finer city than London.

"That is the duke's palace," brother Philip said, as they approached
a stately building. "I will put up the horses at the convent at the
farther corner of this square, and will then go with you to the
palace, as I have orders to tell any officer who may make a difficulty
about you entering, that I am bid by the prior of Forges to say
that you are here on urgent business with the duke, and to pray
that you may have immediate audience with him."

In those days great men were easy accessible, and one of the ushers,
on receiving the message from the prior, at once led the boys to
an apartment in which the duke was sitting. He looked up in some
surprise on seeing the two lads standing bareheaded at the door,
while the usher repeated the message he had received.

"Advance," he said. "What is this business of which the prior of
Forges has sent me word?"

The two boys advanced and knelt before the duke. He was a man of
about the same age as Harold, with dark hair and complexion, less
tall than the earl, but of a powerful figure, and a stern, resolute
face. The boys had discussed among themselves which should be the
speaker. Wulf had desired that Beorn, being the elder, should deliver
the message, but Beorn insisted that as Wulf himself had received
it from Harold, it was he who should be the one to deliver it to
the duke.

"My Lord Duke," Wulf said, "we are Saxons, pages of Earl Harold,
and we bring you by his orders the news that the vessel in which