Even Blunt stood aghast at Myles's boldness. Never had he heard any one
so speak to Sir James before. He did not dare for the moment even to
look up. Second after second of dead stillness passed, while Sir James
sat looking at Myles with a stern, terrifying calmness that chilled him
in spite of the heat of his passion.

"Sir," said the old man at last, in a hard, quiet voice, "thou dost know
naught of rules and laws of such a place as this. Nevertheless, it
is time for thee to learn them. So I will tell thee now that if thou
openest thy lips to say only one single word more except at my bidding,
I will send thee to the black vault of the donjon to cool thy hot
spirits on bread and water for a week." There was something in the
measured quietness of the old knight's tone that quelled Myles utterly
and entirely. A little space of silence followed. "Now, then, Blunt,"
said Sir James, turning to the bachelor, "tell me all the ins and outs
of this business without any more underdealing."

This time Blunt's story, though naturally prejudiced in his own favor,
was fairly true. Then Myles told his side of the case, the old knight
listening attentively.

"Why, how now, Blunt," said Sir James, when Myles had ended, "I myself
gave the lads leave to go to the river to bathe. Wherefore shouldst thou
forbid one of them?"

"I did it but to punish this fellow for his mutiny," said the bachelor.
"Methought we at their head were to have oversight concerning them."

"So ye are," said the knight; "but only to a degree. Ere ye take it upon