“Threw the capon out o' the dish over the floor, and the gravy hath ruined Sir John Holland's best coat of Flemish broadcloth.”
“Who was yon tall clerk, disappeared but now?”
“The Prince hath not ceased to weep these three hours.”
“Sir Simon de Burley hath sworn he will have thee birched like any truant schoolboy.”
“He hath ridden forth much perturbed.”
“'T is thought the Prince is in a fever; the physician is sent for.”
“Tell 's thy tale! Tell 's thy tale!”
“Mes amis” said Stephen, “I dined of beans,—plain beans,—sans sauce, sans garniture. My Lord of Oxford, thou art my friend, and the cook's, couldst discover if the capon was injured by 's fall?”
A shout of laughter greeted the question, and all cried, “Beans!—Tell us thy tale!”
But here a page, running down the courtyard, bade say that the Prince Richard called for Etienne Fitzwarine; and the importunate young gentlemen gave place.