saidthePrince；``andwhenIhavesuchachancellortoadvisewithal，thereignofJohnwillberenownedinourannals——Whathastthoucommanded?’’
``IhaveorderedLouisWinkelbrand，DeBracy’slieutenant，tocausehistrumpetsoundtohorse，andtodisplayhisbanner，andtosetpresentlyforthtowardsthecastleofFront-de-Buf，todowhatyetmaybedoneforthesuccourofourfriends。’’
PrinceJohn’sfaceflushedwiththeprideofaspoiltchild，whohasundergonewhatitconceivestobeaninsult。
``BythefaceofGod！’’hesaid，``WaldemarFitzurse，muchhastthoutakenuponthee！andovermalapertthouwerttocausetrumpettoblow，orbannertoberaised，inatownwhereourselveswereinpresence，withoutourexpresscommand。’’
``IcraveyourGrace’spardon，’’saidFitzurse，internallycursingtheidlevanityofhispatron；
``butwhentimepressed，andeventhelossofminutesmightbefatal，Ijudgeditbesttotakethismuchburdenuponme，inamatterofsuchimportancetoyourGrace’sinterest。’’
``Thouartpardoned，Fitzurse，’’saidtheprince，gravely；``thypurposehathatonedforthyhastyrashness——Butwhomhavewehere?——DeBracyhimself，bytherood！——andinstrangeguisedothhecomebeforeus。’’
ItwasindeedDeBracy——``bloodywithspurring，fieryredwithspeed。’’Hisarmourboreallthemarksofthelateobstinatefray，beingbroken，defaced，andstainedwithbloodinmanyplaces，andcoveredwithclayanddustfromthecresttothespur。Undoinghishelmet，heplaceditonthetable，andstoodamomentasiftocollecthimselfbeforebetoldhisnews。
``DeBracy，’’saidPrinceJohn，``whatmeansthis?——Speak，Ichargethee！——AretheSaxonsinrebellion?’’
``Speak，DeBracy，’’saidFitzurse，almostinthesamemomentwithhismaster，``thouwertwonttobeaman——WhereistheTemplar?——whereFront-de-Buf?’’
``TheTemplarisfled，’’saidDeBracy；``Front-de-Bufyouwillneverseemore。HehasfoundaredgraveamongtheblazingraftersofhisowncastleandIaloneamescapedtotellyou。’’
``Coldnews，’’saidWaldemar，``tous，thoughyouspeakoffireandconflagration。’’
``Theworstnewsisnotyetsaid，’’answeredDeBracy；and，cominguptoPrinceJohn，heutteredinalowandemphatictone——``RichardisinEngland——Ihaveseenandspokenwithhim。’’
PrinceJohnturnedpale，tottered，andcaughtatthebackofanoakenbenchtosupporthimself——muchliketoamanwhoreceivesanarrowinhisbosom。
``Thouravest，DeBracy，’’saidFitzurse，``itcannotbe。’’
``Itisastrueastruthitself，’’saidDeBracy；
``Iwashisprisoner，andspokewithhim。’’
``WithRichardPlantagenet，sayestthou?’’continuedFitzurse。
``WithRichardPlantagenet，’’repliedDeBracy，withRichardCur-de-Lion——withRichardofEngland。’’
``Andthouwerthisprisoner?’’saidWaldemar；
``heisthenattheheadofapower?’’
``No——onlyafewoutlawedyeomenwerearoundhim，andtothesehispersonisunknown。Iheardhimsayhewasabouttodepartfromthem。HejoinedthemonlytoassistatthestormingofTorquilstone。’’
``Ay，’’saidFitzurse，``suchisindeedthefashionofRichard——atrueknight-erranthe，andwillwanderinwildadventure，trustingtheprowessofhissinglearm，likeanySirGuyorSirBevis，whiletheweightyaffairsofhiskingdomslumber，andhisownsafetyisendangered——WhatdostthouproposetodoDeBracy?’’
``I?——IofferedRichardtheserviceofmyFreeLances，andherefusedthem——IwillleadthemtoHull，seizeonshipping，andembarkforFlanders；
thankstothebustlingtimes，amanofactionwillalwaysfindemployment。Andthou，Waldemar，wiltthoutakelanceandshield，andlaydownthypolicies，andwendalongwithme，andsharethefatewhichGodsendsus?’’
``Iamtooold，Maurice，andIhaveadaughter，’’
answeredWaldemar。
``Givehertome，Fitzurse，andIwillmaintainherasfitsherrank，withthehelpoflanceandstirrup，’’
saidDeBracy。
``Notso，’’answeredFitzurse；``IwilltakesanctuaryinthischurchofSaintPeter——theArchbishopismyswornbrother。’
Duringthisdiscourse，PrinceJohnhadgraduallyawakenedfromthestuporintowhichhehadbeenthrownbytheunexpectedintelligence，andhadbeenattentivetotheconversationwhichpassedbetwixthisfollowers。``Theyfallofffromme，’’
hesaidtohimself，``theyholdnomorebymethanawitheredleafbytheboughwhenabreezeblowsonit?——Hellandfiends！canIshapenomeansformyselfwhenIamdesertedbythesecravens?’’——
Hepaused，andtherewasanexpressionofdiabolicalpassionintheconstrainedlaughwithwhichheatlengthbrokeinontheirconversation。
``Ha，ha，ha！mygoodlords，bythelightofOurLady’sbrow，Iheldyesagemen，boldmen，ready-wittedmen；yetyethrowdownwealth，honour，pleasure，allthatournoblegamepromisedyou，atthemomentitmightbewonbyoneboldcast！’’
``Iunderstandyounot，’’saidDeBracy。``AssoonasRichard’sreturnisblownabroad，hewillbeattheheadofanarmy，andallisthenoverwithus。
Iwouldcounselyou，mylord，eithertoflytoFranceortaketheprotectionoftheQueenMother。’’
``Iseeknosafetyformyself，’’saidPrinceJohn，haughtily；``thatIcouldsecurebyawordspokentomybrother。Butalthoughyou，DeBracy，andyou，WaldemarFitzurse，aresoreadytoabandonme，IshouldnotgreatlydelighttoseeyourheadsblackeningonClifford’sgateyonder。Thinkestthou，Waldemar，thatthewilyArchbishopwillnotsuffertheetobetakenfromtheveryhornsofthealtar，woulditmakehispeacewithKingRichard?
Andforgettestthou，DeBracy，thatRobertEstotevilleliesbetwixttheeandHullwithallhisforces，andthattheEarlofEssexisgatheringhisfollowers?
IfwehadreasontofeartheseleviesevenbeforeRichard’sreturn，trowestthouthereisanydoubtnowwhichpartytheirleaderswilltake?
Trustme，EstotevillealonehasstrengthenoughtodriveallthyFreeLancesintotheHumber——’’
WaldemarFitzurseandDeBracylookedineachother’sfaceswithblankdismay——``Thereisbutoneroadtosafety，’’continuedthePrince，andhisbrowgrewblackasmidnight；``thisobjectofourterrorjourneysalone——Hemustbemetwithal。’’
``Notbyme，’’saidDeBracy，hastily；``Iwashisprisoner，andhetookmetomercy。Iwillnotharmafeatherinhiscrest。’’
``Whospokeofharminghim?’’saidPrinceJohn，withahardenedlaugh；``theknavewillsaynextthatImeantheshouldslayhim！——No——
aprisonwerebetter；andwhetherinBritainorAustria，whatmattersit?——Thingswillbebutastheywerewhenwecommencedourenterprise——
ItwasfoundedonthehopethatRichardwouldremainacaptiveinGermany——OuruncleRobertlivedanddiedinthecastleofCardiffe。’’
``Ay，but，’’saidWaldemar，``yoursireHenrysatemorefirminhisseatthanyourGracecan。I
saythebestprisonisthatwhichismadebythesexton——nodungeonlikeachurch-vault！Ihavesaidmysay。’’
``Prisonortomb，’’saidDeBracy，``Iwashmyhandsofthewholematter。’’
``Villain！’’saidPrinceJohn，``thouwouldstnotbewrayourcounsel?’’
``Counselwasneverbewrayedbyme，’’saidDeBracy，haughtily，``normustthenameofvillainbecoupledwithmine！’’
``Peace，SirKnight！’’saidWaldemar；``andyou，goodmylord，forgivethescruplesofvaliantDeBracy；ItrustIshallsoonremovethem。’’
``Thatpassesyoureloquence，Fitzurse，’’repliedtheKnight。
``Why，goodSirMaurice，’’rejoinedthewilypolitician，``startnotasidelikeascaredsteed，without，atleast，consideringtheobjectofyourterror——
ThisRichard——butadaysince，anditwouldhavebeenthydearestwishtohavemethimhandtohandintheranksofbattle——ahundredtimesI
haveheardtheewishit。’’
``Ay，’’saidDeBracy，``butthatwasasthousayest，handtohand，andintheranksofbattle！
Thouneverheardestmebreatheathoughtofassaultinghimalone，andinaforest。’’
``Thouartnogoodknightifthoudostscrupleatit，’’saidWaldemar。``WasitinbattlethatLancelotdeLacandSirTristramwonrenown?
orwasitnotbyencounteringgiganticknightsundertheshadeofdeepandunknownforests?’’