'So much for thy devoir to thy princess! It was for Skywing's
craig she cared, never thine.'

George turned a deaf ear to the insinuation. He was allowed
free hands and his own horse, which was perhaps well for the
Englishmen, for Ringan Raefoot, running by his stirrup, showed
him a long knife, and said with a grin--

'Ready for the first who daurs to lay hands on the Master! Gin
I could have come up in time, the loon had never risen from the
ground.'

George endeavoured in vain to represent how much worse this
would have made their condition.

Sir Patrick, joining the ladies, informed them of the necessity
of turning aside to Fotheringay, which he had done not very
willingly, being ignorant of the character of the Duke of York,
except as one of the war party against France and Scotland,
whereas the Beauforts were for peace. As a vigorous governor of
Normandy, he had not commended him self to one whose sympathies
were French. Lady Drummond, however, remembered that his wife,
Cicely Nevil, the Rose of Raby, was younger sister to that Ralf
Nevil who had married the friend of her youth, Alice Montagu,
now Countess of Salisbury in her own right.

Sir Patrick did not let Jean escape a rebuke.

'So, lady, you see what perils to brave men you maids can cause
by a little heedlessness.'