One day as Myles, his princely patron, and his friends enteredthe barriers, leaving their horses at the outer gate, they metthe Earl of Alban and his followers, who were just quitting thelists, which they also were in the habit of visiting nearly everyday. As the two parties passed one another, the Earl spoke to agentleman walking beside him and in a voice loud enough to beclearly overheard by the others: "Yonder is the young sprig ofFalworth," said he. "His father, my Lords, is not content withforfeiting his own life for his treason, but must, forsooth,throw away his son's also. I have faced and overthrown many abetter knight than that boy."Myles heard the speech, and knew that it was intended for him tohear it; but he paid no attention to it, walking composedly atthe Prince's side. The Prince had also overheard it, and after alittle space of silence asked, "Dost thou not feel anxiety forthy coming battle, Myles?""Yea, my Lord," said Myles; "sometimes I do feel anxiety, but notsuch as my Lord of Alban would have me feel in uttering thespeech that he spake anon. It is anxiety for my father's sake andmy mother's sake that I feel, for truly there are great mattersfor them pending upon this fight. Ne'theless, I do know that Godwill not desert me in my cause, for verily my father is notraitor.""But the Earl of Alban," said the Prince, gravely, "is reputedone of the best-skilled knights in all England; moreover, he ismerciless and without generosity, so that an he gain aughtadvantage over thee, he will surely slay thee.""I am not afraid, my Lord," said Myles, still calmly andcomposedly.
"Nor am I afraid for thee, Myles," said the Prince, heartily,putting his arm, as he spoke, around the young man's shoulder;"for truly, wert thou a knight of forty years, instead of one oftwenty, thou couldst not bear thyself with more courage."As the time for the duel approached, the days seemed to dragthemselves along upon leaden feet; nevertheless, the days cameand went, as all days do, bringing with them, at last, thefateful 3d of September.
Early in the morning, while the sun was still level and red, thePrince himself, unattended, came to Myles's apartment, in theouter room of which Gascoyne was bustling busily about arrangingthe armor piece by piece; renewing straps and thongs, but notwhistling over his work as he usually did. The Prince nodded tohim, and then passed silently through to the inner chamber. Myleswas upon his knees, and Father Ambrose, the Prince's chaplain,was beside him. The Prince stood silently at the door, untilMyles, having told his last bead, rose and turned towards him.
"My dear Lord," said the young knight, "I give you gramercy forthe great honor you do me in coming so early for to visit me.""Nay, Myles, give me no thanks," said the Prince, franklyreaching him his hand, which Myles took and set to his lips. "Ilay bethinking me of thee this morning, while yet in bed, and so,as I could not sleep any more, I was moved to come hither to seethee."Quite a number of the Prince's faction were at the breakfast atScotland Yard that morning; among others, the Earl of Mackworth.
All were more or less oppressed with anxiety, for nearly all ofthem had staked much upon the coming battle. If Alban conquered,he would be more powerful to harm them and to revenge himselfupon them than ever, and Myles was a very young champion uponwhom to depend. Myles himself, perhaps, showed as little anxietyas any; he certainly ate more heartily of his breakfast thatmorning than many of the others.
After the meal was ended, the Prince rose. "The boat is ready atthe stairs," said he; "if thou wouldst go to the Tower to visitthy father, Myles, before hearing mass, I and Cholmondeley andVere and Poins will go with thee, if ye, Lords and gentlemen,will grant me your pardon for leaving you. Are there any othersthat thou wouldst have accompany thee?""I would have Sir James Lee and my squire, Master Gascoyne, ifthou art so pleased to give them leave to go," answered Myles.
"So be it," said the Prince. "We will stop at Mackworth stairsfor the knight."The barge landed at the west stairs of the Tower wharf, and thewhole party were received with more than usual civilities by theGovernor, who conducted them at once to the Tower where LordFalworth was lodged. Lady Falworth met them at the head of thestairs; her eyes were very red and her face pale, and as Mylesraised her hand and set a long kiss upon it, her lips trembled,and she turned her face quickly away, pressing her handkerchieffor one moment to her eyes. Poor lady! What agony of anxiety anddread did she not suffer for her boy's sake that day! Myles hadnot hidden both from her and his father that he must either winor die.
As Myles turned from his mother, Prior Edward came out from theinner chamber, and was greeted warmly by him. The old priest hadarrived in London only the day before, having come down fromCrosbey Priory to be with his friend's family during this theirtime of terrible anxiety.
After a little while of general talk, the Prince and hisattendants retired, leaving the family together, only Sir JamesLee and Gascoyne remaining behind.
Many matters that had been discussed before were now finallysettled, the chief of which was the disposition of Lady Falworthin case the battle should go against them. Then Myles took hisleave, kissing his mother, who began crying, and comforting herwith brave assurances. Prior Edward accompanied him as far as thehead of the Tower stairs, where Myles kneeled upon the stonesteps, while the good priest blessed him and signed the crossupon his forehead. The Prince was waiting in the walled gardenadjoining, and as they rowed back again up the river to ScotlandYard, all were thoughtful and serious, even Poins' and Vere'smerry tongues being stilled from their usual quips and jesting.
It was. about the quarter of the hour before eleven o'clock whenMyles, with Gascoyne, set forth for the lists. The Prince ofWales, together with most of his court, had already gone on toSmithfield, leaving behind him six young knights of his householdto act as escort to the young champion. Then at last the order tohorse was given; the great gate swung open, and out they rode,clattering and jingling, the sunlight gleaming and flaming andflashing upon their polished armor. They drew rein to the right,and so rode in a little cloud of dust along the Strand Streettowards London town, with the breeze blowing merrily, and thesunlight shining as sweetly and blithesomely as though they wereriding to a wedding rather than to a grim and dreadful ordealthat meant either victory or death.
