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'I hope I am； Monseigneur；' she replied； with lofty meekness； 'but scarcely such as you mean。'
Alice Montagu's indignation knew no bounds。 What！ was this noble votaress to be forced； not only to resign the glory of being the foundress of a new order of beneficence； but to be married； just like everybody else； and to that wretched little coward？ Boemond of Burgundy was better than that； for he at least was a man！
'No； no； Alice；' said Esclairmonde； with a shudder； 'any one rather than the Burgundian！ It is shame even to compare the Scot！'
'He may not be so evil in himself；' said Alice； 'but with a brave man you have only his own sins； while a coward has all those other people may frighten him into。'
'He bore himself manfully in battle；' said the fair Fleming in reproof。
But Alice answered with the scorn that sits so quaintly on the gentle daughter of a bold race： 'Ay； where he would have been more afraid to run than to stand。'
'You are hard on the Scot；' said Esclairmonde。 'Maybe it is because the Nevils of Raby are Borderers；' she added； smiling； and； as Alice likewise smiled and blushed； 'Now； if it were not for this madness； I could like the youth。 I would fain have had him for a brother that I could take care of。'
'But what will you do； Esclairmonde？'
'Trust；' said she； sighing。 'Maybe； my pride ought to be broken； and I may have to lay aside all my hopes and plans； and become a mere serving sister； to learn true humility。 Anyhow； I verily trust to my Heavenly Spouse to guard me for himself。 If the Duke of Burgundy still maintains Boemond's suit； then in the dissension I see an escape。
'And my father will defend you； and so will Sir Richard；' said Alice； with complacent certainty in their full efficiency。 'And King Harry will interfere； and we WILL have your hospital； ay； we WILL。 How can you talk so lightly of abandoning it？'
'I only would know what is human pride； and what God's will；' sighed Esclairmonde。
The Duke arrived with his two sisters； his wife being left at home in bad health； and took up his abode at the Hotel de Bourgogne； whence he came at once to pay his respects to the King of England； the poor King of France； at the Hotel de St。 Pol； being quite neglected。
Esclairmonde and Alice stood at a window； and watched the arrival of the magnificent cavalcade； attended by a multitude； ecstatically shouting； 'Noel Noel！ Long live Philippe le Bon！ Blessings on the mighty Duke！' While seated on a tall charger； whose great dappled head； jewelled and beplumed； could alone be seen amid his sweeping housings； bowing right and left； waving his embroidered gloved hand in courtesy； was seen the stately Duke； in the prime of life； handsome…faced； brilliantly coloured； dazzlingly arrayed in gemmed robes； so that Alice drew a long breath of wonder and exclaimed； 'This Duke is a goodly man； he looks like the emperor of us all！'
But when he had entered the hall； conducted by John of Bedford and Edmund of March； had made his obeisance to Henry； and had been presented by him to King James； Alice； standing close behind her queen； recollected that she had once heard Esclairmonde say； 'Till I came to England I deemed chivalry a mere gaudy illusion。'
Duke Philippe would not bear close inspection； the striking features and full red lips； that had made so effective an appearance in the gay procession seen from a distance； seemed harsh； haughty； and sensual near at hand； and when brought into close contact with the strange bright stern purity； now refined into hectic transparency； of King Henry's face； the grand and melancholy majesty of the royal Stewart's； or even the spare； keen； irregular visage of John of Bedford。 And while his robes were infinitely more costly thanand his ornaments tenfold outnumberedall that the three island princes wore； yet no critical eye could take him for their superior； even though his tone in addressing an inferior was elaborately affable and condescending； and theirs was always the frankness of an equal。 Where they gave the sense of pure gold； he seemed like some ruder metal gilt and decorated； as if theirs were reality； his the imitation； theirs the truth； his the display。
But in reality his birth was as princely as theirs； and no monarch in Europe； not even Henry； equalled him in material resources； he was idolized by the Parisians； and Henry was aware that France had been made over to England more by his revenge for his father's murder at Montereau than by the victory at Agincourt。 Therefore the King endured his grand talk about OUR arms and OUR intentions； and for Malcolm's sake； James submitted to a sort of patronage； as if meant to imply that if Philippe the Magnificent chose to espouse the cause of a captive king； his ransom would be the merest trifle。
When Henry bade him to the Pentecostal banquet； 'when kings keep state；' he graciously accepted the invitation for himself and his two sisters； Marguerite； widow of the second short…lived Dauphin； and Anne； still unmarried； but when Henry further explained his plan of feasting merely with the orderly； and apportioning the food in real alms； the Duke by no means approved。
'Feed those miserables！' he said。 'One gains nothing thereby！ They make no noise； whereas if you affront the others； who know how to cry out； they will revile you like dogs！
'I will not be a slave to the rascaille；' said Henry。
'Ah； my fair lord； you； a victor； may dispense with these cares； but for a poor little prince like me； it is better to reign in men's hearts than on their necks。'
'In the hearts of honest menon the necks of knaves；' said Henry。
Philippe shrugged his shoulders。 He was wise in his own generation； for he had all the audible voices in Paris on his side； while the cavils at Henry's economy have descended to the present time。
'Do you see your rival； Sir？' said the voice of the Bishop of Therouenne in Malcolm's ear； just as the Duke had begun to rise to take leave； and he pointed out a knight of some thirty years； glittering with gay devices from head to foot； and showing a bold proud visage； exaggerating the harshness of the Burgundian lineaments。
Malcolm shuddered； and murmured； 'Such a pearl to such a hog！'
And meanwhile； King James； stepping forward； intimated to the Duke that he would be glad of an interview with him。
Philippe made some ostentation of his numerous engagements with men of Church and State； but ended by inviting the King of Scotland to sup with him that evening； if his Grace would forgive travellers' fare and a simple reception。
Thither accordingly James repaired on foot； attended only by Sir Nigel and Malcolm； with a few archers of the royal guard； in case torches should be wanted on the way home。
How magnificent were the surroundings of the great Duke； it would be wearisome to tell。 The retainers in the court of the hotel looked； as James said； as if honest steel and good cloth were reckoned as churls； and as if this were the very land of Cockaigne； as Sir Richard Whittington had dreamt it。 Neither he nor St。 Andrew himself would know their own saltire made in cloth of silver； 'the very metal to tarnish！'
Sir Nigel had to tell their rank； ere t