“‘She is an orphan,’ said he, bitterly; ‘she hath none to protect, to redress her, save me alone.
“‘My father’s charge over her forlorn youth descends of right to me.
“‘What matters it whether her forsaker be my brother? He is her foe.
“‘Hath he not crushed her heart?
“‘Hath he not consigned her to sorrow till the grave? And with what insult. No warning, no excuse. With lewd wassailers keeping revel for his new bridals in the hearing—before the sight—of his betrothed. Enough! the time hath come when, to use his own words, “One of us two must fall!”’
“He half drew his glaive as he spoke, and thrusting it back violently into the sheath, strode home to his solitary castle.
“The sound of steeds and of the hunting horn met him at his portal; the bridal train of his brother Sir Charles, all mirth and gladness, were panting for the chase.
“That evening, a knight in complete armour entered the banquet-hall, and defied Sir Charles, on the part of Lord Warbeck, to mortal combat.
“Even Redgill was startled by so unnatural a challenge.
“But Sir Charles, reddening, took up the gage, and the day and spot were fixed.