"Ay, his daughter boasted to me after I was made prisoner that they could place whom they wished upon the throne," volunteered Hugh.
"His daughter? What manner of woman is she?" enquired Sir James with reawakened interest.
Hugh blushed in the darkness.
"Most fair," he answered briefly.
"You have not told me how you were made prisoner, fair son?"
"'Tis not a story I am proud of," replied Hugh. And in as few words as possible he described the coming of the embassy, and the message which had been whispered to him by the page as they withdrew.
"Stay," exclaimed his father. "Who was this maid you thought had sent the page? Oh, a daughter of Sir Cedric Halcroft? She that you mentioned Mocenigo was sent for? Sir Godfrey's niece? Ha, I see. You have an interest in the maid, Hugh?"
Hugh picked at the straps of his armour.
"Ere she left England she gave me her gage to wear," he admitted slowly.
"You still wear it?"