so going knew as little as the others of the mad court that the Prince's growing liking for him was； perhaps； more than all else； on account of that very temperance。
Then； by…and…by； the Prince began to confide in him as he did in none of the others。 There was no great love betwixt the King and his son； it has happened very often that the Kings of England have felt bitter jealousy towards the heirs…apparent as they have grown in power； and such was the case with the great King Henry IV。 The Prince often spoke to Myles of the clashing and jarring between himself and his father； and the thought began to come to Myles's mind by degrees that maybe the King's jealousy accounted not a little for the Prince's reckless intemperance。
Once； for instance； as the Prince leaned upon； his shoulder waiting； whilst the attendants made ready the barge that was to carry them down the river to the city； he said； abruptly： 〃Myles； what thinkest thou of us all？ Doth not thy honesty hold us in contempt？〃
〃Nay； Highness；〃 said Myles。 〃How could I hold contempt？〃
〃Marry；〃 said the Prince； 〃I myself hold contempt； and am not as honest a man as thou。 But； prithee； have patience with me； Myles。 Some day； perhaps； I too will live a clean life。 Now； an I live seriously； the King will be more jealous of me than ever； and that is not a little。 Maybe I live thus so that he may not know what I really am in soothly earnest。〃
The Prince also often talked to Myles concerning his own affairs； of the battle he was to fight for his father's honor； of how the Earl of Mackworth had plotted and planned to bring him face to face with the Earl of Alban。 He spoke to Myles more than once of the many great changes of state and party that hung upon the downfall of the enemy of the house of Falworth； and showed him how no hand but his own could strike that enemy down； if he fell； it must be through the son of Falworth。 Sometimes it seemed to Myles as though he and his blind father were the centre of a great web of plot and intrigue； stretching far and wide； that included not only the greatest houses of England； but royalty and the political balance of the country as well； and even before the greatness of it all he did not flinch。
Then； at last； came the beginning of the time for action。 It was in the early part of May； and Myles had been a member of the Prince's household for a little over a month。 One morning he was ordered to attend the Prince in his privy cabinet； and； obeying the summons； he found the Prince； his younger brother； the Duke of Bedford； and his uncle； the Bishop of Winchester； seated at a table； where they had just been refreshing themselves with a flagon of wine and a plate of wafers。
〃My poor Myles；〃 said the Prince； smiling； as the young knight bowed to the three； and then stood erect； as though on duty。 〃It shames my heart； brotherand thou； uncleit shames my heart to be one privy to this thing which we are set upon to do。 Here be we； the greatest Lords of England； making a cat's…paw of this ladfor he is only yet a boyand of his blind father； for to achieve our ends against Alban's faction。 It seemeth not over…honorable to my mind。〃
〃Pardon me； your Highness；〃 said Myles； blushing to the roots of his hair； 〃but； an I may be so bold as to speak； I reck nothing of what your aims may be； I only look to restoring my father's honor and the honor of our house。〃
〃Truly；〃 said the Prince； smiling； 〃that is the only matter that maketh me willing to lay my hands to this business。 Dost thou know why I have sent for thee？ It is because this day thou must challenge the Duke of Alban before the King。 The Earl of Mackworth has laid all his plans and the time is now ripe。 Knowest that thy father is at Mackworth House？〃
〃Nay；〃 said Myles； 〃I knew it not。〃
〃He hath been there for nearly two days；〃 said the Prince。 〃Just now the Earl hath sent for us to come first to Mackworth House。 Then to go to the palace； for he hath gained audience with the King； and hath so arranged it that the Earl of Alban is to be there as well。 We all go straightway； so get thyself ready as soon as may be。〃
Perhaps Myles's heart began beating more quickly within him at the nearness of that great happening which he had looked forward to for so long。 If it did； he made no sign of his emotion； but only asked； 〃How must I clothe myself； your Highness？〃
〃Wear thy light armor；〃 said the Prince； 〃but no helmet； a juppon bearing the arms and colors that the Earl gave thee when thou wert knighted； and carry thy right…hand gauntlet under thy belt for thy challenge。 Now make haste； for time passes。〃
CHAPTER 30
Adjoining the ancient palace of Westminster； where King Henry IV was then holding his court； was a no less ancient stone building known as the Painted Room。 Upon the walls were depicted a series of battle scenes in long bands reaching around this room； one above another。 Some of these pictures had been painted as far back as the days of Henry III； others had been added since his time。 They chronicled the various wars of the King of England； and it was from them that the little hall took its name of the Painted Room。
This ancient wing； or offshoot； of the main buildings was more retired from the hurly…burly of outer life than other parts of the palace； and thither the sick King was very fond of retiring from the business of State； which ever rested more and more heavily upon his shoulders； sometimes to squander in quietness a spare hour or two； sometimes to idle over a favorite book； sometimes to play a game of chess with a favorite courtier。 The cold painted walls had been hung with tapestry； and its floor had been spread with arras carpet。 These and the cushioned couches and chairs that stood around gave its gloomy antiquity an air of comfortan air even of luxury。
It was to this favorite retreat of the King's that Myles was brought that morning with his father to face the great Earl of Alban。
In the anteroom the little party of Princes and nobles who escorted the father and son had held a brief consultation。 Then the others had entered； leaving Myles and his blind father in charge of Lord Lumley and two knights of the court； Sir Reginald Hallowell and Sir Piers Averell。
Myles； as he stood patiently waiting； with his father's arm resting in his； could hear the muffled sound of voices from beyond the arras。 Among others； he recognized the well…remembered tones of the King。 He fancied that he heard his own name mentioned more than once； and then the sound of talking ceased。 The next moment the arras was drawn aside； and the Earl entered the antechamber again。
〃All is ready； cousin；〃 said he to Lord Falworth； in a suppressed voice。 〃Essex hath done as he promised； and Alban is within there now。〃 Then； turning to Myles； speaking in the same low voice； and betraying more agitation than Myles had thought it possible for him to show； 〃Sir Myles；〃 said he； 〃remember all that hath been told thee。 Thou knowest what thou hast to say and do。〃 Then； without further word； he took Lord Falworth by the hand； and led the way into the room； Myles following close behind。
The King half sat； half inclined； upon a cushioned seat close to which stood the two Princes。 There were some dozen others present； mostly priests and noblemen of high quality who clustered in a group at a little distance。 Myles knew most of them at a glance having seen them come and go at Scotland Yard。 But among them all； he singled out only onethe Earl of Alban。 He had not seen that face since he was a little child eight years old； but now that he beheld it again； it fitted instantly and vividly into the remembrance of the time of that terrible scene at Falworth Castle； when he had beheld the then Lord Brookhurst standing above the dead body of Sir John Dale； with the bloody mace clinched in his hand。 There were the same heavy black brows； sinister and gloomy； the same hooked nose； the same swarthy cheeks。 He even remembered the deep dent in the forehead； where the brows met in perpetual frown。 So it was that upon that face his looks centred and rested。
The Earl of Alban had just been speaking to some Lord who stood beside him； and a half…smile still hung about the corners of his lips。 At first； as he looked up at the entrance of the newcomers； there was no other expression； then suddenly came a flash of recognition； a look of wide…eyed amazement； then the blood left the cheeks and the lips； and the face grew very pale。 No doubt he saw at a flash that some great danger overhung him in this sudden coming of his old enemy； for he was as keen and as astute a politician as he was a famous warrior。 At least he knew that the eyes of most of those present were fixed keenly and searchingly upon him。 After the first start of recognition； his left hand； hanging at his side； gradually closed around the scabbard of his sword； clutching it in a vice…like grip。
Meantime the Earl of Mackworth had led the blind Lord to the King； where both kneeled。
〃Why； how now； my Lord？〃 said the King。 〃Methought it was our young Paladin whom we knighted at Devlen that was to be presented； and here thou bringest this old man。 A blind man； ha！ What is the meaning of this？〃
〃Majesty；〃 said the Earl； 〃I have taken th