to sow flax in his neighbour's house, when the torches are burning.
Um! Where is fair Marmaduke. He looks brave in his gay super-tunic.
Well, sir and foster-brother, how fare you at court?"

"My dear Nicholas, a merry welcome and hearty to your sharp,
thoughtful face. Ah, man! we shall have a gay time for you venders of
gewgaws. There are to be revels and jousts, revels in the Tower and
jousts in Smithfield. We gentles are already hard at practice in the
tilt-yard."

"Sham battles are better than real ones, Master Nevile! But what is
in the wind?"

"A sail, Nicholas! a sail bound to England! Know that the Count of
Charolois has permitted Sir Anthony Count de la Roche, his bastard
brother, to come over to London, to cross lances with our own Sir
Anthony Lord Scales. It is an old challenge, and right royally will
the encounter be held."

"Um!" muttered Alwyn, "this bastard, then, is the carrier pigeon.--
And," said he, aloud, "is it only to exchange hard blows that Sir
Anthony of Burgundy comes over to confer with Sir Anthony of England?
Is there no court rumour of other matters between them?"

"Nay. What else? Plague on you craftsmen! You cannot even
comprehend the pleasure and pastime two knights take in the storm of
the lists!"

"I humbly avow it, Master Nevile. But it seemeth, indeed, strange to
me that the Count of Charolois should take this very moment to send