their sides (if need be), their master’s badge upon their sleeves?  Were they not bound for the great King’s Court —­ for the assembly of the Round Table, of which, as it seemed, all men were now talking?  Would they not see their own kinsmen, feel their way perhaps to future friendship with those who bore their own name?  For the present they were dubbed Brook by the English servants with whom they associated, though more frequently they went by their Christian names alone.

It was the fashion in these times to think well of the Gascon race.  The King set the example, knowing how useful such men were like to be to him in days to come; and these lads, who spoke English almost as their mother tongue, and were so full of spirit, grace, and vivacity, rapidly rose in favour both with Sir James himself and with his retinue.  No auspices could well have been more favourable for the lads upon their first entrance into the great world, and they only wished that Father Anselm could hear of their good fortune.

They had settled now to let the visit to Basildene stand over for a time.  They had but the vaguest idea where to seek their mother’s home.  The priest could not help them to any information on this point, and the way to Windsor was open.  Their kinsfolk there could possibly give them news of Basildene, even did they decide to keep their own true name a secret for a time.  There could be no doubt as to the wisdom of learning something of their mother’s country and the ways of its sons before they launched themselves upon a difficult and possibly dangerous quest.

With what strange feelings did the brothers first set eyes upon the shores of England, as the little sloop slid merrily into the smoother Solent, after a rough but not unpleasant passage!  How they gazed about them as they neared the quays of Southampton, and wondered at the contrast presented by this seaport with the stately and beautiful city of Bordeaux, which they had seen a fortnight back!  Certainly this English port could not compare with her a single moment, yet the boys’ hearts bounded with joyful exhilaration as they first set foot on English soil.  Was not the first step of their wild dream safely and prosperously accomplished?  Might they not augur from this a happy and prosperous career till their aim and object was accomplished?

Their master had some business to transact in and about Southampton which detained him there many days; but the Gaston lads found no fault with this arrangement, for everything they saw was new and full of interest; they were well lodged and well fed without cost to themselves, and had full license to go where they would and do what they would, as their master had no present use for their services.