not only because he was on better terms with Philip than himself could hope to be, but because he understood him better.  John knew that there were two tender spots in that moody King, and he knew which was the tenderer, pardieu!  So Conrad’s gross finger, guided by John’s, probed the raw of Philip’s self-esteem, and found a rankling wound, very proud flesh.  Oh, intolerable affront to the House of Capet, that a tall Angevin robber should take up and throw away a daughter of France, and then whistle you to a war in the East!  Prince John, you perceive, knew where to rub in the salt.

The storm broke when King Richard was again at Chinon.  King Philip sent messengers—­William des Barres, the Bishop of Beauvais, and Stephen of Meaux—­about the homage due to him for Normandy and all the French fiefs.  So far well; King Richard was very urbane, as bland as such an incisive dealer could be.  He would do homage for Normandy, Anjou, and the rest on such and such a day.  ‘But,’ he added quietly, ’I attach the condition that it be done at Vezelay, when I am there with my army for the East, and he with his army.’

The ambassadors demurred, talking among themselves:  Richard sat on immovable, his hands on his knees.  Presently the Bishop of Beauvais, better soldier than priest, stood out from his fellows and made this remarkable speech:—­

’Beau sire, our lord the august King takes it very ill that you have so long delayed the marriage agreed upon solemnly between your Grace and Madame Alois his sister.  Therefore—­’ Milo (who was present) says that he saw his master narrow his eyes so much that he seemed to have none at all, but ‘sockets and blank balls in them, like statues.’  The Bishop of Beauvais, apparently, did not observe it.  ‘Therefore,’ he went on, orotund, ’our lord the King desires that the marriage may be celebrated before he sets out for Acre and the blessed work in those parts.  Other matters there are for settlement, such as the title of the most illustrious Marquess of Montferrat to the holy throne, in which my master is persuaded your Grace will conform to his desires.  This and other matters a many.’

The King got up.  ‘Too many matters, Bishop of Beauvais,’ he said, ’for my appetite, which is poor just now.  There is no debate.  Say this to your master, I pay homage where it is due.  If by his own act he prove that it is not due, I will not be blamed.  As to the Marquess, I will never get a kingdom for him, and I marvel that King Philip can make no better choice than of a man whose only title is rape, and can get no better ally than the slanderer of his sister.  And upon the subject of that unhappy lady, I tell you this upon the Holy Gospels, that I will marry King Philip himself before I will marry her; and so much he very well knows.  I am upon the point to depart in the fulfilment of my vows.  Let your master please himself.  He is a bad sailor, he tells me.  Am I to think him a bad soldier?  And if so, in such a cause, what sort of a Christian, what sort of a king, am I to think him?’