ering and winking, so that when a
man was in drink, and looked upwards with his head on his chair back,
these appeared to have life. The hall was called the Dacre Hall, because
the Lords Dacre of the North had built it to be an offering to various
kings that died whilst it was a-building.

Such knights as had pages had them behind their chairs, holding napkins
and ready to fill the horns with wine or beer. From kitchens or from
buttery-hatches the servers ran continually across the courtyard and
across the tiled floor, for the table was set back against the farther
wall, all the knights being on the wall side, since there were not so
many, and thus it was easier to come to them. There was a great clatter
with the knives going and the feet on the tiles, but little conversing,
for in that keen air eating was the principal thing, and in five minutes
a boar or a sheep's head would be stripped till the skull alone was
shown.

It was in this manner that Thomas Culpepper came into the hall when they
were all well set to, without having many eyes upon him. But the Lord
d'Espahn was aware, suddenly, of one that stood beside him.

'Gentleman, will you have a seat?' he said. 'Tell me your name and
estate, that I may appoint you one.' He was a grave lord, with a pointed
nose, dented at the end, a grey, square beard, and fresh colours on his
face. He wore his bonnet because he was the highest there, and because
there were currents of air at the openings of the doors.

Thomas Culpepper's face was of a chalky white. Somewhere Lascelles had
found for him a suit of green and red stockings. His red beard framed
his face, but his lips were pursed.

'Your seat I will have,' he said, 'for I am the Queen's cousin, T.
Culpepper.'

The Lord d'Espahn looked down upon his platter.

'You may not have my seat,' he said. 'But you shall have this seat at my
right hand that is empty. It is a very honourable seat, but mine you may
not have for it is the Queen's own that I hold, being her vicar here.'

'Your seat I will have,' Culpepper said.

The Lord d'Espahn was set upon keeping order and quiet in that place
more than on any other thing. He looked again down upon his platter, and
then he was aware of a voice that whispered in his ear--

'A' God's name, humour him, for he is very mad,' and, turning his eyes a
little, he saw that it was Lascelles above his chair head.

'Your seat I will have,' Culpepper said again. 'And this fellow, that