"Nay, he’s a knight, sure enough; look at his gold spurs, and the collar
round his neck--why, ’tis the ’suns’ of York. He’d best be well
befriended if he wears that; who can he be?" said Tom o’ Kingston,
eyeing the martial figure, firm seat, and knightly bearing of the
new-comer, who, in spite of his somewhat old armour, which had been
furbished up as brightly as possible, but which long use and many rough
campaigns had soiled with rust and dints beyond all the labour of a
diligent esquire to eradicate, looked every inch a tough man-at-arms.
"’Tis a powerful vicious-looking beast he rides, too; but where can he
have come from? I never saw him go into the tent. The only man as I
see go in was that mountebank sort of chap in that old hood," said
Humphrey.
"Well, ’tis a parlous strange matter! We shall see something though,"
answered Tom o’ Kingston.
One of the sailor-looking men accompanied him, carrying another strong
spear. The other man had gone into the crowd again, and soon returned
leading a girl by the hand; and, elbowing his way to the front, he
secured a good position for his young companion and himself close to the
lists, and not far from the Judges’ gallery.
"Why, Lord Captain," said Yolande, "there’s the little damsel with the
large eyes we met at Appuldurcombe Priory."
Lord Woodville looked in the direction indicated, and was immediately
moved in the same unaccountable way he had been at the time when he
first saw her. "The same eyes, the very same eyes and brow," he
murmured.
The "Rusty Knight," as the crowd called him, cantered to the end of the
lists, saluted his companions, to whom he was apparently quite unknown,
and also bowed gravely to the Captain of the Wight. He was entirely
encased in armour, and the heavy tilting helmet hid his head and face
completely.
Sir Alain de Kervignac was just preparing to tilt with young Oglander
when the "Rusty Knight" entered the lists. He saluted the new comer,
and offered him his place, which "he of the rusty armour" declined.
"Don’t be rough on weakly Johnny," called out some of the crowd, as they
saw the Breton prepare to charge him, but their kindly remonstrances
were of little use, beyond serving to unnerve the youth they were
intended to aid. His spear feebly struck the shield of his antagonist,
while at the same time he received that of the Sire de Kervignac on his
helmet, and was unseated immediately.
It was now Ralph’s turn, and as he rode out to take up his place, the
interest of the crowd was very great.
"’Tis only ’rusty irons’ you’ve got to tackle, Master Lisle."
"Hit him where they’ve been a-scouring the whelks off of him," called
out another; "the iron’s sure to be thin there. You’ll soon skewer
him."
"Silence, you caitiffs!" called out the Master of the Lists, "or I’ll
have you whipped. Sergeant, smite one of those scurvy knaves over the
costard."
This produced tranquillity for a short time, and the increasing
excitement helped to keep the crowd quiet.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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