“By my troth, Paul, fair fortune has smiled upon you since last we met.  And the gold spurs of knighthood too—­nay, now, what means that, good comrade?  Were we not to have knelt side by side to receive that honour?  Have you outstripped me from the first?”

“Pardon, my dear lord,” answered Paul, blushing and smiling; “I would sooner have received the honour at your hands than at those of any other.  But I was summoned to London, so soon as my wounds were healed, by the great earl; and your royal father himself gave me audience, to ask news of you (for it became known that you had visited the realm by stealth); and after I had told him all my tale, he with his own hand bestowed that honour upon me.  Then the noble earl made over to me a fair manor in the west country, which I have not yet visited, but which has put money once more into my purse.  And here am I, your grace’s loyal servant, to ask no better than to follow and fight for you until the crown is safely placed upon your head.”

And he bent the knee and pressed his lips upon the prince’s hand.

But Edward raised him, and linked his arm within that of his old companion, walking with him along the pleasant green pathway of the Abbey mead, not content till he had heard every detail of that which had befallen Paul, from the moment they had parted up till the present, and listening with intense excitement to his account of what had befallen him in the robbers’ cave, and how he had escaped from thence, and had been tended and protected at Figeon’s by the kindly and honest folks there.

“When I am king,” said young Edward, with flashing eyes, “I will go thither again, and reward them royally for all they have done for you and me.  I am glad they loved me still, Lancastrian though they knew me at last to be.  Oh, if they were willing to follow my fortunes and own me as their king, methinks others will not be far behind!  And, God helping me, I will try to show them what manner of man a king should be.”

For it had been fully recognized upon all hands now that the prince’s father was absolutely incapable of more than the name of king, and it was well known that the prince was to be the real ruler, with the name of regent, and that it would be his hands or his mother’s that would sway the sceptre of power, should the Lancastrian cause triumph in the struggle.

And no thought of aught but victory had as yet found place in young Edward’s heart.  Was not the great invincible earl fighting on their side?  And had he not already placed Henry once more upon the throne, not to be again deposed so long as he had a soldier left to fight for him?

But Paul’s heart was scarce so light, although the sight of the prince awakened his loyal enthusiasm.