ld man。 A blind man； ha！ What is the meaning of this？〃
〃Majesty；〃 said the Earl； 〃I have taken this chance to bring to thy merciful consideration one who hath most wofully and unjustly suffered from thine anger。 Yonder stands the young knight of whom we spake； this is his father； Gilbert Reginald； whilom Lord Falworth； who craves mercy and justice at thy hands。〃
〃Falworth；〃 said the King； placing his hand to his head。 〃The name is not strange to mine ears； but I cannot place it。 My head hath troubled me sorely to…day； and I cannot remember。〃
At this point the Earl of Alban came quietly and deliberately forward。 〃Sire；〃 said he； 〃pardon my boldness in so venturing to address you； but haply I may bring the name more clearly to your mind。 He is； as my Lord of Mackworth said； the whilom Baron Falworth； the outlawed； attainted traitor； so declared for the harboring of Sir John Dale； who was one of those who sought your Majesty's life at Windsor eleven years ago。 Sire； he is mine enemy as well； and is brought hither by my proclaimed enemies。 Should aught occur to my harm； I rest my case in your gracious hands。〃
The dusty red flamed into the King's pale； sickly face in answer； and he rose hastily from his seat。
〃Aye；〃 said he； 〃I remember me nowI remember me the man and the name！ Who hath dared bring him here before us？〃 All the dull heaviness of sickness was gone for the moment； and King Henry was the King Henry of ten years ago as he rolled his eyes balefully from one to another of the courtiers who stood silently around。
The Earl of Mackworth shot a covert glance at the Bishop of Winchester； who came forward in answer。
〃Your Majesty；〃 said he； 〃here am I； your brother； who beseech you as your brother not to judge over…hastily in this matter。 It is true that this man has been adjudged a traitor； but he has been so adjudged without a hearing。 I beseech thee to listen patiently to whatsoever he may have to say。
The King fixed the Bishop with a look of the bitterest； deepest anger； holding his nether lip tightly under his teetha trick he had when strongly moved with angerand the Bishop's eyes fell under the look。 Meantime the Earl of Alban stood calm and silent。 No doubt he saw that the King's anger was likely to befriend him more than any words that he himself could say； and he perilled his case with no more speech which could only prove superfluous。
At last the King turned a face red and swollen with anger to the blind Lord； who still kneeled before him。
〃What hast thou to say？〃 he said； in a deep and sullen voice。
〃Gracious and merciful Lord；〃 said the blind nobleman； 〃I come to thee； the fountain…head of justice； craving justice。 Sire； I do now and here deny my treason； which denial I could not before make； being blind and helpless； and mine enemies strong and malignant。 But now； sire； Heaven hath sent me help； and therefore I do acclaim before thee that my accuser； William Bushy Brookhurst； Earl of Alban； is a foul and an attainted liar in all that he hath accused me of。 To uphold which allegation； and to defend me； who am blinded by his unknightliness； I do offer a champion to prove all that I say with his body in combat。〃
The Earl of Mackworth darted a quick look at Myles； who came forward the moment his father had ended； and kneeled beside him。 The King offered no interruption to his speech； but he bent a look heavy with anger upon the young man。
〃My gracious Lord and King；〃 said Myles； 〃I； the son of the accused； do offer myself as his champion in this cause； beseeching thee of thy grace leave to prove the truth of the same； being a belted knight by thy grace and of thy creation and the peer of any who weareth spurs。〃 Thereupon； rising； he drew his iron gauntlet from his girdle； and flung it clashing down upon the floor； and with his heart swelling within him with anger and indignation and pity of his blind father； he cried； in a loud voice； 〃I do accuse thee； William of Alban； that thou liest vilely as aforesaid； and here cast down my gage； daring thee to take it up。
The Earl of Alban made as though he would accept the challenge； but the King stopped him hastily。
〃Stop！〃 he cried； harshly。 〃Touch not the gage！ Let it lielet it lie； I tell thee； my Lord！ Now then；〃 said he； turning to the others； 〃tell me what meaneth all this coil？ Who brought this man hither？〃
He looked from one to another of those who stood silently around； but no one answered。
〃I see；〃 said he； 〃ye all have had to do with it。 It is as my Lord of Alban sayeth； ye are his enemies； and ye are my enemies as well。 In this I do smell a vile plot。 I cannot undo what I have done； and since I have made this young man a knight with mine own hands； I cannot deny that he is fit to challenge my Lord of Alban。 Ne'theless； the High Court of Chivalry shall adjudge this case。 Meantime；〃 said he； turning to the Earl Marshal； who was present； 〃I give thee this attainted Lord in charge。 Convey him presently to the Tower； and let him abide our pleasure there。 Also； thou mayst take up yon gage； and keep it till it is redeemed according to our pleasure。〃
He stood thoughtfully for a moment； and then raising his eyes； looked fixedly at the Earl of Mackworth。 〃I know；〃 he said； 〃that I be a right sick man； and there be some who are already plotting to overthrow those who have held up my hand with their own strength for all these years。〃 Then speaking more directly： 〃My Lord Earl of Mackworth； I see your hand in this before all others。 It was thou who so played upon me as to get me to knight this young man； and thus make him worthy to challenge my Lord of Alban。 It was thy doings that brought him here to…day； backed by mine own sons and my brother and by these noblemen。〃 Then turning suddenly to the Earl of Alban： 〃Come； my Lord；〃 said he； 〃I am aweary with all this coil。 Lend me thine arm to leave this place。〃 So it was that he left the room； leaning upon the Earl of Alban's arm； and followed by the two or three of the Alban faction who were present。
〃Your Royal Highness；〃 said the Earl Marshal； 〃I must e'en do the King's bidding； and take this gentleman into arrest。〃
〃Do thy duty；〃 said the Prince。 〃We knew it must come to this。 Meanwhile he is to be a prisoner of honor； and see that he be well lodged and cared for。 Thou wilt find my barge at the stairs to convey him down the river； and I myself will come this afternoon to visit him。〃
CHAPTER 31
It was not until the end of July that the High Court of Chivalry rendered its judgment。 There were many unusual points in the case； some of which bore heavily against Lord Falworth； some of which were in his favor。 He was very ably defended by the lawyers whom the Earl of Mackworth had engaged upon his side； nevertheless； under ordinary circumstances； the judgment； no doubt； would have been quickly rendered against him。 As it was； however； the circumstances were not ordinary； and it was rendered in his favor。 The Court besought the King to grant the ordeal by battle； to accept Lord Falworth's champion； and to appoint the time and place for the meeting。
The decision must have been a most bitter； galling one for the sick King。 He was naturally of a generous； forgiving nature； but Lord Falworth in his time of power had been an unrelenting and fearless opponent； and his Majesty who； like most generous men； could on occasions be very cruel and intolerant； had never forgiven him。 He had steadily thrown the might of his influence with the Court against the Falworths' case； but that influence was no longer all…powerful for good or ill。 He was failing in health； and it could only be a matter of a few years； probably of only a few months； before his successor sat upon the throne。
Upon the other hand； the Prince of Wales's faction had been steadily； and of late rapidly； increasing in power； and in the Earl of Mackworth； its virtual head； it possessed one of the most capable politicians and astute intriguers in Europe。 So； as the outcome of all the plotting and counter…plotting； scheming and counter…scheming； the case was decided in Lord Falworth's favor。 The knowledge of the ultimate result was known to the Prince of Wales's circle almost a week before it was finally decided。 Indeed； the Earl of Mackworth had made pretty sure of that result before he had summoned Myles from France； but upon the King it fell like the shock of a sudden blow。 All that day he kept himself in moody seclusion； nursing his silent； bitter anger； and making only one outbreak； in which he swore by the Holy Rood that should Myles be worsted in the encounter； he would not take the battle into his own hands； but would suffer him to be slain； and furthermore； that should the Earl show signs of failing at any time； he would do all in his power to save him。 One of the courtiers who had been present； and who was secretly inclined to the Prince of Wales's faction； had repeated this speech at Scotland Yard； and the Prince had said； 〃That meaneth； Myles； that thou must either win or die。〃
〃And so I would have it to be； my Lord；〃 Myles had answered。
It was not until nearly a fortnight after the decision of the Court of Chivalry had been rendered that the King announced the time and place of battlethe time to be the 3d