place, he came forward and examined the armor piece by piece,
carefully and critically, testing the various straps and leather points
and thongs to make sure of their strength.

"Sir," said Gascoyne, who stood by watching him anxiously, "I do trust
that I have done all meetly and well."

"I see nothing amiss, sirrah," said the old knight, half grudgingly. "So
far as I may know, he is ready to mount."

Just then a messenger entered, saying that the King was seated, and Lord
George bade Myles make haste to meet the challenger.

"Francis," said Myles, "prithee give me my pouch yonder."

Gascoyne handed him the velvet bag, and he opened it, and took out the
necklace that the Lady Alice had given him the day before.

"Tie me this around my arm," said he. He looked down, keeping his eyes
studiously fixed on Gascoyne's fingers, as they twined the thin golden
chain around the iron plates of his right arm, knowing that Lord
George's eyes were upon him, and blushing fiery red at the knowledge.

Sir James was at that moment examining the great tilting helm, and Lord
George watched him, smiling amusedly. "And hast thou then already chosen
thee a lady?" he said, presently.

"Aye, my Lord," answered Myles, simply.

"Marry, I trust we be so honored that she is one of our castle folk,"
said the Earl's brother.

For a moment Myles did not reply; then he looked up. "My Lord," said he,
"the favor was given to me by the Lady Alice."

Lord George looked grave for the moment; then he laughed. "Marry, thou
art a bold archer to shoot for such high game."

Myles did not answer, and at that moment two grooms led his horse up to
the door of the pavilion. Gascoyne and Wilkes helped him to his saddle,
and then, Gascoyne holding his horse by the bridle-rein, he rode slowly
across the lists to the little open space in front of the scaffolding
and the King's seat just as the Sieur de la Montaigne approached from
the opposite direction.

As soon as the two knights champion had reached each his appointed
station in front of the scaffolding, the Marshal bade the speaker read
the challenge, which, unrolling the parchment, he began to do in a loud,
clear voice, so that all might hear. It was a quaint document, wrapped
up in the tangled heraldic verbiage of the time.

The pith of the matter was that the Sieur Brian Philip Francis de la
Montaigne proclaimed before all men the greater chivalry and skill at
arms of the knights of France and of