第69章

saidthePrince；``andwhenIhavesuchachancellortoadvisewithal，thereignofJohnwillberenownedinourannals——Whathastthoucommanded?’’

``IhaveorderedLouisWinkelbrand，DeBracy’slieutenant，tocausehistrumpetsoundtohorse，andtodisplayhisbanner，andtosetpresentlyforthtowardsthecastleofFront-de-Buf，todowhatyetmaybedoneforthesuccourofourfriends。’’

PrinceJohn’sfaceflushedwiththeprideofaspoiltchild，whohasundergonewhatitconceivestobeaninsult。

``BythefaceofGod！’’hesaid，``WaldemarFitzurse，muchhastthoutakenuponthee！andovermalapertthouwerttocausetrumpettoblow，orbannertoberaised，inatownwhereourselveswereinpresence，withoutourexpresscommand。’’

``IcraveyourGrace’spardon，’’saidFitzurse，internallycursingtheidlevanityofhispatron；

``butwhentimepressed，andeventhelossofminutesmightbefatal，Ijudgeditbesttotakethismuchburdenuponme，inamatterofsuchimportancetoyourGrace’sinterest。’’

``Thouartpardoned，Fitzurse，’’saidtheprince，gravely；``thypurposehathatonedforthyhastyrashness——Butwhomhavewehere?——DeBracyhimself，bytherood！——andinstrangeguisedothhecomebeforeus。’’

ItwasindeedDeBracy——``bloodywithspurring，fieryredwithspeed。’’Hisarmourboreallthemarksofthelateobstinatefray，beingbroken，defaced，andstainedwithbloodinmanyplaces，andcoveredwithclayanddustfromthecresttothespur。Undoinghishelmet，heplaceditonthetable，andstoodamomentasiftocollecthimselfbeforebetoldhisnews。

``DeBracy，’’saidPrinceJohn，``whatmeansthis?——Speak，Ichargethee！——AretheSaxonsinrebellion?’’

``Speak，DeBracy，’’saidFitzurse，almostinthesamemomentwithhismaster，``thouwertwonttobeaman——WhereistheTemplar?——whereFront-de-Buf?’’

``TheTemplarisfled，’’saidDeBracy；``Front-de-Bufyouwillneverseemore。HehasfoundaredgraveamongtheblazingraftersofhisowncastleandIaloneamescapedtotellyou。’’

``Coldnews，’’saidWaldemar，``tous，thoughyouspeakoffireandconflagration。’’

``Theworstnewsisnotyetsaid，’’answeredDeBracy；and，cominguptoPrinceJohn，heutteredinalowandemphatictone——``RichardisinEngland——Ihaveseenandspokenwithhim。’’

PrinceJohnturnedpale，tottered，andcaughtatthebackofanoakenbenchtosupporthimself——muchliketoamanwhoreceivesanarrowinhisbosom。

``Thouravest，DeBracy，’’saidFitzurse，``itcannotbe。’’

``Itisastrueastruthitself，’’saidDeBracy；

``Iwashisprisoner，andspokewithhim。’’

``WithRichardPlantagenet，sayestthou?’’continuedFitzurse。

``WithRichardPlantagenet，’’rep