"Nay, the sun is behind them," replied Sir Oliver's squire. "Yet, for their numbers there is no lack of standards and banners."
As he spoke a horseman was observed to leave his party and ride rapidly in the direction of the Hampshire men.
"Hold!" he shouted, when he came within hailing distance. "Who and what are ye?"
"We are of the companies of Sir Oliver Lysle and of Sir Thomas Carberry," replied Oswald, "and are for the camp before Rouen, having completed some small enterprise at the Castle of Malevereux."
"Then why are not the banners of these two gentle knights displayed?" returned the horseman. "But delay thine explanations: yonder is none other than King Henry. To him thou must needs give account of thyself."
With fast-beating heart and rising colour, Geoffrey ordered his men to redress their ranks, and with Oswald at his side, and Gripwell, bearing the furled banner of Malevereux, close behind him, the young leader rode to meet his royal master.
The King had that morning made a circuit of the entrenchments, and accompanied by the Dukes of Exeter, Gloucester, and Clarence, and a galaxy of gaily attired nobles and clerics—amongst the latter being the warlike Cardinal Beaufort—was on the point of returning to his quarters when the sight of a column of armed men marching from the direction of Malevereux arrested his attention.
"By my halidom!" exclaimed the King. "We would know why yon body of soldiers should approach our lines without displaying the banner of the knight in command. 'Tis contrary to our express orders. Therefore, Sir Gilbert, ride over and ask their leader why our commands are disregarded. Bid them also approach, so that we may see what manner of men they are."
"From Malevereux!" exclaimed Henry on the return of his messenger. "Then Sir Oliver hath failed to carry out our commands? Dare he return with defeat written broad upon his features?"
Impatiently the King awaited the approach of the leader of the expedition, the absence of the knight's banner having misled him as to the issue of the enterprise.