"That's fine," Jacques commented drily. "Now hurry, let's see what you learned...."
"Dress him handsomely, Squire!" boomed a taunting voice from the doorway. "Our Lord High Executioner faces a rare challenge this day!"
Jacques recognized the voice of Guy de Archambault, the Court Bailiff, whose bilious nose he intended to grind into the dust one of these fine days. But his anger at the Bailiff's intrusion was overbalanced by curiosity.
"What's all the excitement about?" he demanded. "Who's on the docket, anyway?"
The Bailiff grinned mockingly.
"Forsooth, M'Lord, restrain thy impatience! In the Court's good time wilt ye learn...."
"Oh, knock off that drivel, will you! Court's not in session yet...."
The Bailiff's huge belly shook with laughter.
"Have it your own way, Jacques, m'boy! But in any vernacular the meaning's the same—you're in for quite a surprise, if rumor has it right!"
"Out with it, then! I can see you've been waiting to tell me."