Now, the people who had gathered to study the strangers or tout for
their custom, took off their bonnets and bent low, saying: "The King!
The King! God save him!"
"Which is his Grace?" asked Hugh of one of them, whereon the man pointed
to a royal-eyed and bearded knight, still in early middle life, who rode
toward him, talking to a gallant youth at his side.
Now a thought came into Hugh's mind that the present time is always the
best time to strike. Leaping from his horse, he advanced bowing, and
stood in the pathway of the King. Seeing this, two of the fine Court
lords spurred their horses and rode straight at him, thinking to drive
him back. But he held his ground, for their insolence made him angry,
and, catching the bridle of one of the horses, threw it on its haunches
so sharply that the knight who rode it rolled from his saddle into the
mire, whereupon every one laughed. In a moment he was on his feet again,
and shouting:
"Out of the road, jackanapes, dressed in your grandfather's mail, unless
you would stop there in the stocks. Do you know whose path you block?"
"That of his Grace," answered Hugh, "for whom I have a message that he
will be glad to hear, and, popinjay, this for yourself; were it not
for his presence it is you who should stop upon the road till you were
carried thence."
Now, noting this disturbance, the King spoke to the youth at his side,
who came forward and said, in a pleasant, courteous voice, addressing
Hugh:
"Sir, why do you make trouble in these streets, and tumble the good Sir
Ambrose Lacey from his horse with such scant ceremony?"
"Sir," answered Hugh, "because the good Sir Ambrose tried to ride his
horse over me for no offence save that I would deliver a message to his
Grace, which he will wish to hear.
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