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things of which the Earl either did not know； or did not choose to speak。
He told the young man； among other matters； the reason of the bitter and
lasting enmity that the King felt for the blind nobleman： that Lord
Falworth had been one of King Richard's council in times past； that it was
not a little owing to him that King Henry； when Earl of Derby； had been
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banished from England； and that though he was then living in the
retirement of private life； he bitterly and steadfastly opposed King
Richard's abdication。 He told Myles that at the time when Sir John Dale
found shelter at Falworth Castle； vengeance was ready to fall upon his
father at any moment； and it needed only such a pretext as that of
sheltering so prominent a conspirator as Sir John to complete his ruin。
Myles； as he listened intently； could not but confess in his own mind
that the King had many rational； perhaps just； grounds for grievance
against such an ardent opponent as the blind Lord had shown himself to be。
〃But； sir；〃 said he； after a little space of silence； when Prior Edward had
ended； 〃to hold enmity and to breed treason are very different matters。
Haply my father was Bolingbroke's enemy； but； sure； thou dost not believe
he is justly and rightfully tainted with treason？〃
〃Nay；〃 answered the priest； 〃how canst thou ask me such a thing？ Did
I believe thy father a traitor； thinkest thou I would thus tell his son thereof？
Nay； Myles； I do know thy father well； and have known him for many
years； and this of him； that few men are so honorable in heart and soul as
he。 But I have told thee all these things to show that the King is not
without some reason to be thy father's unfriend。 Neither； haply； is the Earl
of Alban without cause of enmity against him。 So thou； upon thy part；
shouldst not feel bitter rancor against the King for what hath happed to thy
house； nor even against William BrookhurstI mean the Earl of Albanfor；
I tell thee； the worst of our enemies and the worst of men believe
themselves always to have right and justice upon their side； even when
they most wish evil to others。〃
So spoke the gentle old priest； who looked from his peaceful haven
with dreamy eyes upon the sweat and tussle of the world's battle。 Had he
instead been in the thick of the fight； it might have been harder for him to
believe that his enemies ever had right upon their side。
〃But tell me this；〃 said Myles； presently； 〃dost thou； then； think that I
do evil in seeking to do a battle of life or death with this wicked Earl of
Alban； who hath so ruined my father in body and fortune？〃
〃Nay；〃 said Prior Edward； thoughtfully； 〃I say not that thou doest evil。
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War and bloodshed seem hard and cruel matters to me； but God hath given
that they be in the world； and may He forbid that such a poor worm as I
should say that they be all wrong and evil。 Meseems even an evil thing is
sometimes passing good when rightfully used。〃
Myles did not fully understand what the old man meant； but this much
he gathered； that his spiritual father did not think ill of his fighting the Earl
of Alban for his temporal father's sake。
So Myles went to France in Lord George's company； a soldier of
fortune； as his Captain was。 He was there for only six months； but those
six months wrought a great change in his life。 In the fierce factional battles
that raged around the walls of Paris； in the evil life which he saw at the
Burgundian court in Paris itself after the trucea court brilliant and
wicked； witty and cruelthe wonderful liquor of youth had evaporated
rapidly； and his character had crystallized as rapidly into the hardness of
manhood。 The warfare； the blood； the evil pleasures which he had seen
had been a fiery； crucible test to his soul； and I love my hero that he should
have come forth from it so well。 He was no longer the innocent Sir
Galahad who had walked in pure white up the Long Hall to be knighted by
the King； but his soul was of that grim； sterling； rugged sort that looked
out calmly from his gray eyes upon the wickedness and debauchery
around him； and loved it not。
Then one day a courier came； bringing a packet。 It was a letter from
the Earl； bidding Myles return straightway to England and to Mackworth
House upon the Strand； nigh to London； without delay； and Myles knew
that his time had come。
It was a bright day in April when he and Gascoyne rode clattering out
through Temple Bar； leaving behind them quaint old London town； its
blank stone wall； its crooked； dirty streets； its high… gabled wooden houses；
over which rose the sharp spire of St。 Paul's； towering high into the golden
air。 Before them stretched the straight； broad highway of the Strand； on
one side the great houses and palaces of princely priests and powerful
nobles； on the other the Covent Garden； （or the Convent Garden； as it was
then called）； and the rolling country； where great stone windmills swung
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their slow…moving arms in the damp； soft April breeze； and away in the
distance the Scottish Palace； the White Hall； and Westminster。
It was the first time that Myles had seen famous London town。 In that
dim and distant time of his boyhood； six months before； he would have
been wild with delight and enthusiasm。 Now he jogged along with
Gascoyne； gazing about him with calm interest at open shops and booths
and tall； gabled houses； at the busy throng of merchants and craftsmen；
jostling and elbowing one another； at townsfolkmen and damespicking
their way along the muddy kennel of a sidewalk。 He had seen so much of
the world that he had lost somewhat of interest in new things。 So he did
not care to tarry； but rode； with a mind heavy with graver matters； through
the streets and out through the Temple Bar direct for Mackworth House；
near the Savoy Palace。
It was with a great deal of interest that Myles and his patron regarded
one another when they met for the fir