"Sit you here," he said. . . . "Gentlemen, I present Sir Aymer de
Lacy. He is fresh from London and, I doubt not, can give you much news
of the Court and Capital."

All arose and bowed to De Lacy, who bowed back at them.

"My knowledge, such as it is," said he, "is freely yours. Yet as I was
only a few weeks in London my budget may be very meagre. But if you
will ask, I will gladly tell you what I know."

And they did not hesitate to ask, and he was kept busy answering
questions upon every conceivable subject, from the details of the
funeral of the dead King to the fashion of the latest gown. Indeed it
was not until the meal was almost over that he had an opportunity for a
word aside to the Duke.

"May I ask Your Grace the name of the fair-haired man yonder?" he said.

"I cry pardon," Richard exclaimed. "I forgot you were a stranger in
England. He is my Chamberlain, Sir William Catesby. . . The
black-moustached Knight with the scar on his forehead, who has just put
down his wine glass, is Sir Richard Ratcliffe. . . The elderly man
beside him with the gray hair and ruddy countenance is Sir Robert
Brackenbury. . . The one with the thin, dark face and broad shoulders
is Lord Darby of Roxford.--The rest are younger men and of less
prominence. . . The one beside Darby is Sir Ralph de Wilton, next to
him is Sir James Dacre, and on Dacre's left is Sir Henry de Vivonne."

He pushed back his chair and arose.