Without the boy and his mother the father is sure aid to Louis. And
where De Aldithely goeth, there goeth victory."
"Nay, not alway, my liege," responded a voice.
The king started, and turned to see one of his courtiers, more bold
than the rest, who had quietly entered the chamber.
"I knew not of thy presence, De Kirkham," he said. "What sayest thou?"
"I say that victory is not alway with De Aldithely since he is a
fugitive and his son a wanderer, and his castle in thy power."
"True. Thou sayest true," responded the king, after a pause. "Thou dost
ever bolster up my failing courage. And I will have this silly boy, if
the madman I did put in custody spake true. Yea, I will have him,
though I set half England on the chase. His father is my enemy. And
shall the son defy me? I will hale him to a dungeon, and so I tell
thee, De Kirkham."
It was not a long ride to De Aldithely castle for those who need
neither skulk nor hide, and the messengers of the king were at Selby
ere nightfall. Here they determined to rest and go on the next morning.
They heard no news in the town; nor did they see anything until they
came to the castle itself.
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