"I should not be over-
glad to meet you in a fray. You stand some inches above six
feet, or I am mistaken."
"I was six feet two inches when I stopped growing," said the
delegate; "and age has not stolen any of my height yet."
"That suit of armour would fit you," said Lord Valentine, as
they all rose.
"And might I ask your lordship," said the tall delegate, "why
it is here?"
"I am to represent Richard Coeur de Lion at the Queen's ball,"
said Lord Valentine; "and before my sovereign I will not don a
Drury-Lane cuirass, so I got this up from my father's castle."
"Ah! I almost wish the good old times of Coeur de Lion were
here again," said the tall delegate.
"And we should be serfs," said his companion.
"I am not sure of that," said the tall delegate. "At any rate
there was the free forest."
"I like that young fellow," said the tall delegate to his
companion, as they descended the staircase.
"He has awful prejudices," said his friend.
"Well, well; he has his opinions and we have ours. But he is
a man; with clear, straightforward ideas, a frank, noble,
presence; and as good-looking a fellow as I ever set eyes on.
Where are we now?"
"We have only one more name on our list to-day, and it is at
hand.
Pages:
376
377
378
379
380
381
382
383
384
385
386
387
388
389
390
391
392
393
394
395
396
397
398
399
400