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Rh 'Your talk, sire,' said the prince still more coldly, 'is not such as I love to hear from your lips. I have no taste for such amours as you speak of, and I have sworn that my name shall be coupled with that of no woman save my ever dear wife.'

'Ever the mirror of true chivalry!' exclaimed Pedro, while James of Majorca, frightened at the stern countenance of their all-powerful protector, plucked hard at the mantle of his brother-exile.

'Have a care, cousin,' he whispered; 'for the sake of the Virgin have a care, for you have angered him.'

'Pshaw! fear not,' the other answered, in the same low tone. 'If I miss one stoop I will strike him on the next. Mark me else. Fair cousin,' he continued, turning to the prince, 'these be rare men-at-arms and lusty bowmen. It would be hard indeed to match them.'

'They have journeyed far, sire, but they have never yet found their match.' 'Nor ever will, I doubt not. I feel myself to be back upon my throne when I look at them. But tell me, dear coz, what shall we do next, when we have driven this bastard Henry from the kingdom which he hath filched?'

'We shall then compel the King of Aragon to place our good friend and brother James of Majorca upon the throne.'

'Noble and generous prince!' cried the little monarch.

'That done,' said King Pedro, glancing out of the corners of his eyes at the young conqueror, 'we shall unite the forces of England, of Aquitaine, of Spain, and of Majorca. It would be shame to us if we did not do some great deed with such forces ready to our hand.'

'You say truly, brother,' cried the prince, his eyes kindling at the thought. 'Methinks that we could not do anything more pleasing to Our Lady than to drive the heathen Moors out of the country.'

'I am with you, Edward, as true as hilt to blade. But, by Saint James! we shall not let these Moors make mock at