He would say,
'Sir, I should take it as an honor to do some small deed of arms against you, not for mine own glory or advancement, but rather for the fame of my lady and for the upholding of chivalry.'
Then he would draw his glove, thus, and throw it on the ground; or, if he had cause to think that he had to deal with a churl, he might throw it in his face--as I do now!"
A buzz of excitement went up from the knot of squires as Alleyne, his gentle nature turned by this causeless attack into fiery resolution, dashed his glove with all his strength into the sneering face of his antagonist.
From all parts of the hall squires and pages came running, until a dense, swaying crowd surrounded the disputants.
"Your life for this!" said the bully, with a face which was distorted with rage.
"If you can take it," returned Alleyne.
"Good lad!" whispered Ford. "Stick to it close as wax."
"I shall see justice," cried Newbury, Sir Oliver's silent attendant.
"You brought it upon yourself, John Tranter," said the tall squire, who had been addressed as Roger Harcomb.
"You must ever plague the new-comers.
But it were shame if this went further.
The lad hath shown a proper spirit."
"But a blow! a blow!" cried several of the older squires.
"There must be a finish to this."
"Nay; Tranter first laid hand upon his head," said Harcomb.
"How say you, Tranter?
The matter may rest where it stands?"
"My name is known in these parts," said Tranter, proudly, "I can let pass what might leave a stain upon another.
Let him pick up his glove and say that he has done amiss."
"I would see him in the claws of the devil first," whispered Ford.
"You hear, young sir?" said the peacemaker.
"Our friend will overlook the matter if you do but say that you have acted in heat and haste."
"I cannot say that," answered Alleyne.
"It is our custom, young sir, when new squires come amongst us from England, to test them in some such way.
Bethink you that if a man have a destrier or a new lance he will ever try it in time of peace, lest in days of need it may fail him.
How much more then is it proper to test those who are our comrades in arms."
"I would draw out if it may honorably be done," murmured Norbury in Alleyne's ear.
"The man is a noted swordsman and far above your strength."
Edricson came, however, of that sturdy Saxon blood which is very slowly heated, but once up not easily to be cooled.
The hint of danger which Norbury threw out was the one thing needed to harden his resolution.
"I came here at the back of my master," he said, "and I looked on every man here as an Englishman and a friend.
This gentleman hath shown me a rough welcome, and if I have answered him in the same spirit he has but himself to thank.
I will pick the glove up; but, certes, I shall abide what I have done unless he first crave my pardon for what he hath said and done."
Tranter shrugged his shoulders.
"You have done what you could to save him, Harcomb," said he.
"We had best settle at once."
"So say I," cried Alleyne.
"The council will not break up until the banquet," remarked a gray-haired squire.
"You have a clear two hours."
"And the place?"
"The tilting-yard is empty at this hour."
"Nay; it must not be within the grounds of the court, or it may go hard with all concerned if it come to the ears of the prince."
"But there is a quiet spot near the river," said one youth. "We have but to pass through the abbey grounds, along the armory wall, past the church of St. Remi, and so down the Rue des Apotres."
"En avant, then!" cried Tranter shortly, and the whole assembly flocked out into the open air, save only those whom the special orders of their masters held to their posts.
These unfortunates crowded to the small casements, and craned their necks after the throng as far as they could catch a glimpse of them.
Close to the banks of the Garonne there lay a little tract of green sward, with the high wall of a prior's garden upon one side and an orchard with a thick bristle of leafless apple-trees upon the other.
The river ran deep and swift up to the steep bank; but there were few boats upon it, and the ships were moored far out in the centre of the stream.
Here the two combatants drew their swords and threw off their doublets, for neither had any defensive armor.
The duello with its stately etiquette had not yet come into vogue, but rough and sudden encounters were as common as they must ever be when hot-headed youth goes abroad with a weapon strapped to its waist.