What think you of it, my worthy Captal?
He took you at Cocherel, and, by my soul I you will have the chance now to pay that score." The Gascon warrior winced a little at the allusion, nor were his countrymen around him better pleased, for on the only occasion when they had encountered the arms of France without English aid they had met with a heavy defeat.
"There are some who say, sire," said the burly De Clisson, "that the score is already overpaid, for that without Gascon help Bertrand had not been taken at Auray, nor had King John been overborne at Poictiers." "By heaven! but this is too much," cried an English nobleman.

"Methinks that Gascony is too small a cock to crow so lustily." "The smaller cock, my Lord Audley, may have the longer spur," remarked the Captal de Buch.
"May have its comb clipped if it make over-much noise," broke in an Englishman.
"By our Lady of Rocamadour!" cried the Lord of Mucident, "this is more than I can abide.

Sir John Charnell, you shall answer to me for those words!" "Freely, my lord, and when you will," returned the Englishman carelessly.
"My Lord de Clisson," cried Lord Audley, "you look some, what fixedly in my direction.

By God's soul! I should be right glad to go further into the matter with you." "And you, my Lord of Pommers," said Sir Nigel, pushing his way to the front, "it is in my mind that we might break a lance in gentle and honorable debate over the question." For a moment a dozen challenges flashed backwards and forwards at this sudden bursting of the cloud which had lowered so long between the knights of the two nations.

Furious and gesticulating the Gascons, white and cold and sneering the English, while the prince with a half smile glanced from one party to the other, like a man who loved to dwell upon a fiery scene, and yet dreaded least the mischief go so far that he might find it beyond his control.
"Friends, friends!" he cried at last, "this quarrel must go no further.
The man shall answer to me, be he Gascon or English, who carries it beyond this room.