"Bloodthirsty, forsooth!" cried Ned, in answer to De Rondiniacque's essay at peacemaking. "Bloodthirsty! I have borne enough of late to make me so, in all conscience. Look to yourself, man, for I would kill you, were you William and all his troops." And with that he fell upon him again with much fury, so that the other was beginning of necessity a more aggressive defence, when the Prince stepped between them, striking up their swords with his riding-whip. "Since when, Mr. Royston," he said, "do you carry a sword? And for whom?" But Royston, balked of his prey, and feeling the whole world in league against him, was too full of anger to show either surprise or reverence. "Captain Royston," he said, with great and bitter emphasis on the military title, "has left his sword in miserly hands, Your Highness." "How so?" demanded William, the frown growing deeper on his face. "Hands that grasp what they do not need," replied Ned boldly. "But _Master_ Royston takes a sword where he finds it, uses it against whom he pleases, and wields it for himself." "The fault, Monseigneur, of this broil is wholly mine," interposed M. de Rondiniacque. "Lieutenant de Rondiniacque," replied the Prince, "I know your generous nature, and for once mistrust it. What is the occasion of the broil, as you name it?" With some hesitation M. de Rondiniacque answered that it was a quarrel--about a woman. His Highness laughed drily. "I fear, Lieutenant," he said, "that to protect a man that was once your friend, you play very nobly upon our knowledge of your weakness." "Indeed, sire," said De Rondiniacque, "it is as I say. I did wrong a lady, mistaking her for another kind." "And did 'William and all his army' likewise wrong this lady?" asked the Prince. "Indeed, no, Your Highness," replied De Rondiniacque. "Then I must believe, Lieutenant," the Prince continued, "that it is for no kiss to a pretty girl, but for holding my commission, that you were even now in danger of your life. We have it from his own lips that he had as lief kill me as you." Then, as the generous fellow would again have spoken in endeavor to put the matter in a better aspect, "No more, sir," said His Highness; "stand aside." He then proceeded to address Captain Royston. "Sir," he said, "I spared your life of late. But I did warn you that if found again in our neighborhood, or raising hand against us, were it never so little, you were like to get such treatment as we give to spies." And, turning to the officers and gentlemen that had entered the hall in his company, he added: "How think you, gentlemen?"