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250 Chandos; 'but with a horse of blood and spirit a good cavalier is gentle and soothing, coaxing rather than forcing. These folk are strange people, and you must hold their love, even as you have it now, for you will get from their kindness what all the pennons in your army could not wring from them.'

'You are over-grave to-day, John,' the prince answered. 'We may keep such questions for our council-chamber. But how now, my brothers of Spain and of Majorca, what think you of this challenge?'

'I look to see some handsome jousting,' said Don Pedro, who rode with the King of Majorca upon the right of the prince, while Chandos was on the left. 'By St. James of Compostella! but these burghers would bear some taxing. See to the broadcloth and velvet that the rogues bear upon their backs. By my troth! if they were my subjects they would be glad enough to wear falding and leather ere I had done with them. But mayhap it is best to let the wool grow long ere you clip it.'

'It is our pride,' the prince answered coldly, 'that we rule over freemen and not slaves.'

'Every man to his own humour,' said Pedro carelessly. 'Carajo! there is a sweet face at yonder window! Don Fernando, I pray you to mark the house, and to have the maid brought to us at the abbey.'

'Nay, brother, nay!' cried the prince impatiently. 'I have had occasion to tell you more than once that things are not ordered in this way in Aquitaine.'

'A thousand pardons, dear friend,' the Spaniard answered quickly, for a flush of anger had sprung to the dark cheek of the English prince. 'You make my exile so like a home that I forget at times that I am not in very truth back in Castile. Every land hath indeed its own ways and manners; but I promise you, Edward, that when you are my guest in Toledo or Madrid you shall not yearn in vain for any commoner's daughter on whom you may deign to cast your eye.'