News was soon brought that Sir James had been badly wounded, and had been carried by his knights to his tent.  The Prince would have gone to visit him there; but news of this proposal having been brought to the knight, he caused himself to be transported to the Prince’s tent by his knights, all of whom had escaped almost unscathed from their gallant escapade.  Thus it came about that Gaston and Raymond stood within the royal tent, whilst the Prince bent over his faithful knight, and promised as the reward for that day’s gallantry that he should remain his own knight for ever, and receive five hundred marks yearly from the royal treasury.

Then, when poor Sir James, too spent and faint to remain longer, had been carried hence by some of the bystanders, the Prince turned to the twin brothers and grasped them by the hand.

“I greatly rejoice that ye have come forth unhurt from that fierce strife in the which ye so boldly plunged.  What can I do for you, brave comrades, to show the gratitude of a King’s son for all your faithful service?”

“Sire,” answered Gaston, “since you have asked us to claim our guerdon, and since your foes are at your feet, your rival a prisoner in your royal hands (if he be not a dead corpse), and the whole land subject to you; since there be no further need in the present for us to fight for you, and a time of peace seems like to follow upon this glorious day, methinks my brother and I would fain request your royal permission to retire for a while each to his own home, to regulate our private concerns, and dwell awhile each with the wife of his choice.  Thou knowest that I have a wife but newly made mine, and that my brother only tarries to fly to his betrothed bride till you have no farther need of his sword.  If ever the day dawns when King or Prince of England needs the faithful service of Gascon swords, those of Raymond and Gaston de Brocas will not be wanting to him.  Yet in the present —­”

“Ay, ay, I understand well:  in the present there be bright eyes that are more to you than glittering swords, and a service that is sweeter than that of King or Prince.  Nay, blush not, boy; I like you the better for that the softer passions dwell in your breast with those of sterner sort.  Ye have well shown many a day ere now that ye possess the courage of young lions, and that England will never call upon you in vain.  But now that times of peace and quiet seem like to fall upon us, get you to your homes and your wives.  May Heaven grant you joy and happiness in both; and England’s King and Prince will over have smiles of welcome for you when ye bring to the Court the sweet ladies of your choice.  Do I not know them both? and do I not know that ye have both chosen worthily and well?”

A tumult without the tent now announced the approach of the French King, those who brought him disputing angrily together whose prisoner he was.  The Prince stepped out to receive his vanquished foe with that winning courtesy so characteristic of one who so longed to see the revival of the truer chivalry, and in the confusion which ensued Gaston and Raymond slipped away to their own tent.