This time she, herself, had
broken through a bit, but that would only make his punishment the
heavier.
At first the conversation was aimless and disconnected. De Lacy let it
drift and the Countess was rather distrait and steered it uncertainly.
Presently she took a grip upon herself, and, before he realized it, he
was telling her of the French Court; of Louis the King, whom men called
"The Fell," but who was, he said, the ablest of the Valois, and would
do much for France--though not by the means then deemed most
honorable,--being far ahead of his Age. He spoke of the brave, dead
St. Pol, the Constable--after Dunois, the greatest since Du Guesclin's
time. He told her of their palaces . . . of the life of their women,
though he touched but lightly upon its loose gayety . . . of the cities
. . . of the great domains whereon the noble had the "right of high
justice, the middle and the low," and indeed up until very lately had
done his own sweet will toward aught but the King, and in many cases
toward the King himself. . . And at length he mentioned having seen
and met Henry Tudor, Earl of Richmond, at the Court of Blois.
Concerning him the Countess asked many questions, and Aymer answered
them as best he could.
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