‘I am not certain of that, Sir,’ said James, smiling; ’though I see you mean me kindly.’

‘Nay, now,’ continued Philippe, ’I know how to honour royalty, even in durance; nor will I even press Madame la Dauphine on you instead of Anne, though it were better for us all if she could have her wish and become a queen, and you would have her jointure—­if you or any one else can get it.’

‘Stay, my Lord Duke,’ said James, with dignity, ’I spake not of myself, deeming that it was well known that my troth is plighted.’

‘How?’ said Burgundy, amazed, but not offended.  ’Methought the House of Somerset was a mere bastard slip, with which even King Henry with all his insolence could not expect you to wed in earnest.  However, we may keep our intentions secret awhile; and then, with your lances and my resources, English displeasure need concern you little.’

James, who had learned self-control in captivity, began politely to express himself highly honoured and obliged.

’Do not mention it.  Royal blood, thus shamefully oppressed, must command the aid of all that is chivalrous.  Speak, and your ransom is at your service.’

The hot blood rushed into James’s cheek at this tone of condescension; but he answered, with courteous haughtiness:  ’Of myself, Sir Duke, there is no question.  My ransom waits England’s willingness to accept it; and my hand is not free, even for the prize you have the goodness to offer.  I came not to speak of myself.’

‘Not to make suit for my sister, nor my intercession!’ exclaimed Philippe.

‘I make suit to no man,’ said James; then, recollecting himself, ’if I did so, no readier friend than the Duke of Burgundy could be found.  I did in effect come to propose an alliance between one of my own house and a fair vassal of yours.’

‘Ha! the runaway jade of Luxemburg!’ cried Burgundy; ’the most headstrong girl who lives!  She dared to plead her foolish vows against my brother Boemond, fled with that other hoyden of Hainault, and now defies me by coming here.  I’ll have her, and make her over to Boemond to tame her pride, were she in the great Satan’s camp instead of King Henry’s.’

And this is the mirror of chivalry! thought James.  But he persevered in his explanation of his arrangement for permitting the estates of Esclairmonde de Luxemburg to be purchased from her and her husband, should that husband be Malcolm Stewart of Glenuskie; and he soon found that these terms would be as acceptable to the Duke as they had already proved to her guardian, Monseigneur de Therouenne.  Money was nothing to Philippe; but his policy was to absorb the little seignoralties that lay so thick in these border lands of the Empire; and what he desired above all, was to keep them from either passing into the hands of the Church, or from consolidating into some powerful principality, as would have been the case had Esclairmonde either entered