ne champion yields he can call upon the other to lay on and do his
worst."

Edward paused, much perplexed and surprised at finding his intercession
so displeasing. He glanced first at the Lord Rivers, who sat a little
below him, and whose cheek grew pale at the prospect of his son's
renewed encounter with one so determined, then at the immovable aspect
of the gentle and apathetic Elizabeth, then at the agitated countenance
of the duchess, then at the imploring eyes of Margaret, who, with an
effort, preserved herself from swooning; and finally beckoning to him
the Duke of Clarence, as high constable, and the Duke of Norfolk, as
earl marshal, he said, "Tarry a moment, Sir Count, till we take
counsel in this grave affair." The count bowed sullenly; the spectators
maintained an anxious silence; the curtain before the king's gallery was
closed while the council conferred. At the end of some three minutes,
however, the drapery was drawn aside by the Duke of Norfolk; and Edward,
fixing his bright blue eye upon the fiery Burgundian, said gravely,
"Count de la Roche, your demand is just. According to the laws of the
list, you may fairly claim that the encounter go on."

"Oh, knightly prince, well said! My thanks. We lose time.--Squires, my
bassinet!"

"Yea," renewed Edward, "bring hither the count's bassinet. By the laws,
the combat may go on at thine asking,--I retract my warderer. But, Count
de la Roche, by those laws you appeal to, the said combat must go on
precisely at the point at which it was broken off. Wherefore brace on
thy bassinet, Count de la Roche; and thou, Anthony Lord Scales, fix the
pike of thine axe, which I now perceive was inserted exactly where the
right eye giveth easy access to the brain, precisely in the same place.
So renew the contest, and the Lord have mercy on thy soul, Count de la
Roche!"

At this startling sentence, wholly unexpected, and yet wholly according
to those laws of which Edward was so learned a judge, the Bastard's
visage fell. With open mouth and astounded eyes, he stood gazing at the
king, who, majestically reseating himself, motioned to the heralds.

"Is that the law, sire?" at length faltered forth the Bastard.

"Can you dispute it? Can any knight or gentleman gainsay it?"

"Then," quoth the Bastard, gruffly, and throwing his axe to the ground,
"by all the saints in the calendar, I have had enough! I came hither to
dare all that beseems a chevalier, but to stand still while Si