For there have
always been heroes and cowards in the world.
And so, between all these young folk, there was much boastful
talk and much harmless gossip how the little Lady of Courtrai had
used the wrong corner of the towel yesterday; how the fat Duchess
of Enkhuysen had violated the laws of all etiquette by placing
the wrong number of finger-bowls upon her table on St. Jacob's
Day; and how the stout young Hubert of Malsen had scattered the
rascal merchants of Dort at their Shrovetide fair.
Then uprose the young Lord of Arkell.
"Hold, there!" he cried hotly. "This Hubert of Malsen is but a
craven, sirs, if he doth say the merchants of Dort are rascal
cowards. Had they been fairly mated, he had no more dared to put
his nose within the gates of Dort than dare one of you here to go
down yonder amid Count William's lions!"
"Have a care, friend Otto," said the little Lady of Holland, with
warning finger; "there is one here, at least, who dareth to go
amid the lions--my father, sir."
"I said nothing of him, madam," replied Count Otto. "I did mean
these young red hats here, who do no more dare to bait your
father's lions than to face the Cods of Dort in fair and equal
fight.
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