emen!" and the Duke walked briskly to the
stairway.

As he came within view of those in the courtyard, there arose a mighty
shout that echoed from the walls and keep. Gloucester's calm face
relaxed in a slight smile and he waved his hand in response. Then
scarce touching his foot to the stirrup which Catesby held he leaped
into saddle. The trumpet rang out, and the horsemen, breaking from
square into column, filed out of the courtyard and across the outer
bailey.

Gloucester had tarried, meanwhile, to speak a final word to Sir Robert
Wallingford; and when he had finished, the last clatter of hoofs on the
drawbridge had ceased. As the Constable stepped back with a farewell
salute, Richard's quick eye discerned the face of the Duchess at an
upper window. Swinging his charger in a demi-volte, he doffed bonnet
and flung her a kiss with his finger tips.

"_Au revoir, amante_," he called.

She smiled sweetly upon him and answered his kiss; then stood watching
him as he rode rapidly away, followed by his attendant Knights, until
the dark arch of the distant gateway hid him from her sight.

A few moments later Sir Aymer de Lacy came riding across the courtyard
with his escort. He had changed his suit of velvet for one of steel;
for being ignorant both of the country into which he was about to
travel and of what manner of adventure might lie before him, he had
deemed it well to have something more than silken doublet between his
heart and a cloth-yard shaft. His visor was raised, and as he passed
the keep, he looked up at every window. All were deserted, however,
and he was about to turn away when, suddenly, a casement swung open and
the Countess of Clare appeared in the stone-framed opening.

"_Au revoir_," she cried, and waved her kerchief.

Then by some mischance the bit of lace slipped from her fingers and
floated slowly downward. She made a quick grasp for it, but it had
sunk beyond her reach. A puff of wind spread it wide and carried it
out toward De Lacy. He watched it as it dropped, bringing Selim almost
to a stand to keep beneath it, and at length it rested upon his
extended hand.

"I claim my favor, fair Countess," he called, and wound it round the
crest of his helmet--then loosened rein and dashed away.

VI

A WAYSIDE SKIRMISH

For a space Sir Aymer rode alone at the head of the column without even
casting a glance behind or addressing a word to his squire. Presently
the road forked an