"Well then I shall have to ask Master Tom o' Kingston. How fine he do look, to be sure, in his armour."
"Oh, I'll go, Mistress Bremeskete, with right good will, too, if it's to pleasure you; but what shall I say?"
"Tell him a little maid in the crowd is wishful to speak with him."
"Well, but I don't know as how that'll do much good. There's a good many wenches i' the crowd as 'ud like to speak with so fine a gallant as Master Lisle; but I'll try, if it's to please you, Mistress Bremeskete."
So saying, with much difficulty Master Paxhulle forced his way down to the other end of the lists, and requested one of the yeoman on guard to tell Master Lisle's varlet that a young wench in the crowd was making earnest signs to him.
"Tell him," added Master Paxhulle, "she's holding up a little glove, and waving it at him."
Humphrey was soon after seen speaking to Ralph, who instantly remembered the note and the enclosure he had received.
"Give me that glove I gave you to mind for me, Humphrey," said Ralph.
When he had taken it from his varlet, he looked in the direction where the little girl was, and waved the tiny glove in answer; then he bent down his head so that his esquire could place it in his helmet. This done, he sat erect, awaiting the order to charge. It was not long in coming.
"Are you ready?" Down came the spears. "Are you ready? Laissez aller." And away the two steel-clad figures sped to meet in the rude shock of the tilt.