Part 21 (1/2)

”Nor guess aught?” said Sir John; ”but perhaps that is scarce a fair query; and I will to the rest of my business, though it is scarce needed--only I would have the Prince see the full extent of the falsehoods with which he has been gulled.” And he then proceeded to inquire into the circ.u.mstances of Lady Eleanor's funeral, the brawling, the violent abstraction of Arthur, and of a considerable portion of his property, and the long delay, which had given his enemies so much opportunity to blacken his character. Eustace explained all fully to the satisfaction of Chandos, and appealed to numerous witnesses.

”That is well,” said the old Knight. ”We shall have it all clear as daylight;--and the only wonder is, that the Prince could be so long deceived by such monstrous falsehoods. Let me see--your right to the wards.h.i.+p is established?”

”Yes; it hath been so decided by the Bishop of Winchester.”

”And let me tell you, Sir Eustace, you did yourself little good by getting the interest of the Duke of Lancaster. Methought it still further prejudiced the Prince.”

”It was justice that I sought, not favour,” said Eustace.

”The knightly view,” said Sir John; ”and it was more the work of your friends than yourself; but I never loved that young John of Lancaster, and still less since he hath seemed willing to make a party for himself. I trow he hath given the Prince a distrust of all uncles.

Ha! little varlet!” added he, as he met Arthur's eyes--”if you can keep one secret, keep another, or, still better, forget what I have said.

Understandest thou?”

”I will answer for him,” said Eustace.

”And now,” said Chandos, ”I must be on my way back; for that expedition to Bescancon must be looked to. But what is to be done with the boy?”

”Oh, I remain here,” cried Arthur, eagerly. ”The Prince consented. Oh, I pray of you let me stay here.”

”In this dismal old Castle, Arthur,” said Eustace, ”apart from all your playmates? It will not be like home, remember; for scarce ever will you be able to go beyond the walls--and with me lying here, and Gaston always occupied, you will find it weary work.”

”Not with you, Uncle Eustace! I shall sit by you, and tend you, and read to you. It is so long since I have been with you! Oh, send me not away! I care for no playmate--for nothing in the wide world, as for you!”

”Well, let him e'en stay,” said Sir John; ”it will be a better training for him than among the gilded little varlets who are c.o.c.kered up among Princess Joan's ladies.”

The two Knights had next to arrange some matters respecting the garrison; Sir John leaving a sufficient number of men to secure the castle in case of a second attack. He was somewhat inclined to leave Master Henry Neville to command them; but consideration for Eustace and Gaston induced him to spare the young gentleman a sojourn which he would have regarded as so far from enviable. Nor was the leech more desirous of a lengthened stay with a patient whom he suspected to be unable to requite him for the discomfort which he might endure in his service. He therefore p.r.o.nounced Sir Eustace to stand in no further need of his attentions; and recommending rest, and providing him with good store of remedies, he saddled his mule to accompany Sir John Chandos.

The old Commander took his leave, with many kind wishes for Sir Eustace's speedy recovery, and promises that he should ere long hear from Bordeaux. In ten minutes more Arthur, standing at the window, announced that the troop was riding off, with Clisson's pennon borne among them in triumph, and Sanchez and his accomplices, with their hands tied, and their feet fastened together beneath the bodies of their horses.

CHAPTER XVI

Four or five weeks had pa.s.sed away since Sir John Chandos had quitted the Chateau Norbelle.

The Knight had nearly recovered his full strength, but still wore his broken arm in a scarf, when, one evening, as he was sitting on the battlements, delighting the ears of Arthur and of Gaston with an interminable romance of chivalry, three or four horseman, bearing the colours and badges of the Black Prince, were descried riding towards the Castle. Knight, Squire, and Page instantly descended to the courtyard, which, in short s.p.a.ce, was entered by the messengers, the princ.i.p.al of whom, an elderly man-at-arms, respectfully saluted the Knight, and delivered to him a parchment scroll, tied with silk of scarlet and blue, supporting the heavy seal of the Prince of Wales and Duke of Aquitaine, and addressed to the hands of the honourable Knight Banneret Sir Eustace Lynwood, Castellane of the Chateau Norbelle. This doc.u.ment bore the signature of Edward himself, and contained his mandate to Eustace, to come immediately to his court at Bordeaux, leaving the command of the Chateau Norbelle to the bearer.

The old man-at-arms was closely questioned all the evening respecting the state of the court, but he could give little information. Sir John Chandos was at Bordeaux, and had daily attended the council, to which the Prince was devoting more attention than usual; a vessel had also arrived bearing letters from England to the Prince; this was all the information that could be obtained.

The next morning Eustace, with Gaston, Arthur, and Ingram, all full of expectation, and delighted at the change from the gloomy solitary old Castle, were all posting on their way back to Bordeaux. They slept at an hostel about twelve miles from the town, first, however, by desire of the Prince's messengers, sending Ingram on to announce their speedy arrival, and about ten in the morning rode into town.

There was evidently some grand spectacle at hand, for the Bordelais, gentle and simple, in holiday habits, were proceeding in the direction of the palace; but the Knight and his attendants had no time to wait for inquiries, and pressed on with the stream to the gates of the courtyard, where they found warders placed, to keep back the dense throng of people. At the mention of Sir Eustace's name they readily and respectfully admitted him and his companions into the court.

”Ha!” cried Gaston, ”what means this? is there a tilt towards? This reminds me of the good old days, ere the Prince fell ill. The lists, the galleries, the ladies, the Prince's own chair of state, too! Oh, Sir Eustace, I could tear my hair that you cannot yet use your sword arm!”

”Can it be a challenge on the part of Fulk?” said Eustace, ”or a reply to yours, Arthur? Yet that can hardly be. And see, there is no barrier in the midst, only a huge block. What can be intended?”

”I do not see Agnes among the ladies in the galleries,” said Arthur, looking up as eagerly, and more openly, than his uncle was doing. ”And oh, here comes the Princess,--yes, and Lord Edward and little Lord Richard with her! And here is the Prince himself leaning on the Earl of Cambridge! Uncle Eustace, Lord Edward is beckoning to me! May I run to him?”

”Come with me, since I must present myself,” said Eustace, dismounting, as one of the Prince's Squires held his horse.