Myles had surmised many things, but it was not until then that heknew for a certainty who was his father's malignant and powerfulenemy--that it was the great Earl of Alban, the rival and bitterenemy of the Earl of Mackworth. It was not until then that heknew that the present Earl of Alban was the Lord Brookhurst, whohad killed Sir John Dale in the anteroom at Falworth Castle thatmorning so long ago in his early childhood. It was not until thenthat he knew all the circumstances of his father's blindness;that he had been overthrown in the melee at the great tournamentat York, and that that same Lord Brookhurst had ridden hisiron-shod war-horse twice over his enemy's prostrate body beforehis squire could draw him from the press, and had then and theregiven him the wound from which he afterwards went blind. The Earlswore to Myles that Lord Brookhurst had done what he didwilfully, and had afterwards boasted of it. Then, with somehesitation, he told Myles the reason of Lord Brookhurst's enmity,and that it had arisen on account of Lady Falworth, whom he hadone time sought in marriage, and that he had sworn vengeanceagainst the man who had won her.
Piece by piece the Earl of Mackworth recounted every circumstanceand detail of the revenge that the blind man's enemy hadafterwards wreaked upon him. He told Myles how, when his fatherwas attainted of high-treason, and his estates forfeited to thecrown, the King had granted the barony of Easterbridge to thethen newly- created Earl of Alban in spite of all the efforts ofLord Falworth's friends to the contrary; that when he himself hadcome out from an audience with the King, with others of hisfather's friends, the Earl of Alban had boasted in the anteroom,in a loud voice, evidently intended for them all to hear, thatnow that he had Falworth's fat lands, he would never rest till hehad hunted the blind man out from his hiding, and brought hishead to the block.
"Ever since then," said the Earl of Mackworth "he hath beenstriving by every means to discover thy father's place ofconcealment. Some time, haply, he may find it, and then--"Myles had felt for a long time that he was being moulded andshaped, and that the Earl of Mackworth's was the hand that was****** him what he was growing to be; but he had never realizedhow great were the things expected of him should he pass thefirst great test, and show himself what his friends hoped to seehim. Now he knew that all were looking upon him to act, sometime,as his father's champion, and when that time should come, tochallenge the Earl of Alban to the ordeal of single combat, topurge his father's name of treason, to restore him to his rank,and to set the house of Falworth where it stood before misfortunefell upon it.
But it was not alone concerning his and his father's affairs thatthe Earl of Mackworth talked to Myles. He told him that the Earlof Alban was the Earl of Mackworth's enemy also; that in hisyounger days he had helped Lord Falworth, who was his kinsman, towin his wife, and that then, Lord Brookhurst had sworn to compasshis ruin as he had sworn to compass the ruin of his friend. Hetold Myles how, now that Lord Brookhurst was grown to be Earl ofAlban, and great and powerful, he was forever plotting againsthim, and showed Myles how, if Lord Falworth were discovered andarrested for treason, he also would be likely to suffer foraiding and abetting him. Then it dawned upon Myles that the Earllooked to him to champion the house of Beaumont as well as thatof Falworth.
"Mayhap," said the Earl, "thou didst think that it was all forthe pleasant sport of the matter that I have taken upon me thistoil and endeavor to have thee knighted with honor that thoumightst fight the Dauphiny knight. Nay, nay, Myles Falworth, Ihave not labored so hard for such a small matter as that. I havehad the King, unknown to himself, so knight thee that thou maystbe the peer of Alban himself, and now I would have thee to holdthine own with the Sieur de la Montaigne, to try whether thoube'st Alban's match, and to approve thyself worthy of the honorof thy knighthood. I am sorry, ne'theless," he added, after amoment's pause, "that this could not have been put off for awhile longer, for my plans for bringing thee to battle with thatvile Alban are not yet ripe. But such a chance of the King cominghither haps not often. And then I am glad of this much--that agood occasion offers to get thee presently away from England. Iwould have thee out of the King's sight so soon as may be afterthis jousting. He taketh a liking to thee, and I fear me lest heshould inquire more nearly concerning thee and so all bediscovered and spoiled. My brother George goeth upon the first ofnext month to France to take service with the Dauphin, havingunder his command a company of tenscore men--knights and archers;thou shalt go with him, and there stay till I send for thee toreturn."With this, the protracted interview concluded, the Earl chargingMyles to say nothing further about the French expedition for thepresent--even to his friend--for it was as yet a matter ofsecrecy, known only to the King and a few nobles closelyconcerned in the venture.
Then Myles arose to take his leave. He asked and obtainedpermission for Gascoyne to accompany him to France. Then hepaused for a moment or two, for it was strongly upon him to speakof a matter that had been lying in his mind all day--a matterthat he had dreamed of much with open eyes during the long vigilof the night before.
The Earl looked up inquiringly. "What is it thou wouldst ask?"said he.
Myles's heart was beating quickly within him at the thought ofhis own boldness, and as he spoke his cheeks burned like fire.
