this--that I have been bidden to make it known to thee that thy father
hath an enemy full as powerful as my Lord the Earl himself, and
that through that enemy all his ill-fortune--his blindness and
everything--hath come. Moreover, did this enemy know where thy father
lieth, he would slay him right speedily."

"Sir," cried Myles, violently smiting his open palm upon the table,
"tell me who this man is, and I will kill him!"

Sir James smiled grimly. "Thou talkest like a boy," said he. "Wait until
thou art grown to be a man. Mayhap then thou mayst repent thee of these
bold words, for one time this enemy of thy father's was reckoned the
foremost knight in England, and he is now the King's dear friend and a
great lord."

"But," said Myles, after another long time of heavy silence, "will not
my Lord then befriend me for the sake of my father, who was one time his
dear comrade?"

Sir James shook his head. "It may not be," said he. "Neither thou nor
thy father must look for open favor from the Earl. An he befriended
Falworth, and it came to be known that he had given him aid or succor,
it might belike be to his own undoing. No, boy; thou must not even look
to be taken into the household to serve with gentlemen as the other
squires do serve, but must even live thine own life here and fight thine
own way."

Myles's eyes blazed. "Then," cried he, fiercely, "it is shame and
attaint upon my Lord the Earl, and cowardice as well, and never will I
ask favor of him who is so untrue a friend as to turn his back upon a