clattering upon the pavement, and the men-at-arms felt that it
would be safe to keep at a respectful distance that morning.

'Ha!' shouted Guy; 'I am grossly insulted!--What traitor has dared to
carry to the duke news of my prisoner? Had I that man, he should hang
by the heels for his presumption!--Here is a letter from William of
Normandy to say that if I do not instantly release Earl Harold, he will
send an army against me and raze my castle to the ground. What right
has the duke to interfere, I should like to know? The Earl was wrecked
upon my land, not upon his; and if a man may not do as he likes with a
prisoner whom the wind and waves have brought to his very door, things
have come to a pretty pass!'

The count thought of the large sum of money which he had made so sure
of getting; and rage and defiance swelled in his heart. Then he
recollected the great power of William, and reflected that there was
nothing for it but to make the best of things.

'Hey, Giles!' he called to his seneschal, who with a somewhat faltering
step was venturing to cross the courtyard; 'ask Earl Harold to have the
goodness to speak with me.'

'Raze my castle to the ground!' stormed the count as he paced the
flagstones; 'ay, and he would do it too; the tanner's grandson!'

Duke William's mother had been the daughter of a tanner; and his
enemies were never tired of reproaching him with this circumstance when
they thought they could do so without fear of punishment.

Presently the Englishman stood before the angry count; and with a very
bad grace, Guy told him that he was a free man, and that he owed his
release to the Duke of Normandy.

Harold was very glad to find himself at liberty; and he felt that it
would not be courteous for him to return to his own country until he
had thanked the Duke for his generous help. Some of his men were sent
to England to tell King Edward of his safety; and with only a few
followers he set out for the court of Duke William.

Soon the earl and the duke met; Harold short and strong, with his good
honest English face and steadfast blue eyes; William almost a giant in
height, stern and proud, with steely eyes, and a face that had never
yet shown pity to any that opposed him.

The two men had been friends of old; and they liked and admired each
other.

William gave Harold a warm welcome to his dominions. At the court of
the duke Harold found his youngest brother Wulfnoth, who had been sent
to No