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around him； and loved it not。
Then one day a courier came； bringing a packet。 It was a letter from
the Earl； bidding Myles return straightway to England and to Mackworth
House upon the Strand； nigh to London； without delay； and Myles knew
that his time had come。
It was a bright day in April when he and Gascoyne rode clattering out
through Temple Bar； leaving behind them quaint old London town； its
blank stone wall； its crooked； dirty streets； its high… gabled wooden houses；
over which rose the sharp spire of St。 Paul's； towering high into the golden
air。 Before them stretched the straight； broad highway of the Strand； on
one side the great houses and palaces of princely priests and powerful
nobles； on the other the Covent Garden； （or the Convent Garden； as it was
then called）； and the rolling country； where great stone windmills swung
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their slow…moving arms in the damp； soft April breeze； and away in the
distance the Scottish Palace； the White Hall； and Westminster。
It was the first time that Myles had seen famous London town。 In that
dim and distant time of his boyhood； six months before； he would have
been wild with delight and enthusiasm。 Now he jogged along with
Gascoyne； gazing about him with calm interest at open shops and booths
and tall； gabled houses； at the busy throng of merchants and craftsmen；
jostling and elbowing one another； at townsfolkmen and damespicking
their way along the muddy kennel of a sidewalk。 He had seen so much of
the world that he had lost somewhat of interest in new things。 So he did
not care to tarry； but rode； with a mind heavy with graver matters； through
the streets and out through the Temple Bar direct for Mackworth House；
near the Savoy Palace。
It was with a great deal of interest that Myles and his patron regarded
one another when they met for the first time after that half…year which the
young soldier had spent in France。 To Myles it seemed somehow very
strange that his Lordship's familiar face and figure should look so exactly
the same。 To Lord Mackworth； perhaps； it seemed even more strange that
six short months should have wrought so great a change in the young man。
The rugged exposure in camp and field during the hard winter that had
passed had roughened the smooth bloom of his boyish complexion and
bronzed his fair skin almost as much as a midsummer's sun could have
done。 His beard and mustache had grown again； （now heavier and more
mannish from having been shaved）； and the white seam of a scar over the
right temple gave； if not a stern； at least a determined look to the strong；
square…jawed young face。 So the two stood for a while regarding one
another。 Myles was the first to break the silence。
〃My Lord；〃 said he； 〃thou didst send for me to come back to England；
behold； here am I。〃
〃When didst thou land； Sir Myles？〃 said the Earl。
〃I and my squire landed at Dover upon Tuesday last；〃 answered the
young man。
The Earl of Mackworth stroked his beard softly。 〃Thou art marvellous
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changed；〃 said he。 〃I would not have thought it possible。〃
Myles smiled somewhat grimly。 〃I have seen such things； my Lord； in
France and in Paris；〃 said he； quietly； 〃as； mayhap； may make a lad a man
before his time。〃
〃From which I gather；〃 said the Earl； 〃that many adventures have
befallen thee。 Methought thou wouldst find troublesome times in the
Dauphin's camp； else I would not have sent thee to France。〃
A little space of silence followed； during which the Earl sat musingly；
half absently； regarding the tall； erect； powerful young figure standing
before him； awaiting his pleasure in motionless； patient； almost dogged
silence。 The strong； sinewy hands were clasped and rested upon the long
heavy sword； around the scabbard of which the belt was loosely wrapped；
and the plates of mail caught and reflected in flashing； broken pieces； the
bright sunlight from the window behind。
〃Sir Myles；〃 said the Earl； suddenly； breaking the silence at last； 〃dost
thou know why I sent for thee hither？〃
〃Aye；〃 said Myles； calmly； 〃how can I else？ Thou wouldst not have
called me from Paris but for one thing。 Methinks thou hast sent for me to
fight the Earl of Alban； and lo！ I am here。〃
〃Thou speakest very boldly；〃 said the Earl。 〃I do hope that thy deeds
be as bold as thy words。〃
〃That；〃 said Myles； 〃thou must ask other men。 Methinks no one may
justly call me coward。〃
〃By my troth！〃 said the Earl； smiling； 〃looking upon theelimbs and
girth； bone and sinewI would not like to be the he that would dare accuse
thee of such a thing。 As for thy surmise； I may tell thee plain that thou art
right； and that it was to fight the Earl of Alban I sent for thee hither。 The
time is now nearly ripe； and I will straightway send for thy father to come
to London。 Meantime it would not be safe either for thee or for me to keep
thee in my service。 I have spoken to his Highness the Prince of Wales；
who； with other of the Princes； is upon our side in this quarrel。 He hath
promised to take thee into his service until the fitting time comes to bring
thee and thine enemy together； and to…morrow I shall take thee to Scotland
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Yard； where his Highness is now lodging。〃
As the Earl ended his speech； Myles bowed； but did not speak。 The
Earl waited for a little while； as though to give him the opportunity to
answer。
〃Well； sirrah；〃 said he at last； with a shade of impatience； 〃hast thou
naught to say？ Meseems thou takest all this with marvellous coolness。〃
〃Have I then my Lord's permission to speak my mind？〃
〃Aye；〃 said the Earl； 〃say thy say。〃
〃Sir；〃 said Myles； 〃I have thought and pondered this matter much
while abroad； and would now ask thee a plain question in all honest an I
ha' thy leave。 〃
The Earl nodded his head。
〃Sir； am I not right in believing that thou hast certain weighty purposes
and aims of thine own to gain an I win this battle against the Earl of
Alban？〃
〃Has my brother George been telling thee aught to such a purpose？〃
said the Earl； after a moment or two of silence。
Myles did not answer。
〃No matter；〃 added Lord Mackworth。 〃I will not ask thee who told
thee such a thing。 As for thy questionwell； sin thou ask it frankly； I will
be frank with thee。 Yea； I have certain ends to gain in having the Earl of
Alban overthrown。〃
Myles bowed。 〃Sir；〃 said he； 〃haply thine ends are as much beyond
aught that I can comprehend as though I were a little child； only this I
know； that they must be very great。 Thou knowest well that in any case I
would fight me this battle for my father's sake and for the honor of my
house； nevertheless； in return for all that it will so greatly advantage thee；
wilt thou not grant me a boon in return should I overcome mine enemy？〃
〃What is thy boon； Sir Myles？〃
〃That thou wilt grant me thy favor to seek the Lady Alice de Mowbray
for my wife。〃
The Earl of Mackworth started up from his seat。 〃Sir Myles Falworth〃…
…he began； violently； and then stopped short； drawing his bushy eyebrows
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together into a frown stern； if not sinister。
Myles withstood his look calmly and impassively； and presently the
Earl turned on his heel； and strode to the open window。 A long time passed
in silence while he stood there； gazing out of the window into the garden
beyond with his back to the young man。
Suddenly he swung around again。 〃Sir Myles；〃 said he； 〃the family of
Falworth is as good as any in Derbyshire。 Just now it is poor and fallen in
estate； but if it is again placed in credit and honor； thou； who art the son of
the house； shalt have thy suit weighed with as much respect an