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〃Thou shalt finish thy speech； or else show thyself a coward。 Though
thy father is ruined； thou didst say I amwhat？〃
Myles keyed himself up to the effort； and then blurted out； 〃Thou art
attainted with shame。〃
A long breathless silence followed。
〃Myles Falworth；〃 said the Earl at last （and even in the whirling of his
wits Myles wondered that he had the name so pat）〃Myles Falworth； of
all the bold； mad； hare…brained fools； thou art the most foolish。 How dost
thou dare say such words to me？ Dost thou not know that thou makest thy
coming punishment ten times more bitter by such a speech？〃
〃Aye！〃 cried Myles； desperately； 〃but what else could I do？ An I did
not say the words； thou callest me coward； and coward I am not。〃
〃By 'r Lady！〃 said the Earl； 〃I do believe thee。 Thou art a bold；
impudent varlet as ever livedto beard me so； forsooth！ Hark'ee； thou
sayst I think naught of mine old comrade。 I will show thee that thou dost
belie me。 I will suffer what thou hast said to me for his sake； and for his
sake will forgive thee thy coming hitherwhich I would not do in another
case to any other man。 Now get thee gone straightway； and come hither no
more。 Yonder is the postern…gate； mayhap thou knowest the way。 But stay！
How camest thou hither？〃
Myles told him of the spikes he had driven in the wall； and the Earl
listened； stroking his beard。 When the lad had ended； he fixed a sharp look
upon him。 〃But thou drove not those spikes alone；〃 said he； 〃who helped
thee do it？〃
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〃That I may not tell；〃 said Myles； firmly。
〃So be it；〃 said the Earl。 〃I will not ask thee to tell his name。 Now get
thee gone！ And as for those spikes； thou mayst e'en knock them out of the
wall； sin thou drave them in。 Play no more pranks an thou wouldst keep
thy skin whole。 And now go； I say！〃
Myles needed no further bidding； but turned and left the Earl without
another word。 As he went out the postern…gate he looked over his shoulder；
and saw the tall figure； in its long fur…trimmed gown； still standing in the
middle of the path； looking after him from under the shaggy eyebrows。
As he ran across the quadrangle； his heart still fluttering in his breast；
he muttered to himself； 〃The old grizzle…beard； an I had not faced him a
bold front； mayhap he would have put such shame upon me as he said。 I
wonder why he stood so staring after me as I left the garden。〃
Then for the time the matter slipped from his mind； saving only that
part that smacked of adventure。
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CHAPTER 20
So for a little while Myles was disposed to congratulate himself upon
having come off so well from his adventure with the Earl。 But after a day
or two had passed； and he had time for second thought； he began to
misdoubt whether； after all； he might not have carried it with a better air if
he had shown more chivalrous boldness in the presence of his true lady；
whether it would not have redounded more to his credit if he had in some
way asserted his rights as the young dame's knight… errant and defender。
Was it not ignominious to resign his rights and privileges so easily and
tamely at a signal from the Earl？
〃For； in sooth；〃 said he to Gascoyne； as the two talked the matter over；
〃she hath； in a certain way； accepted me for her knight； and yet I stood me
there without saying so much as one single word in her behalf。〃
〃Nay；〃 said Gascoyne； 〃I would not trouble me on that score。 Methinks
that thou didst come off wondrous well out of the business。 I would not
have thought it possible that my Lord could ha' been so patient with thee
as he showed himself。 Methinks； forsooth； he must hold thee privily in
right high esteem。〃
〃Truly；〃 said Myles； after a little pause of meditative silence； 〃I know
not of any esteem； yet I do think he was passing patient with me in this
matter。 But ne'theless； Francis； that changeth not my stand in the case。 Yea；
I did shamefully； so to resign my lady without speaking one word； nor will
I so resign her even yet。 I have bethought me much of this matter of late；
Francis； and now I come to thee to help me from my evil case。 I would
have thee act the part of a true friend to melike that one I have told thee
of in the story of the Emperor Justinian。 I would have thee； when next thou
servest in the house； to so contrive that my Lady Alice shall get a letter
which I shall presently write； and wherein I may set all that is crooked
straight again。〃
〃Heaven forbid；〃 said Gascoyne； hastily； 〃that I should be such a fool
as to burn my fingers in drawing thy nuts from the fire！ Deliver thy letter
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thyself； good fellow！〃
So spoke Gascoyne； yet after all he ended； as he usually did； by
yielding to Myles's superior will and persistence。 So the letter was written
and one day the good…natured Gascoyne carried it with him to the house；
and the opportunity offering； gave it to one of the young ladies attendant
upon the Countess's familya lass with whom he had friendly intimacyto
be delivered to Lady Alice。
But if Myles congratulated himself upon the success of this new
adventure； it was not for long。 That night； as the crowd of pages and
squires were making themselves ready for bed； the call came through the
uproar for 〃Myles Falworth！ Myles Falworth！〃
〃Here I be；〃 cried Myles； standing up on his cot。 〃Who calleth me？〃
It was the groom of the Earl's bedchamber； and seeing Myles standing
thus raised above the others； he came walking down the length of the room
towards him； the wonted hubbub gradually silencing as he advanced and
the youngsters turning； staring； and wondering。
〃My Lord would speak with thee； Myles Falworth；〃 said the groom；
when he had come close enough to where Myles stood。 〃Busk thee and
make ready； he is at livery even now。〃
The groom's words fell upon Myles like a blow。 He stood for a while
staring wide…eyed。 〃My Lord speak with me； sayst thou！〃 he ejaculated at
last。
〃Aye；〃 said the other； impatiently； 〃get thee ready quickly。 I must
return anon。〃
Myles's head was in a whirl as he hastily changed his clothes for a
better suit； Gascoyne helping him。 What could the Earl want with him at
this hour？ He knew in his heart what it was； the interview could concern
nothing but the letter that he had sent to Lady Alice that day。 As he
followed the groom through the now dark and silent courts； and across the
corner of the great quadrangle； and so to the Earl's house； he tried to brace
his failing courage to meet the coming interview。 Nevertheless； his heart
beat tumultuously as he followed the other down the long corridor； lit only
by a flaring link set in a wrought…iron bracket。 Then his conductor lifted
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the arras at the door of the bedchamber； whence came the murmuring
sound of many voices； and holding it aside； beckoned him to enter； and
Myles passed within。 At the first； he was conscious of nothing but a crowd
of people； and of the brightness of many lighted candles； then he saw that
he stood in a great airy room spread with a woven mat of rushes。 On three
sides the walls were hung with tapestry representing hunting and battle
scenes； at the farther end； where the bed stood； the stone wall of the fourth
side was covered with cloth of blue； embroidered with silver goshawks。
Even now； in the ripe springtime of May； the room was still chilly； and a
great fire roared and crackled in the huge gaping mouth of the stone
fireplace。 Not far from the blaze were clustered the greater part of those
present； buzzing in talk； now and then swelled by murmuring laughter。
Some of those who knew Myles nodded to him； and two or three spoke to
him as he stood waiting； whilst the groom went forward to speak to the
Earl； though what they said and what he answered； Myles； in his
bewilderment and trepidation； hardly knew。