De Montfort paled. He was a tall, handsome man, and when he drew himself

to his full height and turned those gray eyes on the victim of his wrath,

as he did that day, he was very imposing. A power in England, second only

to the King himself, and with the heart of a lion in him, he answered the

King as no other man in all England would have dared answer him.

"My Lord King," he cried, "that you be my Lord King alone prevents Simon de

Montfort from demanding satisfaction for such a gross insult. That you

take advantage of your kingship to say what you would never dare say were

you not king, brands me not a traitor, though it does brand you a coward."

Tense silence fell upon the little company of lords and courtiers as these

awful words fell from the lips of a subject, addressed to his king. They

were horrified, for De Montfort's bold challenge was to them but little

short of sacrilege.

Henry, flushing in mortification and anger, rose to advance upon De

Montfort, but suddenly recollecting the power which he represented, he

thought better of whatever action he contemplated and, with a haughty

sneer, turned to his courtiers.

"Come, my gentlemen," he said, "methought that we were to have a turn with

the foils this morning. Already it waxeth late. Come, DeFulm ! Come,

Leybourn !" and the King left the apartment followed by his gentlemen, all

of whom had drawn away from the Earl of Leicester when it became apparent

that the royal displeasure was strong against him. As the arras fell

behind the departing King, De Montfort shrugged his broad shoulders, and

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