consideration, "The Lord
Marquis will pardon me--a lion cannot fly above an eagle, because no
lion hath got wings."

"Except the lion of Saint Mark," responded the jester.

"That is the Venetian's banner," said the Duke; "but assuredly that
amphibious race, half nobles, half merchants, will not dare to place
their rank in comparison with ours."

"Nay, it was not of the Venetian lion that I spoke," said the Marquis of
Montserrat, "but of the three lions passant of England. Formerly, it is
said, they were leopards; but now they are become lions at all points,
and must take precedence of beast, fish, or fowl, or woe worth the
gainstander."

"Mean you seriously, my lord?" said the Austrian, now considerably
flushed with wine. "Think you that Richard of England asserts any
pre-eminence over the free sovereigns who have been his voluntary allies
in this Crusade?"

"I know not but from circumstances," answered Conrade. "Yonder hangs
his banner alone in the midst of our camp, as if he were king and
generalissimo of our whole Christian army."

"And do you endure this so patiently, and speak of it so coldly?" said
the Archduke.

"Nay, my lord," answered Conrade, "it cannot concern the poor Marquis of
Montserrat to contend against an injury patiently submitted to by
such potent princes as Philip of France and Leopold of Austria. What
dishonour you are pleased to submit to cannot be a disgrace to me."

Leopold closed his fist, and struck on the table with violence.

"I have told Philip of this," he said. "I have often told him that it
was our duty to protect the inferior princes against the usurpation
of this islander; but he answers me ever with cold respects of their
relations together as suzerain and vassal, and that it were impolitic in
him to make an open breach at this time and period."

"The world knows that Philip is wise," said Conrade, "and will judge his
submission to be policy. Yours, my lord, you can yourself alone account
for; but I doubt not you have deep reasons for submitting to English
domination."

"I submit!" said Leopold indignantly--"I, the Archduke of Austria, so
important and vital a limb of the Holy Roman Empire--I submit myself to
this king of half an island, this grandson of a Norman bastard! No, by
Heaven! The camp and all Christendom shall see that I know how to right
myself, and whether I yield ground one inch to the English bandog.--Up,
my lieges and merry men; up and follow me! We will