John’s face lighted with interest.  He was willing enough to tell of himself, his two brothers, two sisters, and their many homes in and about the Castle of Windsor.  Besides his post as Master of the Horse, John explained to Raymond, his father held the office of Chief Forester of Windsor Forest (equivalent to the modern Ranger), and besides the Manor of Old Windsor, possessed property and Manors at Old and New Bray, Didworth and Clewer.  He was high in the King’s favour and confidence, and, as may well be believed, led a busy and responsible life.  Upon him devolved the care of all those famous studs of horses on which the King relied when he sent his armies into the field; and if his expenditure in these matters has been condemned in more recent days, the best answer will be found in the disasters and the ruinous expenditure of the later campaigns of the reign, when the King, thinking that he had reduced his French possessions to complete order, and that his magnificent cavalry would not longer be wanted to career over the plains of France, broke up and sold off his studs; so that when his calculation as to the future proved mistaken, he had no longer any organized supply of war horses to draw upon.

Raymond’s interest in John’s talk so won the heart of that youth that a warm friendship sprang up rapidly between them, whilst the younger brothers appeared to take almost the same liking for Gaston.  By-and-by it became known that the Castle was crowded almost beyond its capacity for accommodation; and as much of the responsibility of seeing to the lodging of guests fell upon Sir John de Brocas, he gave up his house at Clewer for the time being for the use of some of the guests of humbler rank, his son John acting as host there; and to this house the Gaston brothers were asked, amongst many other youthful esquires of like degree.  Thus it came about that the merry yuletide season was spent by them actually beneath their uncle’s roof, although he had no idea that he was entertaining kinsmen unawares.

Mindful of the good priest’s warning, and knowing their ignorance of the new life and the new people amongst whom their fortunes had led them, the twins still carefully preserved the secret of their identity.  They knew too little of the cause of estrangement between their father and his brothers to have any confidence how his sons would be received.  They were both of opinion that by far their wisest course was to wait quietly and patiently, and watch what befell them; and the only question which Raymond ever dared to put to John in the days that followed which savoured of their own affairs, was an inquiry as to whether he had ever heard of a place called Basildene.

“Basildene?” repeated John slowly.  “Yes, I have heard the name.  It is the name of a Manor not very many miles from my uncle’s house in Guildford.  Dost thou know aught of it?”

“Nay; I knew not rightly if there were such a spot.  But I have heard the name.  Knowest thou to whom it belongs?”