Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-10-26

in which I stand your debtor continued
Pedro carelessly, ut can no doubt
Not a word. sire, not word! crleo
the prince. 1T is not now when you are
In grief that 1 would vex your mind with
such base and sordid matters. l have SAID
once and forever that l am yours with
every bow-string of my army and every
form in my Golfers
"Ah, here is indeed mirror of chivalry.'
said Don Pedro. Il think. Sir Fernando,
since the prince's bounty is stretched so far,
that we may make further use OF ms sra-
cious goodness to the extent of $1,000
crowns. Good Sir William FELTON,, here, VIII
doubtless settle the matter with you.
The stout old English counselor looked
somewhat blank at this prompt acceptance
of his masters bounty.
"If it please you, sire" he said, the
public funds at their lowest, seeing
that I have paid 1900 men of the com
panies, and the new taxes-the hearth tax
and the wine tax-not yet come in. II you
could wait until the promised help from
England comes
NAY. nay, my sweet cousin. cried Lon
Pedro Had we known that your own cof-
fers were so low, or that this sorry sum
could have weighed one way or the other,
we had both been loath, indeed
Enough. sire. enough said the prince
flushing with vexation. If the pubic
funds be, indeed, so backward, Sir VIII
liam, there is STILL l trust. my own pri-
vate credit, which hath never been drawn
upon for my own uses, but is now ready III
the cause of friend in adversely. Go.
raise this money upon our own jewels, II
naught else may serve, and see that IL De
paid over to Don Fernando.
I'm security 1 Offer cried Don Pedro.
"Tush! tush!' said the prince " am
not a Lombard, sire. Your kingly pledge
is my security, without bond or seal. But
l have tidings for you, my lords and heges,
that our brother of Lancaster is on his way
for our capital with four hundred lanceS,
archerS to aid in
venture. When he hath come, and when
our fair consort Is recovered in her health,
which 1 trust by the grace of God may
be ere many weeks be past, shall then
join the army at OAK, and set our banners
to the breeze once more.
A buzz of joy at the prospect of imme-
date action rose up from the group OF war
riors. The prince smiled at the martial ar
dor which shone upon every face around
him.
ut will hearten you to know" he con-
tinued, that l have sure advices that this
Henry Is a very valiant leader, and that
he has It In his power to make such stand
against US as promises to give us much
honor and pleasure. OF his own people he
hath brought together as l learn, some
30 600, with II 900 of the French free COM
panes, who are, as you know, very valiant
and expert men-at-arms. 1t is certain, also,
that the brave and worthy Bertrand du
Guesclin hath ridden into France to the
Duke of Anjou, and purposes to take back
with him great levies from Picardy and
Brittany. We hold Bertrand in high es-
TEEN, for he has oft before been at great
pains to furnish US with an honorable en-
counter. What think you of 1t, my worthy
Capital? He took you at Cocherel, and,
by my soul! you will have the cnance now
to pay that score"
The Gascon warrior WINGED little at the
aIIusion nor were his countrymen around
him better pleased, for on the only occa-
sion when they had encountered the arms
of France without English aid they had
met with a heavy defeat.
There are some who say, sire, said
the burly De Clisson that the score is
already overpaid, for without Gascon help
Bertrand had not been taken at Array, nor
had King John been oyerborne at Polo
tiers
by Heaven. but this is too much" cried
an English nobeman. "Methinks that Gas
cony is too small cock to crow so Justify"
THE smaller cock. my Lord Audley, may
have the longer spur" remarked the CAPITAL
de Buch.
May have his comb clipped If 1t make
overmuch noise" broke in an Englishman.
by our Lady of Rocamadour!'. cried the
Lord Of Mucident, this is more than l can
abide. Sir John Charnell. you shall answer
to me for those words!
Freely, my lord and when you WILL re-
turned the Englishman, carelessly.
my Lord de Clisson," cried Lord Audley,
you look somewhat fiXedly in my direc-
ton. By Gods soul! should be right glad
to go further into the matter with you
Sir Nigel, pushing his way to the front,
at is In my mind that we might break a
lance In gentle and honorable debate over
the question"
For a moment dozen challenges flashed
backward and forward at this sudden burst
ing Of the cloud which had lowered so long
between the knights of the two nations
Furious and gesticulating, the GaScons, white
and cold and sneering the English, while
the prince, with half smile, glanced from
one party to the other, like a man who
loved to dwell upon fiery scene, and yet
dreaded lest the mischief go so far that he
might find 1t beyond his control
Friends, friends!' he cried, at last, this
quarrel must go no further. The man shall
answer to me, be he Gascon or English,
who carries 1t beyond this room. / have
overmuch need for your swords that you
should turn them upon one another. Sir
John Charnell. Lord Audley. you do not
doubt the courage of our friends Of Gas
cony?"
mot I, SIRE" Lord AudIey answered II
have seen them fight too often not to know
that they are very hardy and valiant gem
tlemen."
"And SO say t. quoth the other English
man; but, certes, there is no fear of our
forgetting 1t while they have tongue in
their heads
May. Sir john" said the prince. reprov-
ingly, "an peoples have their own use and
customs. There are some who might call
US cold and dull and silent. But you hear.
had no thought to throw a slur upon your
honor or your valor. 80 let all anger fade
from your mind. Gibson, CAPITAL. De Pom
mers. have your word?
I'VE are your subjects, SIRE" said the
Gascon barons, though with no very good