A broad curtain, curiously embroidered, covered one end of the room,
from behind which crept a page or henchman, in gay attire, his tunic
glistening with his lord's device.

The serfs bowed with the most abject submission to this representative
of their lord, who lived in the customary style of barbarous and feudal
pomp, which the manners of their Norman invaders had rather contributed
to increase than to diminish.

"Tell thy master," said their companion, "that some of the folk would
speak with him, touching the matter by which they are in jeopardy."

Smoothing his locks and trimming down his garments, the boy departed.
It was long or ere the audience was granted; in the meantime, they stood
trembling and oppressed with an evil foreboding for the result, the
known hasty and impetuous temper of the Saxon rendering it a matter of
some doubt, and no small hazard, as to what might be the issue of their
conference. Suddenly was heard the clanking of armour, and the tramp of
nailed feet, announcing his approach; the heavy arras was uplifted, and
Gamel the Thane stood before them. He was richly attired in a loose coat
reaching down to his ankles; over this was a long robe, fastened over
both shoulders and on the breast with a silver buckle. The edges were
trimmed with gold and knots of flowers interwoven with pearls and rare
stones. On his head he wore a coronet, or rim of gold, enriched with
jewels; and his bushy hair and grizzled beard looked still more grim and
forbidding beneath these glittering ornaments. His eyes were quick and
piercing; his cheeks pale and slightly furrowed. A narrow and retreating
mouth, firmly drawn in, showed the bent of his disposition to be fierce
and choleric, and his wrath not easily turned aside. He was accompanied
by his billmen, together with some half-dozen attendants, clad in shirts