Lawrence democrat. (Lawrenceburg, Tenn.) 1884-1925, 1906-08-10
CHAPTER KIN.

the lame and power OF its owner de-
handed. A high dais at the further end
was rooted In by a broad canopy Of scar
let velvet spangled with silver feurs-de-
In the center Of the dais we're two
very high chairs On that TO the right
sat tall and well-formed man with red
hair, liVid face, and a cold blue eye.
lie lounged back in a careless position,
and yawned repeatedly. On the other
throne there was perched bolt upright,
little round pippin-fuced person,
who smiled and bodied TO everyone
whose eyes he CHANGED to meet. Be
tween, and a little in front of them, on
q humble charette or stool, sat q slim
dark young man, whose quiet attire and
modest manner would scarce proclaim
him to be the most noted prince In
Europe. lie sat Eith his hands clasped
round his knee, his head slightly bent,
and an expression of trouble upon his
clear, well-chiseled features. Below on
either side Of the steps we're forty or
fifty English and Gascon barons, knights,
and courtiers.
There sits the prince" whispered Sir
John Chandos as they entered. "He on
the right Is Pedro, whom we are about
TO put upon the Spanish throne. The
other is Don James, whom we purpose
with the aid of God TO help to his throne
In Majorea.
The prince had observed their entrance,
and, sprlnging to his feet, he had adj
vanced with a winning smile and the
light OF welcome in his eyes.
Welcome to Aquitaine, Sir Nigel Lor-
ing and Sir Oliver Buttesthorn," said
he. Nay, keep your knee for my sweet
father at Windsor. / would have your
hands, my friends. We are like to give
you some work to do ere you see the
downs of Hampshire once more. How
many have you in your trainT
Il have forty men-at-arms, sire" said
Sir Oliver.
" And have one hundred archers and
score of lances; there are also three
hundred men Of the White Company who
wait for me on this side Of the water up
on the borders of Navarro"
I'VE hope to see you both in the BAN
quet-hall anon" rejoined the prince. He
bowed, and Chandos, plucking Sir Oliver
by the sleeve, led them both away to the
back of the press of courtiers.
The young ruler had sat listlessly upon
his stool with the two puppet monarchs
enthroned behind him, but of a sudden a
dark shadow passed over his face, and
he sprang to his feet in one Of those
gusts of passion which were the single
blot upon his noble and generous char
acter.
How now, Don Martin de Ia Carra7"
he cried. "Ilow now, sirfah? What
message do you bring to us from our
brother of NavarreT The newcomer
to whom this abrupt query had been adj
dressed was a tall and handsome cavalier
who had just been ushered into the
apartment. "Are the passes open to us,
or does your master 60 back from, his
word pledged to me at Libourne no later
than last MichaelmasW
ut would i'll become my gracious
master, sire, to go back from promise
given. He does but ask some delay and
certain conditions and hostages"
"Conditionsl Hostages is he speak
ing to the Prince of England, or is it to
the bourgeois provost of some half-cap-
tured town? Conditions, quotha2 He
may find much to mend in his own condi-
ton, ere long. The passes are, then,
closed to usT
NAY, sir"
''They are open, then?'
NAY, sire, if you would but
Enough, enough, Don Martini" cried
the prince. at is sorry sight to see SO
true a knight pleading in so false a cause
We know the doings of our Cousin
Charles. We know that while with the
right hand he takes our fifty thousand
crowns for the holding of the passes open
he hath his left outstretched to Henry
Trastamare or to the King of France, all
ready to take as many more for the keep.
ing them closed, l know our gooC
Charles, and he shall learn that l know
him. He sets his kingdom up to the best
bidder, like some scullion farrier selling
glandered horse. He is
my lord" cried Don Martin, canno
stand here to hear such words OF m!
master. Did they come from other lip
Il aho,,Id LnOuu hatfar how fO answer
them"
''Your bearing and your words, Dor
Martin, are such as l should have looked
for in you. You will tell the king, you
master, that he hath been paid his price
and that il he holds to his promise b,
hath my word for it that no scathl shall
come to his people, nor to their houses
or gear. If, however, we have not III
leave, | shall come close at the heels
this message without his leave, and bear
ing a kew with me which shall open al
that he NAV close. Where is my Lor'
Chandos? Ha, Sir John, | commend TIL
worthy knight to your care. You VII
see that he hath rejection, and such
purse of gold as may defray his charges
for indeed 1t is great honor to any cour
to have within it so noble and gentle
i'Rut | have tidings for you, my lord
and lieges, that our brother of Lancaste
Is on his way for our capital with tou
hundred lances and as many arehers {
aid us in our venture. We shall the
Join the army at OAK and set our ban
ners to the breeze once more.
A buzz of joy at the prospect OF I'M
mediate action rose up from the group Q
warriors. The prince smiled at the mai
tial ardor which shone upon every lac
around him,
at will hearten you to know" he cor
tinued. that / have sure adviceS that TIL
Henry is q very valiant leader, and ths
he has It in his power to make such
stand against us as promises to give Y
much honor and pleasure. 1t is certain
also, that the brave and worthy Bertran
du Guesclin hath ridden into France
the Duke of Anjou, and purposes to tax
back with him great levies from Picard
and Brittany. We hold Bertrand in hig
esteem, for he oft before been 6
great pains to furnish us with an homo
able encounter What think YOU of !
nv worthy CAPITAL? He took you {
Cocherel and, by my soul you will hay
the chance now to pay that score"
The Gascon warrior addressed vince
a little at the ailusion, nor were h
countrymen around him better please
for on the only occasion when they hs
encountered the arms of France witho'
English aid they had met with heaV
defeat.
'aThere ere some who say, sire" sal
fhe hurly De Gibson, shat the score
already overpaid. for that without va