"My lord prince," he said, bowing low with stately courtesy, "if,
as my lady mother and good Count William would force me, I am to
be loyal vassal to you, my lieges here, I should but follow where
you dare to lead. Go YOU into the lions' den, lord prince, and I
will follow you, though it were into old Hercules' very teeth."
It was a shrewd reply, and covered as good a "double-dare" as
ever one boy made to another. Some of the manlier of the young
courtiers indeed even dared to applaud. But the Dauphin John was
stronger in tongue than in heart.
"Peste!" he cried contemptuously. " 'T is a fool's answer and a
fool's will. And well shall we see now how you will sneak out of
it all. See, Lord of Arkell, you who can prate so loudly of Cods
and lions: here before all, I dare you to face Count William's
lions yourself!"
The young Lord of Arkell was in his rich court suit--a
tight-fitting, great-sleeved silk jacket, rich, violet chausses,
or tights, and pointed shoes. But without a word, with scarce a
look toward his challenger, he turned to his nearest neighbor, a
brave Zealand lad, afterward noted in Dutch history--Francis von
Borselen.
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