"Have you no care of it--Because you love _par amours_, is it reasonable you should throw away your life and ours?" So exclaimed Genvil to De Lacy; and in softer language, but with equal obstinacy, the followers of Raymond Berenger refused on the present occasion to listen, to the commands or prayers of his daughter. Wilkin Flammock had retreated from the tumult, when he saw the turn which matters had taken. He left the castle by a sally-port, of which he had been intrusted with the key, and proceeded without observation or opposition to the royal camp, where he requested access to the Sovereign. This was easily obtained, and Wilkin speedily found himself in the presence of King Henry. The monarch was in his royal pavilion, attended by two of his sons, Richard and John, who afterwards swayed the sceptre of England with very different auspices. "How now?--What art thou?" was the royal question. "An honest man, from the castle of the Garde Doloureuse." "Thou may'st be honest," replied the Sovereign, "but thou comest from a nest of traitors." "Such as they are, my lord, it is my purpose to put them at your royal disposal; for they have no longer the wisdom to guide themselves, and lack alike prudence to hold out, and grace to submit. But I would first know of your grace to what terms you will admit the defenders of yonder garrison?" "To such as kings give to traitors," said Henry, sternly--"sharp knives and tough cords." "Nay, my gracious lord, you must be kinder than that amounts to, if the castle is to be rendered by my means; else will your cords and knives have only my poor body to work upon, and you will be as far as ever from the inside of the Garde Doloureuse." The King looked at him fixedly. "Thou knowest," he said, "the law of arms. Here, provost-marshal, stands a traitor, and yonder stands a tree." "And here is a throat," said the stout-hearted Fleming, unbuttoning the collar of his doublet. "By mine honour," said Prince Richard, "a sturdy and faithful yeoman! It were better send such fellows their dinners, and then buffet it out with them for the castle, than to starve them as the beggarly Frenchmen famish their hounds." "Peace, Richard," said his father; "thy wit is over green, and thy blood over hot, to make thee my counsellor here.--And you, knave, speak you some reasonable terms, and we will not be over strict with thee." "First, then," said the Fleming, "I stipulate full and free pardon for life, limb, body, and goods, to me, Wilkin Flammock, and my daughter Rose." "A true Fleming," said Prince John; "he takes care of himself in the first instance." "His request," said the King, "is reasonable. What next?" "Safety in life, honour, and land, for the demoiselle Eveline Berenger."