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The Lord of Arkell drew the loose gray cloak over his rich silk
suit； and turned toward the door。
〃Otto von Arkell lets no one call him fool or coward； lord
prince；〃 he said。 〃What I have dared you all to do； _I_ dare do；
if you do not。 See； now： I will face Count William's lions！〃
The Princess Jacqueline sprang up in protest。
〃No； no； you shall not！〃 she cried。 〃My lord prince did but jest；
as did we all。 John；〃 she said； turning appealingly to her young
husband； who sat sullen and unmoved； 〃tell him you meant no such
murderous test。 My father！〃 she cried； turning now toward Count
William； whose attention had been drawn to the dispute； the Lord
of Arkell is pledged to face your lions！〃
Count William of Holland dearly loved pluck and nerve。
〃Well； daughter mine；〃 he said； 〃then will he keep his pledge。
Friend Otto is a brave young gallant； else had he never dared
raised spear and banner； as he did； against his rightful liege。〃
〃But； my father；〃 persisted the gentle…hearted girl； 〃spear and
banner are not lions' jaws。 And surely you may not in honor
permit the wilful murder of a hostage。〃
〃Nay； madam； have no fear；〃 the Lord of Arkell said； bending in
courteous recognition of her interest； 〃that which I do of mine
own free will is no murder； even should it fail。〃
And he hastened from the hall。
A raised gallery looked down into the spacious inclosure in which
Count William kept the living specimens of his own princely badge
of the lion。 And here the company gathered to see the sport。
With the gray gabardine drawn but loosely over his silken suit；
so that he might； if need be； easily slip from it； Otto von
Arkell boldly entered the inclosure。
〃Soho； Juno！ up； Hercules； hollo； up； Ajax！〃 cried Count William；
from the balcony。 〃Here cometh a right royal playfellowup； up；
my beauties！〃 and the great brutes； roused by the voice of their
master； pulled themselves up； shook themselves awake； and stared
at the intruder。
Boldly and without hesitation； while all the watchers had eyes
but for him alone； the young Lord of Arkell walked straight up to
Hercules； the largest of the three； and laid his hand caressingly
upon the shaggy mane。 Close to his side pressed Juno； the
lioness； and； so says the record of the old Dutch chronicler； von
Hildegaersberch； 〃the lions did him no harm； he played with them
as if they had been dogs。〃
But Ajax； fiercest of the three； took no notice of the lad。
Straight across his comrades he looked to where； scarce a rod
behind the daring lad； came another figure； a light and graceful
form in clinging robes of blue and undergown of cloth of
goldthe Princess Jacqueline herself！
The watchers in the gallery followed the lion's stare； and saw；
with horror； the advancing figure of this fair young girl。 A cry
of terror broke from every lip。 The Dauphin John turned pale with
fright； and Count William of Holland； calling out； 〃Down； Ajax！
back； girl； back！〃 sprang to his feet as if he would have vaulted
over the gallery rail。
But before he could act； Ajax himself had acted。 With a bound he
cleared the intervening space and crouched at the feet of the
fair young Princess Jacqueline！
The lions must have been in remarkably good humor on that day；
for； as the records tell us； they did no harm to their visitors。
Ajax slowly rose and looked up into the girl's calm face。 Then
the voice of Jacqueline rang out fresh and clear as； standing
with her hand buried in the lion's tawny mane； she raised her
face to the startled galleries。
〃You who could dare and yet dared not to do！〃 she cried； 〃it
shall not be said that in all Count William's court none save the
rebel Lord of Arkell dared to face Count William's lions！〃
The Lord of Arkell sprang to his comrade's side。 With a hurried
word of praise he flung the gabardine about her； grasped her arm；
and bade her keep her eyes firmly fixed upon the lions； then；
step by step； those two foolhardy young persons backed slowly out
of the danger into which they had so thoughtlessly and
unnecessarily forced themselves。
The lions' gate closed behind them with a clang； the shouts of
approval and of welcome sounded from the thronging gallery； and
over all they heard the voice of the Lord of Holland mingling
commendation and praise with censure for the rashness of their
action。
And it WAS a rash and foolish act。 But we must remember that
those were days when such feats were esteemed as brave and
valorous。 For the Princess Jaqueline of Holland was reared in the
school of so…called chivalry and romance； which in her time was
fast approaching its end。 She was； indeed； as one historian
declares； the last heroine of knighthood。 Her very titles suggest
the days of chivalry。 She was Daughter of Holland； Countess of
Ponthieu； Duchess of Berry； Lady of Crevecoeur； of Montague and
Arloeux。 Brought up in the midst of tilts and tournaments； of
banquets and feasting； and all the lavish display of the rich
Bavarian court； she was； as we learn from her chroniclers； the
leader of adoring knights and vassals； the idol of her parents；
the ruler of her soft…hearted boy husband； an expert falconer； a
daring horsewoman； and a fearless descendant of those woman
warriors of her race； Margaret the Empress； and Philippa the
Queen； and of a house that traced its descent through the warlike
Hohenstaufens back to Charlemagne himself。
All girls admire bravery； even though not themselves personally
courageous。 It is not； therefore； surprising that this intrepid
and romance…reared young princess； the wife of a lad for whom she
never especially cared； and whose society had for political
reasons been forced upon her； should have placed as the hero of
her admiration； next to her own fearless father； not the Dauphin
John of France； but this brave young rebel lad； Otto； the Lord of
Arkell。
But the joyous days of fete and pleasure at Quesnoy； at Paris；
and The Hague were fast drawing to a close。 On the fourth of
April； 1417； the Dauphin John died by poisoning； in his father's
castle at Compiegnethe victim of those terrible and relentless
feuds that were then disgracing and endangering the feeble throne
of France。
The dream of future power and greatness as Queen of France； in
which the girl wife of the Dauphin had often indulged； was thus
rudely dispelled； and Jacqueline returned to her father's court
in Holland； no longer crown princess and heiress to a throne； but
simply 〃Lady of Holland。〃
But in Holland； too； sorrow was in store for her。 Swiftly
following the loss of her husband； the Dauphin； came the still
heavier blow of her father's death。 On the thirtieth of May；
1417； Count William died in his castle of Bouchain； in Hainault；
and his sorrowing daughter Jacqueline； now a beautiful girl of
sixteen； succeeded to his titles and lordship as Countess and
Lady Supreme of Hainault； of Holland； and o