hown that you possess the qualities which make a great
captain. I do my nobles no wrong when I say that not one of them could
have better planned and led the assault than you have done. Am I not
right, sirs?" and he looked round. A murmur of assent rose from the
knights and nobles, and the king continued: "I thought you vain and
presumptuous in undertaking the assault of a fort held by an equal
number, many of whom are well accustomed to war, while the lads who
followed you were all untrained in strife, but you have proved that
your confidence in yourself was not misplaced. The Earl of Talbot has
adjudged you victor, and none can doubt what the end of the strife would
have been. Take this chain from your king, who is glad to see that his
citizens of London are able to hold their own even against those of our
court, than whom we may say no braver exist in Europe. Kneel now to the
queen of the tourney, who will bestow upon you the chaplet which you
have so worthily earned."

Walter bent his knee before Edith Vernon. She rose to her feet, and with
an air of pretty dignity, placed a chaplet of laurel leaves, wrought in
gold and clasped with a valuable ruby, on his head.

"I present to you," she said, "the chaplet of victory, and am proud that
my gage should have been worn by one who has borne himself so bravely
and well. May a like success rest on all your undertakings, and may you
prove a good and valiant knight!"

"Well said, Mistress Edith," Queen Philippa said smiling. "You may well
be proud of your young champion. I too must have my gift," and drawing a
ring set with brilliants from her finger she placed it in Walter's hand.

The lad now rose to his feet. "The prince my son," the king said, "has
promised that you shall ride with his men-at-arms when he is old enough
to take the field. Should you choose to abandon your craft and do so
earlier I doubt not that one of my nobles, the brave Sir Walter Manny,
for example, will take you before that time."

"That will I readily enough," Sir Walter said, "and glad to have so
promising a youth beneath my banner."

"I would that you had been of gentle blood," the king said.

"That makes no difference, sire," Sir Walter replied. "I will place him
among the young gentlemen, my pages and esquires, and am sure that they
will receive him as one of themselves."

Geoffrey Ward had hitherto stood at the foot of the steps leading to
the royal pavilion, but doffing his cap he now a