Sir Robert Knolles
was for an immediate advance upon Josselin. Calverly thought that
a raid might be made into the South where the main French power
lay. Others spoke of an attack upon Vannes.
To all these eager opinions Bambro' listened in a moody silence,
which he broke at last by a fierce execration which drew a hushed
attention from the company. "Say no more, fair sirs," he cried;
"for indeed your words are like so many stabs in my heart. All
this and more we might indeed have done. But of a truth you are
too late."
"Too late?'" cried Knolles. "What mean you, Richard?"
"Alas; that I should have to say it, but you and all these fair
soldiers might be back in England once more for all the profit
that I am like to have from your coming. Saw you a rider on a
white horse ere you reached the Castle?"
"Nay, I saw him not?"
"He came by the western road from Hennebon. Would that he had
broken his neck ere he came here. Not an hour ago he left his
message and now hath ridden on to warn the garrison of Malestroit.
A truce has been proclaimed for a year betwixt the French King and
the English, and he who breaks it forfeits life and estate."
"A truce!" Here was an end to all their fine dreams. They looked
blankly at each other all round the table, whilst Croquart brought
his great fist down upon the board until the glasses rattled
again.
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