iron till it gave forth a frightful shattering sound. The Grand
Marshal said not a word. With three long steps he stood towering in
front of the man and dealt him a side blow under the ear with his
steel fist. He fell instantly, folding together like something
boneless, and lay along the floor for a moment quite still, except
that some piece in his armour made a light rattling as though there
were muscles that quivered beneath it. Then he raised himself slowly
to a bench where his brothers sat waiting, soberly enough. Only young
Hubert grinned aside to his neighbour, who, perceiving it, kept his
eyes fixed as far from that youth as possible.

"Thy turn next, if art not careful, Hubert," said Sir Francis very
quietly, as he seated himself.

"Wonder of saints!" Hubert thought secretly, not moving at all, "how
could he have seen that?"

"'Tis no small piece of good fortune," continued the Grand Marshal,
"that some one among us can put aside his slavish appetites, and keep
a clear eye on the watch against misadventure. Here is my news. That
hotch-pot of lies we set going among the people has fallen foul of
us. The daughter of Sir Godfrey has heard our legend, and last week
told her sire that to-night she would follow it out to the letter, and
meet the Dragon of Wantley alone in single combat."

"Has she never loved any man?" asked one.

"She fulfils every condition."

"Who told her?"

"That most consummate of fools, the Mistletoe," said the Grand
Marshal.

"What did Sir Godfrey do upon that?" inquired Hubert.

"He locked up his girl and chained the Governess to a rock, where she
has remained in deadly terror ever since, but kept fat for me to
devour her. Me!" and Sir Francis permitted himself to smile, though
not very broadly.

"How if Sir Dragon had found the maid chained instead of the ancient
widow?" Hubert said, venturing to tread a little nearer to familiarity
on the strength of the amusement which played across the Grand
Master's face.

"Ah, Hubert boy," he replied, "I see it is not in the Spring only,
but in Autumn and Summer and Winter as well, that thy fancy turns to
thoughts of love. Did the calendar year but contain a fifth season, in
that also wouldst thou be making honey-dew faces at somebody."

But young Hubert only grinned, and closed his flashing eyes a little,
in satisfaction at the character which had been given him.

"Time presses," Sir Francis said. "By noon we shall receive an
import