These words roused the greatest surprise and excitement in the room. Many of those present started, and the prince changed color, as he looked around at his knights. "Does he mean to make game of me, that he offers such a sum?" asked the prince. "I would gladly free him for the quarter." Then, turning again to Bertrand, who stood with impassive countenance, he said,-- "Bertrand, neither can you pay, nor do I wish such a sum. So consider again." "Sir," answered Bertrand, with grave composure, "since you wish not so much, I place myself at sixty thousand double florins; you shall not have less, if you but discharge me." "Be it so," said the prince. "I agree to it." Then Bertrand looked round him with glad eyes, and drew up his form with proud assurance. "Sir," he said, "Prince Henry may truly vaunt that he will die king of Spain, cost him what it may, if he but lend me half my ransom, and the king of France the other. If I can neither go nor send to these two, I will get all the spinstresses in France to spin it, rather than that I should remain longer in your hands." "What sort of man is this?" said the prince, aside to his lords. "He is startled by nothing, either in act or thought; no more than if he had all the gold in the world. He has set himself at sixty thousand double florins, when I would have willingly accepted ten thousand." The barons talked among one another, lost in astonishment. Bertrand stood aside, his eyes fixed quietly upon the prince. "Am I then at liberty?" he asked. "Whence shall the money come?" queried Chandos. "Trust me to find it," said Bertrand. "I have good friends." "By my faith," answered Chandos, heartily, "you have one of them here. If you need my help, thus much I say: I will lend you ten thousand." "You have my thanks," answered Bertrand. "But before accepting your offer, I will try the people of my own country." The confidence of the gallant soldier was not misplaced. Part of the sum was raised among his Breton friends, and King Charles V. of France lent him thirty thousand Spanish doubloons. In the beginning of 1368 the Prince of Wales set him at liberty. The remaining story of the life of Du Guesclin is a stirring and interesting one. War was the only trade he knew, and he plunged boldly into it. First he joined the Duke of Anjou, who was warring in Provence against Queen Joan of Naples. Then he put his sword again at the service of Henry of Transtamare, who was at war once more with Pedro the Cruel, and whom he was soon to dethrone and slay with his own hand. But shortly afterwards war broke out again between France and England, and Charles V. summoned Du Guesclin to Paris.