Page:A C Doyle - The White Company.djvu/243

Rh 'Conditions! Hostages! Is he speaking to the Prince of England, or is it to the bourgeois provost of some half-captured town? Conditions, quotha? He may find much to mend in his own condition ere long. The passes are, then, closed to us?'

'Nay, sire'

'They are open, then?' 'Nay, sire, if you would but'

'Enough, enough, Don Martin,' cried the prince. 'It is a sorry sight to see so true a knight pleading in so false a cause. We know the doings of our Cousin Charles. We know that while with the right hand he takes our fifty thousand crowns for the holding of the passes open, he hath his left outstretched to Henry of Trastamare, or to the King of France, all ready to take as many more for the keeping them closed. I know our good Charles, and, by my blessed name-saint the Confessor, he shall learn that I know him. He sets his kingdom up to the best bidder, like some scullion farrier selling a glandered horse. He is'

'My lord,' cried Don Martin. 'I cannot stand here to hear such words of my master. Did they come from other lips I should know better how to answer them.'

Don Pedro frowned and curled his lip, but the prince smiled and nodded his approbation.

'Your bearing and your words, Don Martin, are such as I should have looked for in you,' he remarked. 'You will tell the king, your master, that he hath been paid his price, and that if he holds to his promise he hath my word for it that no scath shall come to his people, nor to their houses or gear. If, however, we have not his leave, I shall come close at the heels of this message without his leave, and bearing a key with me which shall open all that he may close.' He stooped and whispered to Sir Robert Knolles and Sir Hugh Calverley, who smiled as men well pleased, and hastened from the room.

'Our Cousin Charles has had experience of our friendship,' the prince continued, 'and now, by the Saints! he