"To the health of Monsignor, Bishop of Troyes and of the Regent of France," said Sieur Guillaume, rising from his canonical seat.
"Right willingly, sieur," said Thibault of Saulges, knight. "But it is an open secret that our Bishop is disputing with the Regent touching the double tithe which Monsignor of Bedford is exacting from Churchmen, under the pretext of financing the Crusade against the Hussites. Thus we are about to mingle in one toast the healths of two enemies."
"Ha ha!" replied Sieur Guillaume. "But healths are proposed for peace and not for war. I drink to King Henry VI's Regent of France and to the health of Monsignor, Bishop of Troyes, whom we all elected two years ago."
The canons, raising their goblets, drank to the health of the Bishop and of the Regent Bedford.
Meanwhile there was raised at the bottom of the table a young and as yet piping voice, which cried:
"To the health of the Dauphin Louis, the true King of France!"
It was the little Pierrolet, whose Armagnac sympathies, heated by the canon's wine, were finding expression.
No one took any notice, and Sieur Guillaume having drunk again they all cried in chorus:
"The King drinks! The King drinks!"
The guests, all speaking at once, were noisily discussing matters both sacred and profane.