"Pish!" said my Lord Deleroy with a shrug of his shoulders, "a lady who
is over-wrought and hangs to some common fellow, like one who kisses the
feet of a wooden saint that she thinks has saved her from calamity!"

At these words I, who had been listening like a man in a dream, awoke,
as it were, for they stung me. Moreover, I had heard that this fine
Deleroy was one of those who owed his place and rank to the King's
favour, as he did his high name, being, it was reported, by birth but a
prince's bastard sprung from some relative of Sir Robert whom therefore
he called cousin.

"Sir," I said, "you know best whether I am more common than you are.
Let that be. At least I hold in my hand the sword of one who begat my
forefather hundreds of years ago, a certain Thorgrimmer who was great in
his time. Now I have had my fill of fighting to-day, and you, doubtless
through no fault of your own, have had none; you also are clad in mail
and I, a common fellow, have none. Deign then to descend from that horse
and take a turn with me though I be tired, and thus prove my commonness
upon my body. Of your nobility do this, seeing that after all we are of
one flesh."

Now, stung in his turn, he made as though he would do what I prayed,
when for the first time, after glancing at her father who sat
still--puzzled, it would seem--the lady Blanche spoke.

"Be not mad, Cousin," she said. "I tell you that this gentleman has
saved my life and honour, twice at least to-day. Is it wonderful, then,
if I thanked him in the best fashion that a woman can, and thus brought
your insults on him?"