Sentence:  “But it is enough that I challenge the trial by combat — there lies my <WSD>gage</WSD>.” She took her embroidered glove from her hand, and flung it down before the Grand Master with an air of mingled simplicity and dignity… 
Meaning of the word marked with <WSD> tags:  Something, such as a glove or other pledge, thrown down as a challenge to combat (now usually figurative).