"How camest thou here? By St. Denis, 'twas by reason of the debt I owe thee, which I have been enabled to repay. Yet, let it be understood that 'twas more by chance than otherwise, for had I not seen thy face my knife would have been plunged into thy body."
"Then thou art the man who grappled with me, Gaston?"
"Ay," replied the pilot shortly, "I came near to slaying thee in fair fight."
"How camest thou to be shut up in Harfleur?" asked Geoffrey curiously.
"Young sir, I am ever a true Frenchman, therefore 'tis my duty to bear my part in defending the town. Moreover, thy countrymen have burned the village of La Broie, and with it my house; and, what is more, my boat has been pressed into their service."
"But when the war is over and we are masters of France thou canst return to ply thy trade as pilot."
"The English will never be masters of France, young sir," replied the Norman fiercely. "The greater the danger the stronger will all true Frenchmen stand."
"Art thou not a vassal of the Duke of Normandy, and is not our king the Duke?"
"A duke who wars against his overlord is no master of mine," retorted the Norman. "But now, young sir, I must away. Wilt thou give me thy solemn word that thou wilt remain my prisoner, and not attempt to escape? Bear in mind that on the occasion of the attack upon the English mines an order was given that no prisoners were to be taken. At great risk I bore thee hither, and if thou wert discovered by the governor of the town or his officers 'twould go hard with thee and me. Come, Squire Lysle, thy promise!"
"Nay," replied Geoffrey resolutely, "I'll not give thee my parole. Yet rest assured, should I fail in my attempt to break away, none shall know from whose care I have escaped."