When heard you of the truce?"
"Yester-evening a messenger rode from Nantes."
"Our news came to-night from Hennebon. The King's own seal was on
the order. So I fear that for a year at least you will bide at
Josselin and we at Ploermel, and kill time as we may. Perchance
we may hunt the wolf together in the great forest, or fly our
hawks on the banks of the Duc."
"Doubtless we shall do all this, Richard," said Beaumanoir; "but
by Saint Cadoc it is in my mind that with good-will upon both
sides we may please ourselves and yet stand excused before our
Kings."
Knights and squires leaned forward in their chairs, their eager
eyes, fixed upon him. He broke into a gap-toothed smile as he
looked round at the circle, the wizened seneschal, the blond
giant, Nigel's fresh young face, the grim features of Knolles, and
the yellow hawk-like Calverly, all burning with the same desire.
"I see that I need not doubt the good-will," said he, "and of that
I was very certain before I came upon this errand. Bethink you
then that this order applies to war but not to challenges,
spear-runnings, knightly exchanges or the like. King Edward is
too good a knight, and so is King John, that either of them should
stand in the way of a gentleman who desires to advance himself or
to venture his body for the exaltation of his lady. Is this not
so?"
A murmur of eager assent rose from the table.
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