Itwasaboutthehourofsunrise，whenaslow，armedtreadwasheardapproachingtheKing’spavilion；andereDeVaux，whoslumberedbesidehismaster’sbedasrightlyaseversleepsatupontheeyesofawatch-dog，hadtimetodomorethanariseandsay，Whocomes？’’theKnightoftheLeopardenteredthetent，withadeepanddevotedgloomseateduponhismanlyfeatures。
Whencethisboldintrusion，SirKnight？’’saidDeVaux，sternly，yetinatonewhichrespectedhismaster’sslumbers。
Hold，DeVaux！’’saidRichard，awakeningontheinstant；
SirKennethcomethlikeagoodsoldiertorenderanaccountofhisguard-tosuchtheGeneral’stentiseveraccessible。’’-
Thenrisingfromhisslumberingposture，andleaningonhiselbow，hefixedhislargebrighteyeuponthewarrior-Speak，SirScot；thoucomesttotellmeofavigilant，safe，andhonourablewatch，dostthounot？TherustlingofthefoldsoftheBannerofEnglandwereenoughtoguardit，evenwithoutthebodyofsuchaknightasmenholdthee。’’
Asmenwillholdmenomore，’’saidSirKenneth-mywatchhathneitherbeenvigilant，safe，norhonourable。TheBannerofEnglandhasbeencarriedoff。’’
Andthoualivetotellit？’’saidRichard，inatoneofderisiveincredulity-Away，itcannotbe。Thereisnotevenascratchonthyface-Whydostthoustandthusmute？Speakthetruth-itisilljestingwithaKing-yetIwillforgivetheeifthouhastlied。’’
Lied，SirKing！’’returnedtheunfortunateknight，withfierceemphasis，andoneglanceoffirefromhiseye，brightandtransientastheflashfromthecoldandstonyflint。Butthisalsomustbeendured-Ihavespokenthetruth。’’
ByGodandbySaintGeorge！’’saidtheKing，burstingintofury，which，however，heinstantlychecked-DeVaux，goviewthespot-Thisfeverhasdisturbedhisbrain-Thiscannotbe-
Theman’scourageisproof-It_cannot_be！Gospeedily-orsend，ifthouwiltnotgo。’’
TheKingwasinterruptedbySirHenryNeville，whocame，breathless，tosaythatthebannerwasgone，andtheknightwhoguardeditoverpowered，andmostprobablymurdered，astherewasapoolofbloodwherethebanner-spearlayshivered。
ButwhomdoIseehere？’’saidNeville，hiseyessuddenlyrestinguponSirKenneth。
Atraitor，’’saidtheKing，startingtohisfeet，andseizingthecurtal-axe，whichwasevernearhisbed-atraitor！whomthoushaltseedieatraitor’sdeath。’’-Andhedrewbacktheweaponasinacttostrike。
Colourless，butfirmasamarblestatue，theScotstoodbeforehim，withhisbareheaduncoveredbyanyprotection，hiseyescastdowntotheearth，hislipsscarcelymoving，yetmutteringprobablyinprayer。Oppositetohim，andwithintheduereachforablow，stoodKingRichard，hislargepersonwraptinthefoldsofhiscamiscia，oramplegownoflinen，exceptwheretheviolenceofhisactionhadflungthecoveringfromhisrightarm，shoulder，andapartofhisbreast，leavingtoviewaspecimenofaframewhichmighthavemeritedhisSaxonpredecessor’sepithetofIronside。Hestoodforaninstant，prompttostrike-then，sinkingtheheadoftheweapontowardstheground，heexclaimed，Buttherewasblood，Neville-therewasbloodupontheplace。Harkthee，SirScot-bravethouwertonce，forIhaveseentheefight-SaythouhastslaintwoofthethievesindefenceoftheStandard-saybutone-saythouhaststruckbutagoodblowinourbehalf，andgettheeoutofthecampwiththylifeandthyinfamy！’’
Youhavecalledmeliar，myLordKing，’’repliedKenneth，firmly；andtherein，atleast，youhavedonemewrong-Know，thattherewasnobloodshedindefenceoftheStandardsavethatofapoorhound，which，morefaithfulthanhismaster，defendedthechargewhichhedeserted。’’
Now，bySaintGeorge！’’saidRichard，againheavinguphisarm-ButDeVauxthrewhimselfbetweentheKingandtheobjectofhisvengeance，andspokewiththeblunttruthofhischaracter，Myliege，thismustnotbe-here，norbyyourownhand。Itisenoughoffollyforonenightandday，tohaveintrustedyourbannertoaScot-saidInottheywereeverfairandfalse？’’<*>
*SuchwerethetermsinwhichtheEnglishusedtospeakoftheirpoor*northernneighbours，forgettingthattheirownencroachmentsuponthe*independenceofScotlandobligedtheweakernationtodefendthemselves*bypolicyaswellasforce。ThedisgracemustbedividedbetweenEdward*I。andIII。，whoenforcedtheirdominationoverafreecountry，andthe*Scotswhowerecompelledtotakecompulsoryoaths，withoutanypurpose*ofkeepingthem。
Thoudidst，DeVaux；thouwastright，andIconfessit，’’
saidRichard。Ishouldhaveknownhimbetter-IshouldhaverememberedhowthefoxWilliamdeceivedmetouchingthisCrusade。’’
Mylord，’’saidSirKenneth，WilliamofScotlandneverdeceived；butcircumstancespreventedhisbringinghisforces。’’
Peace，shameless！’’saidtheKing；thousulliestthenameofaprince，evenbyspeakingit-Andyet，DeVaux，itisstrange，’’headded，toseethebearingoftheman。Cowardortraitorhemustbe，yetheabodetheblowofRichardPlantagenet，asourarmhadbeenraisedtolayknighthoodonhisshoulder。Hadheshowntheslightestsignoffear-hadbutajointtrembled，oraneyelidquivered，Ihadshatteredhisheadlikeacrystalgoblet。ButIcannotstrikewherethereisneitherfearnorresistance。’’
Therewasapause。
Mylord，’’saidKenneth-
Ha！’’repliedRichard，interruptinghim，hastthoufoundthyspeech？AskgracefromHeaven，butnonefromme，forEnglandisdishonouredthroughthyfault；andwertthoumineownandonlybrother，thereisnopardonforthyfault。’’
Ispeaknottodemandgraceofmortalman，’’saidtheScot；
itisinyourGrace’spleasuretogiveorrefusemetimeforChristianshrift-ifmandeniesit，mayGodgrantmetheabsolutionwhichIwouldotherwiseaskofhisChurch！ButwhetherIdieontheinstant，orhalf-an-hourhence，IequallybeseechyourGraceforonemoment’sopportunitytospeakthattoyourroyalperson，whichhighlyconcernsyourfameasaChristianKing。’’
Sayon，’’saidtheKing，makingnodoubtthathewasabouttobearsomeconfessionconcerningthelossoftheBanner。
WhatIhavetospeak，’’saidSirKenneth，touchestheroyaltyofEngland，andmustbesaidtonoearsbutthineown。’’
Begonewithyourselves，sirs，’’saidtheKingtoNevilleandDeVaux。
Thefirstobeyed，butthelatterwouldnotstirfromtheKing’spresence。
IfyousaidIwasintheright，’’repliedDeVauxtohissovereign，Iwillbetreatedasoneshouldbewhohathbeenfoundtoberight-thatis，Iwillhavemyownwill。IleaveyounotwiththisfalseScot。’’
How，DeVaux！’’saidRichard，angrily，andstampingslightly，darestthounotventureourpersonwithonetraitor？’’
Itisinvainyoufrownandstamp，mylord，’’saidDeVaux；
Iventurenotasickmanwithasoundone，anakedmanwithonearmedinproof。’’
Itmattersnot，’’saidtheScottishknight，Iseeknoexcusetoputofftime-IwillspeakinpresenceoftheLordofGilsland。
Heisgoodlordandtrue。’’
Buthalf-an-hoursince，’’saidDeVaux，withagroan，implyingamixtureofsorrowandvexation，andIhadsaidasmuchforthee！’’
Thereistreasonaroundyou，KingofEngland，’’continuedSirKenneth。
Itmaywellbeasthousay’st，’’repliedRichard；Ihaveapregnantexample。’’
Treasonthatwillinjuretheemoredeeplythanthelossofanhundredbannersinapitchedfield。The-the’’-SirKennethhesitated，andatlengthcontinued，inalowertone，TheLadyEdith’’-
Ha！’’saidtheKing，drawinghimselfsuddenlyintoastateofhaughtyattention，andfixinghiseyefirmlyonthesupposedcriminal；Whatofher？-whatofher？-whathasshetodowiththismatter？’’
Mylord，’’saidtheScot，thereisaschemeonfoottodisgraceyourroyallineagebybestowingthehandoftheLadyEdithontheSaracenSoldan，andtherebytopurchaseapeacemostdishonourabletoChristendom，byanalliancemostshamefultoEngland。’’
ThiscommunicationhadpreciselythecontraryeffectfromthatwhichSirKennethexpected。RichardPlantagenetwasoneofthose，who，inIago’swords，wouldnotserveGodbecauseitwasthedevilwhobadehim；adviceorinformationoftenaffectedhimlessaccordingtoitsrealimport，thanthroughthetingewhichittookfromthesupposedcharacterandviewsofthosebywhomitwascommunicated。Unfortunately，thementionofhisrelative’snamerenewedhisrecollectionofwhatheconsideredasextremepresumptionintheKnightoftheLeopard，evenwhenhestoodhighintherollsofchivalry，butwhich，inhispresentcondition，appearedaninsultsufficienttodrivethefierymonarchintoafrenzyofpassion。
Silence，’’hesaid，infamousandaudacious！ByHeaven，Iwillhavethytonguetornoutwithhotpincers，formentioningtheverynameofanobleChristiandamsel！Know，degeneratetraitor，thatIwasalreadyawaretowhatheightthouhadstdaredtoraisethineeyes，andenduredit，thoughitwereinsolence，evenwhenthouhadstcheatedus-forthouartalladeceit-intoholdingtheeasofsomenameandfame。Butnow，withlipsblisteredwiththeconfessionofthineowndishonour-thatthoushouldst_now_daretonameournoblekinswomanasoneinwhosefatethouhastpartorinterest！WhatisittotheeifshemarrySaracenorChristian？-whatisittothee，ifinacampwhereprincesturncowardsbyday，androbbersbynight-wherebraveknightsturntopaltrydesertersandtraitors-whatisit，Isaytothee，oranyone，ifIshouldpleasetoallymyselftotruth，andtovalour，inthepersonofSaladin？’’
Littletome，indeed，towhomalltheworldwillsoonbeasnothing，’’answeredSirKenneth，boldly；butwereInowstretchedontherack，Iwouldtellthee，thatwhatIhavesaidismuchtothineownconscienceandthineownfame。Itellthee，SirKing，thatifthoudostbutinthoughtentertainthepurposeofweddingthykinswoman，theLadyEdith’’-
Namehernot-andforaninstantthinknotofher，’’saidtheKing，againstrainingthecurtal-axeinhisgripe，untilthemusclesstartedabovehisbrawnyarm，likecordageformedbytheivyaroundthelimbofanoak。
Notname-notthinkofher！’’answeredSirKenneth，hisspirits，stunnedastheywerebyself-depression，beginningtorecovertheirelasticityfromthisspeciesofcontroversy，-Now，bytheCross，onwhichIplacemyhope，hernameshallbethelastwordinmymouth，herimagethelastthoughtinmymind。
Trythyboastedstrengthonthisbarebrow，andseeifthoucanstpreventmypurpose。’’
Hewilldrivememad！’’saidRichard，who，inhisdespite，wasoncemorestaggeredinhispurposebythedauntlessdeterminationofthecriminal。
EreThomasofGilslandcouldreply，somebustlewasheardwithout，andthearrivaloftheQueenwasannouncedfromtheouterpartofthepavilion。
Detainher-detainher，Neville，’’saidtheKing；thisisnosightforwomen-Fie，thatIhavesufferedsuchapaltrytraitortochafemethus！-Awaywithhim，DeVaux，’’hewhispered，throughtheback-entranceofourtent-coophimupclose，andanswerforhissafecustodywithyourlife-Andharkye-heispresentlytodie-lethimhaveaghostlyfather-wewouldnotkillsoulandbody-Andstay-harkthee-wewillnothavehimdishonoured-heshalldieknight-like，inhisbeltandspurs；forifhistreacherybeasblackashell，hisboldnessmaymatchthatofthedevilhimself。’’
DeVaux，rightglad，ifthetruthmaybeguessed，thatthesceneendedwithoutRichard’sdescendingtotheunkinglyactofhimselfslayinganunresistingprisoner，madehastetoremoveSirKennethbyaprivateissuetoaseparatetent，wherehewasdisarmedandputinfettersforsecurity。DeVauxlookedonwithasteadyandmelancholyattention，whiletheprovost’sofficers，towhomSirKennethwasnowcommitted，tookthesesevereprecautions。
Whentheywereended，hesaidsolemnlytotheunhappycriminal-ItisKingRichard’spleasurethatyoudieundegraded-withoutmutilationofyourbody，orshametoyourarms-andthatyourheadbeseveredfromthetrunkbytheswordoftheexecutioner。’’
Itiskind，’’saidtheknight，inalowandrathersubmissivetoneofvoice，asonewhoreceivedanunexpectedfavour；myfamilywillnotthenheartheworstofthetale-Oh，myfather-myfather！’’
Thismutteredinvocationdidnotescapethebluntbutkindly-naturedEnglishman，andhebrushedthebackofhislargehandoverhisroughfeatures，erehecouldproceed。
ItisRichardofEngland’sfartherpleasure，’’hesaid，atlength，thatyouhavespeechwithaholyman，andIhavemetonthepassagehitherwithaCarmelitefriar，whomayfityouforyourpassage-Hewaitswithout，untilyouareinahabitofmindtoreceivehim。’’
Letitbeinstantly，’’saidtheknight。InthisalsoRichardiskind。Icannotbemorefittoseethegoodfatheratanytimethannow；forlifeandIhavetakenfarewell，astwotravellerswhohavearrivedatthecrossway，wheretheirroadsseparate。’’
