"How now, messieurs?" said a harsh voice, that fell upon theturmoil like a thunder-clap, and there stood Sir James Lee.
Instantly the struggle ceased, and the combatants scrambled totheir feet.
The older lads stood silent before their chief, but Myles wasdeaf and blind and mad with passion, he knew not where he stoodor what he said or did. White as death, he stood for a whileglaring about him, catching his breath convulsively. Then hescreamed hoarsely.
"Who struck me? Who struck me when I was down? I will have hisblood that struck me!" He caught sight of Blunt. "It was he thatstruck me!" he cried. "Thou foul traitor! thou coward!" andthereupon leaped at his enemy like a wild-cat.
"Stop!" cried Sir James Lee, clutching him by the arm.
Myles was too blinded by his fury to see who it was that heldhim. "I will not stop!" he cried, struggling and striking at theknight. "Let me go! I will have his life that struck me when Iwas down!"
The next moment he found himself pinned close against the wall,and then, as though his sight came back, he saw the grim face ofthe old one- eyed knight looking into his.
"Dost thou know who I am?" said a stern, harsh voice.
Instantly Myles ceased struggling, and his arms fell at his side.
"Aye," he said, in a gasping voice, "I know thee." He swallowedspasmodically for a moment or two, and then, in the suddenrevulsion of feeling, burst out sobbing convulsively.
Sir James marched the two off to his office, he himself walkingbetween them, holding an arm of each, the other lads followingbehind, awe-struck and silent. Entering the office, Sir Jamesshut the door behind him, leaving the group of squires clusteredoutside about the stone steps, speculating in whispers as to whatwould be the outcome of the matter.
After Sir James had seated himself, the two standing facing him,he regarded them for a while in silence. "How now, Walter Blunt,"said he at last, "what is to do?"
"Why, this," said Blunt, wiping his bleeding lip. "That fellow,Myles Falworth, hath been breeding mutiny and revolt ever sin hecame hither among us, and because he was thus mutinous I wouldpunish him therefor.""In that thou liest!" burst out Myles. "Never have I beenmutinous in my life.""Be silent, sir," said Sir James, sternly. "I will hear theeanon.""Nay," said Myles, with his lips twitching and writhing, "I willnot be silent. I am friendless here, and ye are all against me,but I will not be silent, and brook to have lies spoken of me."Even Blunt stood aghast at Myles's boldness. Never had he heardany one so speak to Sir James before. He did not dare for themoment even to look up. Second after second of dead stillnesspassed, while Sir James sat looking at Myles with a stern,terrifying calmness that chilled him in spite of the heat of hispassion.
"Sir," said the old man at last, in a hard, quiet voice, "thoudost know naught of rules and laws of such a place as this.
Nevertheless, it is time for thee to learn them. So I will tellthee now that if thou openest thy lips to say only one singleword more except at my bidding, I will send thee to the blackvault of the donjon to cool thy hot spirits on bread and waterfor a week." There was something in the measured quietness of theold knight's tone that quelled Myles utterly and entirely. Alittle space of silence followed. "Now, then, Blunt," said SirJames, turning to the bachelor, "tell me all the ins and outs ofthis business without any more underdealing."This time Blunt's story, though naturally prejudiced in his ownfavor, was fairly true. Then Myles told his side of the case, theold knight listening attentively.
