the galleries, the ladies, the Prince's own chair of state, too! Oh,
Sir Eustace, I could tear my hair that you cannot yet use your sword
arm!"

"Can it be a challenge on the part of Fulk?" said Eustace, "or a reply
to yours, Arthur? Yet that can hardly be. And see, there is no
barrier in the midst, only a huge block. What can be intended?"

"I do not see Agnes among the ladies in the galleries," said Arthur,
looking up as eagerly, and more openly, than his uncle was doing. "And
oh, here comes the Princess,--yes, and Lord Edward and little Lord
Richard with her! And here is the Prince himself leaning on the Earl
of Cambridge! Uncle Eustace, Lord Edward is beckoning to me! May I
run to him?"

"Come with me, since I must present myself," said Eustace, dismounting,
as one of the Prince's Squires held his horse.

"And, oh! who is yonder dark-browed dwarfish Knight at the Prince's
right hand?" cried Arthur.

Eustace could scarcely believe his eyes, as he looked where the boy
pointed.

The royal party were now seated in full array on their raised platform;
the Prince upon his chair of state, with more brightness in his eye and
of vigou