see，heisagainabouttogouptobattleagainstthePhilistine——Pray，child——prayforthesafetyofthegoodyouth，——andofthespeedyhorse，andthericharmour——Godofmyfathers！’’heagainexclaimed，``hehathconquered，andtheuncircumcisedPhilistinehathfallenbeforehislance，——evenasOgtheKingofBashan，andSihon，KingoftheAmorites，fellbeforetheswordofourfathers！——Surelyheshalltaketheirgoldandtheirsilver，andtheirwar-horses，andtheirarmourofbrassandofsteel，forapreyandforaspoil。’’
ThesameanxietydidtheworthyJewdisplayduringeverycoursethatwasrun，seldomfailingtohazardahastycalculationconcerningthevalueofthehorseandarmourwhichwasforfeitedtothechampionuponeachnewsuccess。TherehadbeenthereforenosmallinteresttakeninthesuccessoftheDisinheritedKnight，bythosewhooccupiedthepartofthelistsbeforewhichhenowpaused。
Whetherfromindecision，orsomeothermotiveofhesitation，thechampionofthedayremainedstationaryformorethanaminute，whiletheeyesofthesilentaudiencewereriveteduponhismotions；
andthen，graduallyandgracefullysinkingthepointofhislance，hedepositedthecoronetWhichitsupportedatthefeetofthefairRowena。
Thetrumpetsinstantlysounded，whiletheheraldsproclaimedtheLadyRowenatheQueenofBeautyandofLovefortheensuingday，menacingwithsuitablepenaltiesthosewhoshouldbedisobedienttoherauthority。TheythenrepeatedtheircryofLargesse，towhichCedric，intheheightofhisjoy，repliedbyanampledonative，andtowhichAthelstane，thoughlesspromptly，addedoneequallylarge。
TherewassomemurmuringamongthedamselsofNormandescent，whowereasmuchunusedtoseethepreferencegiventoaSaxonbeauty，astheNormannoblesweretosustaindefeatinthegamesofchivalrywhichtheythemselveshadintroduced。
Butthesesoundsofdisaffectionweredrownedbythepopularshoutof``LonglivetheLadyRowena，thechosenandlawfulQueenofLoveandofBeauty！’’
Towhichmanyinthelowerareaadded，``LonglivetheSaxonPrincess！longlivetheraceoftheimmortalAlfred！’’
HoweverunacceptablethesesoundsmightbetoPrinceJohn，andtothosearoundhim，hesawhimselfneverthelessobligedtoconfirmthenominationofthevictor，andaccordinglycallingtohorse，helefthisthrone；andmountinghisjennet，accompaniedbyhistrain，heagainenteredthelists。
ThePrincepausedamomentbeneaththegalleryoftheLadyAlicia，towhomhepaidhiscompliments，observing，atthesametime，tothosearoundhim——``Bymyhalidome，sirs！iftheKnight’sfeatsinarmshaveshownthathehathlimbsandsinews，hischoicehathnolessprovedthathiseyesarenoneoftheclearest。’’
Itwasonthisoccasion，asduringhiswholelife，John’smisfortune，notperfectlytounderstandthecharactersofthosewhomhewishedtoconciliate。
WaldemarFitzursewasratheroffendedthanpleasedatthePrincestatingthusbroadlyanopinion，thathisdaughterhadbeenslighted。
``Iknownorightofchivalry，’’hesaid，``morepreciousorinalienablethanthatofeachfreeknighttochoosehislady-lovebyhisownjudgment。Mydaughtercourtsdistinctionfromnoone；andinherowncharacter，andinherownsphere，willneverfailtoreceivethefullproportionofthatwhichisherdue。’’
PrinceJohnrepliednot；but，spurringhishorse，asiftogiveventtohisvexation，hemadetheanimalboundforwardtothegallerywhereRowenawasseated，withthecrownstillatherfeet。
``Assume，’’hesaid，``fairlady，themarkofyoursovereignty，towhichnonevowshomagemoresincerelythanourself，JohnofAnjou；andifitpleaseyouto-day，withyournoblesireandfriends，tograceourbanquetintheCastleofAshby，weshalllearntoknowtheempresstowhoseservicewedevoteto-morrow。’’
Rowenaremainedsilent，andCedricansweredforherinhisnativeSaxon。
``TheLadyRowena，’’hesaid，``possessesnotthelanguageinwhichtoreplytoyourcourtesy，ortosustainherpartinyourfestival。Ialso，andthenobleAthelstaneofConingsburgh，speakonlythelanguage，andpractiseonlythemanners，ofourfathers。WethereforedeclinewiththanksyourHighness’scourteousinvitationtothebanquet。
To-morrow，theLadyRowenawilltakeuponherthestatetowhichshehasbeencalledbythefreeelectionofthevictorKnight，confirmedbytheacclamationsofthepeople。’’
Sosaying，heliftedthecoronet，andplacedituponRowena’shead，intokenofheracceptanceofthetemporaryauthorityassignedtoher。
``Whatsayshe?’’saidPrinceJohn，affectingnottounderstandtheSaxonlanguage，inwhich，however，hewaswellskilled。ThepurportofCedric’sspeechwasrepeatedtohiminFrench。``Itiswell，’’hesaid；``to-morrowwewillourselfconductthismutesovereigntoherseatofdignity——
You，atleast，SirKnight，’’headded，turningtothevictor，whohadremainednearthegallery，``willthisdayshareourbanquet?’’
TheKnight，speakingforthefirsttime，inalowandhurriedvoice，excusedhimselfbypleadingfatigue，andthenecessityofpreparingforto-morrow’sencounter。
``Itiswell，’’saidPrinceJohn，haughtily；``althoughunusedtosuchrefusals，wewillendeavourtodigestourbanquetaswemay，thoughungracedbythemostsuccessfulinarms，andhiselectedQueenofBeauty。’’
Sosaying，hepreparedtoleavethelistswithhisglitteringtrain，andhisturninghissteedforthatpurpose，wasthesignalforthebreakingupanddispersionofthespectators。
Yet，withthevindictivememorypropertooffendedpride，especiallywhencombinedwithconsciouswantofdesert，Johnhadhardlyproceededthreepaces，ereagain，turningaround，hefixedaneyeofsternresentmentupontheyeomanwhohaddispleasedhimintheearlypartoftheday，andissuedhiscommandstothemen-at-armswhostoodnear——``Onyourlife，suffernotthatfellowtoescape。’’
TheyeomanstoodtheangryglanceofthePrincewiththesameunvariedsteadinesswhichhadmarkedhisformerdeportment，saying，withasmile，``I
havenointentiontoleaveAshbyuntilthedayafterto-morrow——ImustseehowStaffordshireandLeicestershirecandrawtheirbows——theforestsofNeedwoodandCharnwoodmustreargoodarchers。’’
``l，’’saidPrinceJohntohisattendants，butnotindirectreply，——``Iwillseehowhecandrawhisown；andwoebetidehimunlesshisskillshouldprovesomeapologyforhisinsolence！’’
``Itisfulltime，’’saidDeBracy，``thatthe_outrecuidance_*
*Presumption，insolence。
ofthesepeasantsshouldberestrainedbysomestrikingexample。’’
WaldemarFitzurse，whoprobablythoughthispatronwasnottakingthereadiestroadtopopularity，shruggeduphisshouldersandwassilent。
PrinceJohnresumedhisretreatfromthelists，andthedispersionofthemultitudebecamegeneral。
Invariousroutes，accordingtothedifferentquartersfromwhichtheycame，andingroupsofvariousnumbers，thespectatorswereseenretiringovertheplain。ByfarthemostnumerouspartstreamedtowardsthetownofAshby，wheremanyofthedistinguishedpersonswerelodgedinthecastle，andwhereothersfoundaccommodationinthetownitself。Amongtheseweremostoftheknightswhohadalreadyappearedinthetournament，orwhoproposedtofighttheretheensuingday，andwho，astheyrodeslowlyalong，talkingovertheeventsoftheday，weregreetedwithloudshoutsbythepopulace。ThesameacclamationswerebestoweduponPrinceJohn，althoughhewasindebtedforthemrathertothesplendourofhisappearanceandtrain，thantothepopularityofhischaracter。
Amoresincereandmoregeneral，aswellasabetter-meritedacclamation，attendedthevictoroftheday，until，anxioustowithdrawhimselffrompopularnotice，heacceptedtheaccommodationofoneofthosepavilionspitchedattheextremitiesofthelists，theuseofwhichwascourteouslytenderedhimbythemarshalsofthefield。Onhisretiringtohistent，manywhohadlingeredinthelists，tolookuponandformconjecturesconcerninghim，alsodispersed。
Thesignsandsoundsofatumultuousconcourseofmenlatelycrowdedtogetherinoneplace，andagitatedbythesamepassingevents，werenowexchangedforthedistanthumofvoicesofdifferentgroupsretreatinginalldirections，andthesespeedilydiedawayinsilence。Noothersoundswereheardsavethevoicesofthemenialswhostrippedthegalleriesoftheircushionsandtapestry，inordertoputtheminsafetyforthenight，andwrangledamongthemselvesforthehalf-usedbottlesofwineandrelicsoftherefreshmentwhichhadbeenservedroundtothespectators。
Beyondtheprecinctsofthelistsmorethanoneforgewaserected；andthesenowbegantoglimmerthroughthetwilight，announcingthetoilofthearmourers，whichwastocontinuethroughthewholenight，inordertorepairoralterthesuitsofarmourtobeusedagainonthemorrow。
Astrongguardofmen-at-arms，renewedatintervals，fromtwohourstotwohours，surroundedthelists，andkeptwatchduringthenight。
CHAPTERX
Thus，likethesadpresagingraven，thattollsThesickman’spassportinherhollowbeak，AndintheshadowofthesilentnightDothshakecontagionfromhersablewings；
Vex’dandtormented，runspoorBarrabas，WithfatalcursestowardstheseChristians。
_JewofMalta_。
TheDisinheritedKnighthadnosoonerreachedhispavilion，thansquiresandpagesinabundancetenderedtheirservicestodisarmhim，tobringfreshattire，andtoofferhimtherefreshmentofthebath。
Theirzealonthisoccasionwasperhapssharpenedbycuriosity，sinceeveryonedesiredtoknowwhotheknightwasthathadgainedsomanylaurels，yethadrefused，evenatthecommandofPrinceJohn，tolifthisvisorortonamehisname。Buttheirofficiousinquisitivenesswasnotgratified。TheDisinheritedKnightrefusedallotherassistancesavethatofhisownsquire，orratheryeoman——aclownish-lookingman，who，wraptinacloakofdark-colouredfelt，andhavinghisheadandfacehalf-buriedinaNormanbonnetmadeofblackfur，seemedtoaffecttheincognitoasmuchashismaster。
Allothersbeingexcludedfromthetent，thisattendantrelievedhismasterfromthemoreburdensomepartsofhisarmour，andplacedfoodandwinebeforehim，whichtheexertionsofthedayrenderedveryacceptable。
TheKnighthadscarcelyfinishedahastymeal，erehismenialannouncedtohimthatfivemen，eachleadingabarbedsteed，desiredtospeakwithhim。
TheDisinheritedKnighthadexchangedhisarmourforthelongrobeusuallywornbythoseofhiscondition，which，beingfurnishedwithahood，concealedthefeatures，whensuchwasthepleasureofthewearer，almostascompletelyasthevisorofthehelmetitself，butthetwilight，whichwasnowfastdarkening，wouldofitselfhaverenderedadisguiseunnecessary，unlesstopersonstowhomthefaceofanindividualchancedtobeparticularlywellknown。
TheDisinheritedKnight，therefore，steptboldlyforthtothefrontofhistent，andfoundinattendancethesquiresofthechallengers，whomheeasilyknewbytheirrussetandblackdresses，eachofwhomledhismaster’scharger，loadedwiththearmourinwhichhehadthatdayfought。
``Accordingtothelawsofchivalry，’’saidtheforemostofthesemen，``I，BaldwindeOyley，squiretotheredoubtedKnightBriandeBois-Guilbert，makeoffertoyou，stylingyourself，forthepresent，theDisinheritedKnight，ofthehorseandarmourusedbythesaidBriandeBois-Guilbertinthisday’sPassageofArms，leavingitwithyournoblenesstoretainortoransomthesame，accordingtoyourpleasure；forsuchisthelawofarms。’’
Theothersquiresrepeatednearlythesameformula，andthenstoodtoawaitthedecisionoftheDisinheritedKnight。