news--jongleurs, harpers, pedlars, sutlers, priests
and the like; and, though he was secret enough in small things, yet, if
their news misliked him, then, regarding neither time nor place nor
people, he would curse our King Henry for a fool or a babe. I have heard
him cry aloud by the fishing boats: "If I were King of England I would
do thus and thus"; and when I rode out to see that the warning-beacons
were laid and dry, he hath often called to me from the shot-window:
"Look to it, Richard! Do not copy our blind King, but see with thine own
eyes and feel with thine own hands." I do not think he knew any sort of
fear. And so we lived at Pevensey, in the little chamber above the Hall.

'One foul night came word that a messenger of the King waited below. We
were chilled after a long riding in the fog towards Bexlei, which is an
easy place for ships to land. De Aquila sent word the man might either
eat with us or wait till we had fed. Anon Jehan, at the stair-head,
cried that he had called for horse, and was gone. "Pest on him!" said De
Aquila. "I have more to do than to shiver in the Great Hall for every
gadling the King sends. Left he no word?"

'"None," said Jehan, "except"--he had been with De Aquila at
Santlache--"except he said that if an old dog could not learn new tricks
it was time to sweep out the kennel."

'"Oho!" said De Aquila, rubbing his nose, "to whom did he say that?"

'"To his beard, chiefly, but some to his horse's flank as he was
girthing up. I followed him out," said Jehan the Crab.

'"What was his shield-mark?"

'"Gold horseshoes on black," said the Crab.

'"That is one of Fulke's men," said De Aquila.'

Puck broke in very gently, 'Gold horseshoes on black is _not_ the
Fulkes' shield. The Fulkes' arms are----'

The knight waved one hand statelily.

'Thou knowest that evil man's true name,' he replied, 'but I have chosen
to call him Fulke because I promised him I would not tell the story of
his wickedness so that any man might guess it. I have changed _all_ the
names in my tale. His children's children may be still alive.'

'True--true,' said Puck, smiling softly. 'It is knightly to keep
faith--even after a thousand years.'

Sir Richard bowed a little and went on:--

'"Gold horseshoes on black?" said De Aquila. "I had heard Fulke had
joined the Barons, but if this is true our King must be of the upper
hand. No matter, all Fulkes are faithless. Still, I would not have sent
the man away em