“Peace, fool! is there such skill and wisdom needed?  Division in purpose and action!  Quarrelling, methinks, had better be turned against the enemy than against yourselves.  Hugo, do thou speak; in plain terms, wherefore come ye?”

“In plain terms, then, good my lord, as yet we have had the worst of it,” answered the esquire, bluntly.  “The Scotch fight like very devils, attacking us instead of waiting for our attack, penetrating into the very centre of our camp, one knows not how or whence, bearing off prisoners and booty in our very teeth.”

“Prisoners—­booty—­worsted!  Thou durst not tell me so!” exclaimed Lancaster, furiously, as he started up and half drew his sword.

“Peace, peace, I pray thee, good friend, peace,” continued Hereford, laying his hand on Lancaster’s shoulder, with a force which compelled him to resume his seat.  “Let us at least hear and understand their mission.  Speak out, Hugo, and briefly—­what has befallen?”

In a few straightforward words his esquire gave all the information which was needed, interrupted only now and then by a brief interrogation from Hereford, and some impatient starts and muttering from his colleague.  The success of the Scots, described in a former page, had continued, despite the action of the mangonels and other engines which the massive walls appeared to hold in defiance.  So watchful and skilful were the besieged, that the greatest havoc had been made amongst the men employed in working the engines, and not yet had even the palisades and barbacan been successfully stormed.

“Have they tried any weaker point?” Hereford asked, and the answer was, that it was on this very matter division had spread amongst the knights, some insisting on carrying the barbacan as the most important point, and others advising and declaring their only hope of success lay in a divided attack on two of the weaker sides at once.

“The fools, the sorry fools!” burst again from Lancaster.  “They deserve to be worsted for their inordinate pride and folly; all wanted to lead, and none would follow.  Give you good e’en, my lord,” he added, turning hastily to his host; “I’ll to the courtyard and muster forth my men.  Fitz-Ernest, thou shalt speak on as we go,” and drawing his furred mantle around him, he strode rapidly yet haughtily from the hall.  Hereford only waited to learn all from Hugo, to hold a brief consultation with some of his attendant knights, and he too, despite the entreaties of his host to tarry with him at least till morning, left the banquet to don his armor.

“Silence and speed carry all before them, my good lord,” he said, courteously.  “In such a case, though I fear no eventual evil, they must not be neglected.  I would change the mode of attack on these Scotch, ere they are even aware their foes are reinforced.”

“Eventual evil, of a truth, there need not be, my lord,” interposed his esquire, “even should no force of arms prevail.  I have heard there are some within the walls who need but a golden bribe to do the work for us.”