Page:A C Doyle - The White Company.djvu/336

304 though to assure himself that his eyes had not played him a trick.

'Bertrand!' he gasped at last. 'Bertrand du Guesclin!'

'By Saint Ives!' shouted the French soldier, with a hoarse roar of laughter, 'it is well that I should ride with my vizor down, for he that has once seen my face does not need to be told my name. It is indeed I, Sir Nigel, and here is my hand! I give you my word that there are but three Englishmen in this world whom I would touch save with the sharp edge of the sword: the prince is one, Chandos the second, and you the third; for I have heard much that is good of you.'

'I am growing aged, and am somewhat spent in the wars,' quoth Sir Nigel; 'but I can lay by my sword now with an easy mind, for I can say that I have crossed swords with him who hath the bravest heart and the strongest arm of all this great kingdom of France. I have longed for it, I have dreamed of it, and now I can scarce bring my mind to understand that this great honour hath indeed been mine.'

'By the Virgin of Rennes! you have given me cause to be very certain of it,' said Du Guesclin, with a gleam of his broad white teeth.

'And perhaps, most honoured sir, it would please you to continue the debate. Perhaps you would condescend to go farther into the matter. God He knows that I am unworthy of such honour, yet I can show my four-and-sixty quarterings, and I have been present at some bickerings and scufflings during these twenty years.'

'Your fame is very well known to me, and I shall ask my lady to enter your name upon my tablets,' said Sir Bertrand. 'There are many who wish to advance themselves, and who bide their turn, for I refuse no man who comes on such an errand. At present it may not be, for mine arm is stiff from this small touch, and I would fain do you full honour when we cross swords again. Come in with me, and let your squires come also, that my sweet spouse, the Lady Tiphaine, may say that she hath seen so famed and gentle a knight.'