?" said the duke, near as I feared another blast of anger.
And then, turning to a burly lord hard by, that I guessed soon, not from
his bearing, but from Duke William's words, was his brother and
councillor, Odo of Bayeux, he said, "Here, my lord, what thinkest thou
of these letters?"

He gave him to read the parchment that I picked up from the turf. Odo
read it slowly.

"It would seem," said he, "that this Sarrasin is grander than we
thought."

"At this juncture he is dangerous," said William.

"Maugher is the danger," said Odo.

"Shall we strike at once?" said William.

"'Tis but a week's work," said Odo, "and it would seem by one stroke you
will clear the seas for years."

He turned to me and inquired very exactly all that I knew of the
strength of the pirates by sea and land, of the building and position of
the Chateau du Grand Sarrasin, of the Vale Castle, and the defence of
it by the monks and islanders.

He learned (for how could I keep back even my own doings, so peremptory
he was?) of my being taken captive, and bursting into a huge laughter at
the tale of my escape, swore I was a wondrous fellow for my years. Then,
as he had a map in his mind of all that I knew, he turned and said to
the Vicomte--

"'Tis a brave boy, this thy nephew. Tell me, whose son is he?"

At this the Vicomte hesitated a moment, and I coloured and looked down.

"He is the son," he said at length, "of my younger brother, who this
fourteen years has been reckoned unworthy of his place among knights."

The duke looked on me again, and I met his gaze.

"See, then, lad," said he, "that thou redeem thy father's good name! And
now for thy mission hither. It is my will to do all that thou askest up
to thy desires--yea, and beyond thy desires. This pirate-swarm have
massed themselves together, and lo! I will sever their many heads at one
blow, and they shall know rightly who is lord and master of the Norman
seas and isles. I will bring all my ships----"

He was proceeding, when Odo plucked him by the arm, and, whispering in
his ear, as I thought, dissuaded him from coming in person. He frowned
and chafed, but at last gave way, and after further words, called to
him a little man of wondrous heavy build, yet muscular withal, that
stood among the greatest of his lords.

"Hither, Samson d'Anville," said he; "here is brave work for thee, that
I was near taking for mine own. Thou shalt be admiral and captain of an
expedition that I se