“Take command yourself,” said Edward.  “You surely have some Esquire or man-at-arms who can supply your own want of experience.”

“My brother’s Squire, Gaston d’Aubricour, is well learned in chivalry, my Lord,” said Eustace, “and I will do my best, with his aid, to fulfil my trust.”

“It is well,” said Edward.  “The Lances of Lynwood are too well trained easily to forget their duty, and I fear not but that you will do well.  How old is your brother’s young heir?”

“Eight years, my Lord.”

“We will soon have him at Bordeaux,” said Edward, “that he may grow up with my boys in the same friendship as their fathers.  And now,” added he, turning from Eustace to the assembled nobles around him, “let us part, and prepare for our further journey.  In an hour’s time the bugles shall summon you to depart for Burgos.”

The Prince walked away towards his tent with the Captal de Buch, and Eustace looked round for his horse, which he saw at no great distance with Ingram, but Leonard Ashton was nowhere in sight.  Eustace mounted, and rode towards his own tent, desiring the yeoman to seek Ashton out, while he himself proceeded slowly, musing, with feelings of considerable disappointment and vexation, on the reception he had met from Sir John Chandos, the man in the whole camp whose good opinion he would have most valued.  “This is folly,” thought he, however, rousing himself after a minute or two of such meditations.  “What said the good old Baron but what I know full well myself, that I am far from meriting my new honours?  On whom does it depend, but myself to win his praise?  And by our Lady’s grace, I will make him confess at last, that, young as I am, I can show that I deserve my spurs.  What, ho!  Ingram, where is Master Ashton?”

“Where you will little like to hear of him, Sir Knight,” said the yeoman, galloping up on his tall Flemish horse.  “At the wine-shop, yonder, in the village, with that ill-favoured, one-eyed Squire that you wot of.  I called him as you desired, and all that I got for an answer was, that he would come at his own time, and not at your bidding.”

“Said he so? the ungracious, headstrong fellow!” said Eustace, looking back wistfully.  “And what to do!  To ride back myself might be the means of getting the whole troop late in starting, and disorderly—­yet, to leave him!” Eustace looked at John Ingram’s comely and stolid face, and then almost smiled at himself for seeking counsel from him.  “Ride you on, John,” said he; “tell Master d’Aubricour of the order to depart—­let all be in readiness by the time I return.”