When he hath come, and when our fair consort is recovered in her health, which I trust by the grace of God may be ere many weeks be past, we shall then join the army at Dax, and set our banners to the breeze once more."
A buzz of joy at the prospect of immediate action rose up from the group of warriors.
The prince smiled at the martial ardor which shone upon every face around him.
"It will hearten you to know," he continued, "that I have sure advices that this Henry is a very valiant leader, and that he has it in his power to make such a stand against us as promises to give us much honor and pleasure.
Of his own people he hath brought together, as I learn, some fifty thousand, with twelve thousand of the French free companies, who are, as you know very valiant and expert men-at-arms.
It is certain also, that the brave and worthy Bertrand de Guesclin hath ridden into France to the Duke of Anjou, and purposes to take back with him great levies from Picardy and Brittany.
We hold Bertrand in high esteem, for he has oft before been at great pains to furnish us with an honorable encounter.
What think you of it, my worthy Captal?
He took you at Cocherel, and, by my soul I you will have the chance now to pay that score."
The Gascon warrior winced a little at the allusion, nor were his countrymen around him better pleased, for on the only occasion when they had encountered the arms of France without English aid they had met with a heavy defeat.
"There are some who say, sire," said the burly De Clisson, "that the score is already overpaid, for that without Gascon help Bertrand had not been taken at Auray, nor had King John been overborne at Poictiers."
"By heaven! but this is too much," cried an English nobleman.
"Methinks that Gascony is too small a cock to crow so lustily."
"The smaller cock, my Lord Audley, may have the longer spur," remarked the Captal de Buch.
"May have its comb clipped if it make over-much noise," broke in an Englishman.
"By our Lady of Rocamadour!" cried the Lord of Mucident, "this is more than I can abide.
Sir John Charnell, you shall answer to me for those words!"
"Freely, my lord, and when you will," returned the Englishman carelessly.
"My Lord de Clisson," cried Lord Audley, "you look some, what fixedly in my direction.
By God's soul!
I should be right glad to go further into the matter with you."
"And you, my Lord of Pommers," said Sir Nigel, pushing his way to the front, "it is in my mind that we might break a lance in gentle and honorable debate over the question."
For a moment a dozen challenges flashed backwards and forwards at this sudden bursting of the cloud which had lowered so long between the knights of the two nations.
Furious and gesticulating the Gascons, white and cold and sneering the English, while the prince with a half smile glanced from one party to the other, like a man who loved to dwell upon a fiery scene, and yet dreaded least the mischief go so far that he might find it beyond his control.
"Friends, friends!" he cried at last, "this quarrel must go no further.
The man shall answer to me, be he Gascon or English, who carries it beyond this room.
I have overmuch need for your swords that you should turn them upon each other.
Sir John Charnell, Lord Audley, you do not doubt the courage of our friends of Gascony?"
"Not I, sire," Lord Audley answered.
"I have seen them fight too often not to know that they are very hardy and valiant gentlemen."
"And so say I," quoth the other Englishman; "but, certes, there is no fear of our forgetting it while they have a tongue in their heads."
"Nay, Sir John," said the prince reprovingly, "all peoples have their own use and customs.
There are some who might call us cold and dull and silent.
But you hear, my lords of Gascony, that these gentlemen had no thought to throw a slur upon your honor or your valor, so let all anger fade from your mind.
Clisson, Captal, De Pommers, I have your word?"
"We are your subjects, sire," said the Gascon barons, though with no very good grace.
"Your words are our law."
"Then shall we bury all cause of unkindness in a flagon of Malvoisie," said the prince, cheerily.
"Ho, there! the doors of the banquet-hall!
I have been over long from my sweet spouse but I shall be back with you anon.
Let the sewers serve and the minstrels play, while we drain a cup to the brave days that are before us in the south!"
He turned away, accompanied by the two monarchs, while the rest of the company, with many a compressed lip and menacing eye, filed slowly through the side-door to the great chamber in which the royal tables were set forth.
Chapter XX.
HOW ALLEYNE WON HIS PLACE IN AN HONORABLE GUILD.
WHILST the prince's council was sitting, Alleyne and Ford had remained in the outer hall, where they were soon surrounded by a noisy group of young Englishmen of their own rank, all eager to hear the latest news from England.
"How is it with the old man at Windsor?" asked one.
"And how with the good Queen Philippa?"
"And how with Dame Alice Perrers?" cried a third.
"The devil take your tongue, Wat!" shouted a tall young man, seizing the last speaker by the collar and giving him an admonitory shake.
"The prince would take your head off for those words."