“Master Furness,” he said, “Sir Ralph Willoughby accuses you of having played him false, and left his party to be destroyed on account of the quarrel existing between you, touching that affair at Newbury.  What have you to say to this?  He alleges that you must have been close at hand, and moved not a finger to save him until half his troop was destroyed.”

“It is wholly false, sir,” Harry said.  “Seeing that the enemy were so close, I had placed my pickets well in advance, and ordered my men to lie down in their clothes, with their arms beside them, on straw in the kitchens, ready to mount at a moment’s warning.  I quartered five in each house, having their horses fastened in front, and one of each party stationed at the door, where he could observe the horses and wake the men on the instant.  Thus, when my pickets came in with the news that troops were heard moving toward Chalcombe, my troop was in less than two minutes in the saddle.  As we rode out of the village we heard the first shot, and five minutes later charged the Roundheads in the streets of the village.  Had we not hastened, methinks that neither Sir Ralph Willoughby nor any of his troops would have been alive now to tell the tale.  You can question, sir, my lieutenant, or any of my troopers, and you will hear that matters went precisely as I have told you.”

“You have done well indeed, Master Furness,” Prince Rupert said warmly, “and I would that many of my other officers showed the same circumspection and care as you have done.  Now, Sir Ralph, let me hear what arrangements you made against surprise.”

“I set pickets in front of the village,” Sir Ralph said sulkily.

“And what besides?” the prince asked.  “Having done that, did you and your officers and men go quietly to sleep, as if the enemy were a hundred miles away?”

Sir Ralph was silent.

“Fie, for shame, sir!” the prince said sternly.  “Your own carelessness has brought disaster upon you, and instead of frankly owning your fault, and thanking Master Furness for having redeemed your error, saved the remnant of your troop, and defeated the Roundheads heavily, your jealousy and envy of the lad have wrought you to bring false accusations against him.  Enough, sir,” he said peremptorily, seeing the glance of hatred which Sir Ralph cast toward Harry.  “Sufficient harm has been done already by your carelessness—­see that no more arises from your bad temper.  I forbid this quarrel to go further; until the king’s enemies are wholly defeated there must be no quarrels between his friends.  And should I hear of any further dispute on your part with Master Furness, I shall bring it before the king, and obtain his warrant for your dismissal from this army.”