Brittany itself, Duke John, though bound by gratitude and affection
to the alliance of the King, who had won for him his ducal coronet,
was unable to control the enmity which his subjects bore to the
English, and assured the Knight that a safe-conduct from him would
only occasion his being robbed and murdered in secret, instead of
being taken a prisoner in fair fight and put to ransom.

If Eustace had been alone with his staunch followers, he would have
trusted to their good swords and swift steeds; but to place Arthur
in such perils would be but to justify Fulk's accusations; and there
was no alternative but to accept the offer made to him by Jean de
Montford, for the sake of his Duchess, a daughter of Edward III., to
remain a guest at his court until the arrival of a sufficient party
of English Knights, who were sure to be attracted by the news of
the war.

No less than two months was he obliged to wait, during which both
he and Gaston chafed grievously under their forced captivity; but
at length he learnt that a band of Free Companions had arrived at
Rennes, on their way to offer their service to the Prince of Wales;
accordingly he set forth, and after some interval found himself once
more in the domains of the house of Plantagenet.

It was late in the evening when he rode through the gates of Bordeaux,
and sought the abode of the good old Gascon merchant, where he had
always lodged. He met with a ready welcome, and inquiring into the
most recent news of the town, learnt that the Prince was considered
to be slightly improved in health; but that no word was spoken of
the army taking the field, and the war was chiefly carried on by the
siege of Castles. He asked for Sir John Chandos, and was told that