"A rabble led by one who called himself Count Ludwig of Endhoven."
"Ha!" exclaimed the other, while all his followers uttered exclamations expressive of surprise and interest.
"Is it thus," said Gray, "your lords of Gueldres amuse themselves upon the highway?"
"I tell you, messire, that you are in Brabant. So these were Ludwig and his Brabanciones? I would give a thousand guilders for his head! But there was blood upon your sword?"
"I laid Count Ludwig's cheek open from eye to chin."
"Then beware you, messire: he is cruel as a pagan, and revengeful as an Italian; and he will track you and seek you day and night while you are among us, to work you mischief, unless, in the interim, he is broken alive upon the wheel by some burg graf or burgomaster. You are going, you say, to the court of the duke of Gueldres?"
"Where I am not likely to arrive soon if I remain chattering here," replied Gray coldly, as he disliked the inquisitorial manner of his questioner, who laughed and said,--
"Are you seeking knight-service? If so, you had better turn your horse's head towards Burgundy, where Duke Philip III. is putting his sword to the grindstone."
"Nay, messire," replied Gray, with increasing displeasure; "I have come on a mission from the court of Scotland, where I have the honour to be Captain of the King's Guard."
"And this mission?" said the other hastily.
"Concerns not you, messire, but the marriage of the Princess Mary d'Egmont," replied Gray, moving his horse away.
"To your young king?--good. You have, then, a letter for--for the duke?" said the other, following him.
"Permit me to see it. Excuse me, messire, but I have both reason and authority for my request."
Gray, who thought he had been rather unwise in stating the object of his mission to a total stranger, reluctantly opened a pocket in his saddlelap, and drew forth a large square letter, which was covered with a silken wrapper, tied with white ribbon crosswise, and sealed with yellow wax, the colour used by the kings of Scotland and France.
"Messire, you will perceive that it is correctly addressed," said Sir Patrick; "and it is my best credential for being reserved."
"Exactly; I thank you," replied the other, taking the letter in his gauntletted hand, and deliberately tearing it open.