of familiar faces among the crowd chapter xix how was at the of st � s the s room although of no great size was fitted np with all the state and which the fame and power of its owner demanded a high at the farther end was in by a broad of scarlet velvet with silver de lis and supported at either corner by silver rods this was approached by four steps with the same material while all round were scattered rich cushions oriental and costly of fur the which the of could furnish draped the walls whereon the battles of were set forth with the warriors in plate of proof with crest and lance and as the artists of the day were wont to them a few rich settles and carved and decorated with glazed leather of the sort termed or completed the furniture of the apartment save that at one side of the there stood a lofty perch upon which a cast of three solemn sat and as silent and motionless as the royal who stood beside them in the centre of the were two very high chairs wit which arched forward over the heads of the occupants the whole covered with light blue silk thickly powdered with golden stars on that to the right sat a very tall and well formed man with red hair a livid face and a cold blue eye which had in it something peculiarly sinister and menacing he back in a careless position and yawned repeatedly as if heartily weary of the proceedings stooping from time to time to a shaggy spanish which lay stretched at his feet on the other throne there was perched bolt upright with as though he felt himself to be upon his good behavior a little round faced person who smiled and to every one whose eye he chanced to meet between and a little in front of them on a humble or stool sat a slim dark young man whose quiet attire and modest manner would scarce proclaim him to be the most noted prince in europe a of dark blue cloth with and of gold seemed but a sombre and plain attire amidst the wealth of silk and and gilt of with which he was surrounded he sat with his two hands clasped round his knee his head slightly bent and an expression of impatience and of trouble upon his clear well features behind the there stood two men in purple gowns with clean shaven faces and half a dozen other high and office of below on either side of the steps were forty or fifty knights and ranged in a triple row to the right and the left with a clear passage in the centre there sits the prince whispered sir john as they entered he on the right is whom we are about to put upon the spanish the other is don james whom we purpose with the aid of god to help to his throne in now follow me and take it not to heart if he be a little short in his speech for indeed his mind is full of many very concerns the prince however had already observed their entrance and springing to his feet he had advanced with a winning smile and the light of welcome in his eyes we do not need your good offices as herald here sir john said he in a low but clear voice these knights are very well known to me welcome to sir and sir nay keep your knee for my sweet father at i would have your hands my friends we are like to give you some work to do ere you see the downs of once more you aught of spain sir my save that i have heard men say that i there is a dish named an which is prepared there though i hi ve never heen dear in my mind as to whether it was but a as is to be found in the or whether there is some as or which is peculiar to spain tour sir shall soon be resolved answered the prince laughing heartily as did many of the who surrounded them his majesty here will doubtless order that you have this dish hotly when we are all safely in i will have a hotly dish for some folk i know of answered don with a cold smile but my friend sir can fight right with out either bite or sup remarked the prince did i not see him at when for two days we had not more than a crust of bread and a cup of foul water yet carrying himself most with my own eyes i saw him in the sweep the head from a knight of with one blow of his sword the rogue got between me and the nearest french muttered sir amid a fresh from those who were near enough to catch his words how many have you in your train asked the assuming a graver mien i have forty men at arms said sir and i have one hundred and a score of but there are three hundred men who wait for me on this side of the water upon the borders of and who are they sir they are a free company and they are called the white company to the astonishment of the knight his words provoked a burst of merriment from the round in which the two kings and the prince were fain to join sir mildly from one to the other until at last perceiving a stout black bearded knight at his elbow whose laugh rang somewhat louder than the others he touched him lightly upon the sleeve my fair sir he whispered there id some small vow of which i may relieve you might we not have some honorable debate upon the matter gentle courtesy may perhaps grant me an exchange of nay 