the cause of your kinsfolk’s ruin:  for whilst they served him in other lands, following him across the sea when he was bidden to go thither, the treacherous foe of the house of Navailles wrested from them, little by little, all the lands they had owned here, and not even the many mandates from the Roy Outremer sufficed to gain them their rights again.  It might have been done had the great Edward lived; but when he died and his son mounted the throne, men found at once how weak were the hands that held the sovereign power, and the Sieur de Navailles laughed in his beard at commands he knew there was no power to enforce.  But listen again, my sons; that feeble King, despite many and great faults, was not without some virtues also; and he did not forget that the house of De Brocas had ruined itself in the cause of himself and his father.”

“Did he do aught to show his gratitude?”

“Thou shalt hear, my son.  The younger Edward had not been many years upon his father’s throne before a great battle was fought by him against the Scottish race his father had vanquished and subdued.  These rebel subjects revolted from under his hand, and he fought with them a battle on the field of Bannockburn, in which he was overthrown and defeated, and in which your grandsire, Arnald de Brocas, lost his life, fighting gallantly for England’s King.”

“Our grandsire?” cried both the boys in a breath.  “Tell us more of him.”

“It is little that I know, my children, save what I have just said.  He served the King faithfully in life and death, and his sons reaped some reward for their father’s fidelity.  At first, whilst they were quite young, his three sons (of whom your father was the third) were sent to dwell with their mother’s relatives —­ the De Campaines of Agen, of whom, doubtless, ye have heard; but as they grew to man’s estate, they were recalled to the English Court, and received offices there, as many another noble Gascon has done before them.”

“Have we then uncles in England?” asked Raymond eagerly.  “Then, if we find but our way across the water, we may find a home with one of them?  Is it not so, good Father?”

The priest did not exclaim at the idea of the boys journeying forth across the seas alone, but he shook his head thoughtfully as he continued his narrative as if there had been no interruption.

“The English King was not unmindful of the service done him by the father of these youths, and he promoted them to places of honour about his Court.  First, they were all made serviens of his own royal person, and were brought up with his son, who is now the King; then, as I have heard, they greatly endeared themselves to the Prince by loyalty and faithful service.  When he ascended the throne, and purged the Court of the false favourites from this and other lands who had done so much ill to that country, he was ably helped in the task before him by thy father and thy two uncles; and I can well believe that this was so, seeing that they were speedily advanced to posts of honour in the royal service.”