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by their master,
‘the churls below the
-. Wolf. said.
_ Where is the chattering and laughter
_ We shall see some rare sport,”
- Black Wolf, grinding his teeth,
THE GUESTS AT THE FBRAST. 9
Presently the sound of trumpets was
heard,
The baron was coming. He. was in
light armour of shining steel, so thinand
beautifully wrought that it yielded to his
every motion, and. two pages kept a
nagnificent robe of cloth of gold from
1
trailing on the floor,
Heralds walked in front, sounding their
silver trumpets at every fow steps, and
after the baron came some half-dozen
knights, suitably attired for such a grand
occasion.
Each man wore a surcoat, with his
arms emblazoned thereon, and with a
long, straight sword at his side and
poignard in his girdle, of gold or. silver
wire cunningly woven.
hen came the esquires,. wearing
badges on their breasts and arms; and
~ last of all, a man with two hounds on a
- leash—for no banquet was deemed com-
plete without the presence of the groat
hunting-dogs, .
Trained to perfection, the hounds sank
near the baron’s chair, knowing that. on
their behaviour depended the quantity
and quality of the food thrown to them
Proud and haughty, the baron paused
at ‘the head of the tablo, inclining his
headin acknowledgment’ of the salutes
bestowed upon him-by the assembly,
Yet he could but mark that there was
no genuine enthusiasm. He was a con-
queror, but his conquest had brought fear |.
and banished love.
No flush of welcome greeted him, and
he stood frowning at the dull eyes that
met his,
“By Pluto,” ho said, turning to a
knight on his right, “one might think
that we had come to eat baked funeral
meats rather than to feast and be merry,
Hildron,”
“Your slave answers you,
Hildron replied.
“ Keep you behind my chair, and-watch
salt,” the Black
“T like not this silence.
baron,”
usual on such occasions as this 2”
“ Baron,” Hildron said, leaning forward
-and whispering, “ these people came with
. no good will, and would fain be away.
' Lansonne reported so to me.”
“Let the hogs eat their fill, and then
said the
As he spoke he raised’ his right hand,
and once more the trumpets sounded,
It was the signal for the feast to begin.
Game, poultry, and joints were handed
round to the guests, who nsed their
daggers, cutting such portions as pleased
them best.
Silver skewers were used by a few, but
as forks had not been yet dreamed of,
most of the guests employed their
fingers, for, under the circumstances, it
could not be held as a breach of etiquette
for a man or woman to gnaw a bone like
a dog.
Some attempt at hilarity was made at
the upper table, but’ soon it fell flat ;
and below the salt there was absolute
silence, save for the rattle of steel.
The guests ate on stolidly, and the
Baron of Deepdene sat nursing the rage
that was consuming him.
Nor did matters mend when wine and
alo were passed round. Men gulped
down great draughts, smacked their lips,
and yawned as though they were being
bored to death.
Suddenly tho baron leapt to his foot,
“Cloar the tablos!” he shouted. “Let
every man and woman sit still.”
He stamped his foot, and a number of
men, armed with swords and halberds,
rushed into the room.
“Guard the door!” the baron cried,
“and strike dead the man who attempts
to leave!” =
His fury had burst like a storm, His
eyes blazed, a rumbling liko the sound of
distant thunder came from his throat ;
the devil that possessed him was let
loose. {
“ Now, you slaves and varlets, listen to '
me!" ho yelled, bringing down his mighty
fist with such force on the table that
everything on it danced and clattered.
“T have brought you here to wag your
chins and beards with good fare, arid what
has been my reward? Saxon swine that
you are, you havo sat silent and frowning.
Now you shall feast your eyes on some-
thing which will, perchance, be more to
your taste. And then——”
Speech failed him. Black in the face,
the veins on his brow swollen like cords,
he flung himself back in his chair, and
pointed to the goblet he had drunk deep
from. .
Hildron refilled it, and the baron,
emptying the goblet ata draught, flung it
over his shoulder, f