Louis is an awful carle to sow flax in
his neighbour's house, when the torches are burning. Um! Where is
fair Marmaduke. He looks brave in his gay super-tunic. Well, sir and
foster-brother, how fare you at court?"

"My dear Nicholas, a merry welcome and hearty to your sharp, thoughtful
face. Ah, man! we shall have a gay time for you venders of gewgaws.
There are to be revels and jousts, revels in the Tower and jousts in
Smithfield. We gentles are already hard at practice in the tilt-yard."

"Sham battles are better than real ones, Master Nevile! But what is in
the wind?"

"A sail, Nicholas! a sail bound to England! Know that the Count of
Charolois has permitted Sir Anthony Count de la Roche, his bastard
brother, to come over to London, to cross lances with our own Sir
Anthony Lord Scales. It is an old challenge, and right royally will the
encounter be held."

"Um!" muttered Alwyn, "this bastard, then, is the carrier pigeon.--And,"
said he, aloud, "is it only to exchange hard blows that Sir Anthony of
Burgundy comes over to confer with Sir Anthony of England? Is there no
court rumour of other matters between them?"

"Nay. What else? Plague on you craftsmen! You cannot even comprehend the
pleasure and pastime two knights take in the storm of the lists!"

"I humbly avow it, Master Nevile. But it seemeth, indeed, strange to me
that the Count of Charolois should take this very moment to send envoys
of courtesy when so sharp a slight has been put on his pride, and so
dangerous a blow struck at his interests, as the alliance between the
French prince and the Lady Margaret. Bold Charles has some cunning, I
trow, which your kinsman of Warwick is not here to detect."

"Tush, man! Trade, I see, teaches ye all so to cheat and overreach,
that ye suppose a knight's burgonet is as full of tricks and traps as
a citizen's flat-cap. Would, though, that my kinsman of Warwick were
here," added Marmaduke, in a low whisper, "for the women and the
courtiers are doing their best to belie him."

"Keep thyself clear of them all, Marmaduke," said Alwyn; "for, by the
Lord, I see that the evil days are coming once more, fast and dark,
and men like thee will again have to choose between friend and friend,
kinsman and king. For my part, I say nothing; for I love not fighting,
unless compelled to it. But if ever I do fight, it will not be by thy
side, under Warwick's broad flag."

"Eh, man?" interrupted Nevile.

"Nay, nay," continued Nicho