He had turned, to find his young host upon his knee and his flaxen head bent in entreaty.
"What is it, man? What do you crave?"
"A boon, fair liege!"
"Well, well, am I to have no peace to-night, with a traitor kneeling to me in front, and a true man on his knees behind? Out with it, Nigel. What would you have?"
"To come with you to Calais."
"By the rood! your request is fair enough, seeing that our plot is hatched beneath your very roof. How say you, Walter? Will you take him, armor and all?" asked King Edward.
"Say rather will you take me?" said Chandos. "We two are rivals in honor, Walter, but I am very sure that you would not hold me back."
"Nay, John, I will be proud to have the best lance in Christendom beneath my banner."
"And I to follow so knightly a leader. But Nigel Loring is my Squire, and so he comes with us also."
"Then that is settled," said the King, "and now there is no need for hurry, since there can be no move until the moon has changed. So I pray you to pass the flagon once again, and to drink with me to the good knights of France. May they be of great heart and high of enterprise when we all meet once more within the castle wall of Calais!"