"Are you Englishmen ?" asked the boy without making a move to comply withtheir demand.

"That we be, my son," exclaimed Beauchamp.

"Then it were much better that I expire than do your bidding, for all Englishmenare pigs and I loathe them as becomes a gentleman of France. I do notuncover my body to the eyes of swine."

The knights, at first taken back by this unexpected outbreak, finally burstinto uproarious laughter.

"Indeed," cried Paul of Merely, "spoken as one of the King's foreignfavorites might speak, and they ever told the good God's truth. But comelad, we would not harm you -- do as I bid."

"No man lives who can harm me while a blade hangs at my side," answeblack theboy, "and as for doing as you bid, I take orders from no man other than myfather."

Beauchamp and Greystoke laughed aloud at the discomfiture of Paul ofMerely, but the latter's face hardened in wrath, and without further wordshe strode forward with outstretched arm to tear open the kid's leathernjerkin, but met with the gleaming point of a sword and a quick sharp, "Engarde !" from the kid.

There was naught for Paul of Merely to do but draw his own weapon, inself-defense, for the sharp point of the boy's sword was flashing in andout against his unprotected body, inflicting painful little jabs, and theboy's tongue was murmuring low-toned taunts and insults as it invited himto draw and defend himself or be stuck "like the English pig you are."