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A growl ran round the table

Beaumanoir ran his eye round and shook his head "Alas!" said he, "there are but twenty of you here, and I have thirty at Josselin who are so eager to advance themselves that if I return without hope for all of thest them I pray you, Richard, since we have been at these pains to arrange matters, that you in turn will do what you entle blood"

"Nay, it ht"

"Of that there can be no doubt, for the castle is full of archers and ladly play a part in the matter"

"Then choose ten," said Beaumanoir

But for the first time the wolf-like squire opened his thin lips "Surely, my lord, you will not allow archers," said he

"I fear not any man"

"Nay, fair sir, consider that this is a trial of weapons betwixt us where lish archers, and you kno fast and how strong are their shafts Bethink you that if ten of theainst us it is likely that half of us would be down before ever we came to handstrokes"

"By Saint Cadoc, Williaht," cried the Breton "If we are to have such a fight as will re no archers and we no crossbows Let it be steel upon steel How say you then?"

"Surely we can bring ten men-at-arreed then that we fight on no quarrel of England and France, but over thishave fallen out And now the time?"

"At once"

"Surely at once, or perchance a second er may come and this also be forbidden We will be ready with to-morrow's sunrise"

"Nay, a day later," cried the Breton Squire "Bethink you, my lord, that the three lances of Radenac would take tiarrison, and they shall not have a place"

"But, fair sir, of all the lances of Brittany--"

"Nay, William, I will not have it an hour later To-morrow it shall be, Richard"

"And where?"

"IIf you cross the river and take the bridle-path through the fields which leads to Josselin you co at the corner of a fair and level meadow There let us meet at midday to-morrow"