She did not condescend to come down to them, but stood quitestill and viewed the scene with a disinterested and slightlydisdainful stare, only inclining her head in acknowledgement of theking’s reverence. She was regally handsome, her hair dark andrich under the gilded net of her coif, her eyes large and direct,as unnerving as the straight stare of a Byzantine saint in amosaic, and as indifferent. She was past forty, but as durable asmarble.

“Say no word, either of you,” said the king,towering over the offenders, even over the bishop, who was tall bymost men’s standards, “for we’ll hear none. Hereyou are in the Church’s discipline, and had best come toterms with it. Keep your quarrels for another time and place, orbetter still, put them away for ever. They have no place here. Mylord bishop, give your orders now as to this matter of bearingarms, and announce it formally when you preside in hall tomorrow.Banish all weapons if you will, or let us have some firm regulationas to their wear, and I will see to it that who ever offendsagainst your rule shall pay his dues in full.”

“I would not presume to deprive any man of the right tobear arms,” said the bishop firmly. “I can, with fulljustification, take measures to regulate their use within thesewalls and during these grave discussions. In going about the town,certainly swords may be worn as customary, a man might well feelincomplete without his sword.” His own vigorous form andaquiline face could as well have belonged to a warrior as a bishop.And was it not said of him that his heart was already set onplaying more than a passive role in the defence of the Christiankingdom of Jerusalem? “Within these walls,” he saidwith deliberation, “steel must not be drawn. Within the hallin session, not even worn, but laid by in the lodgings. And noweapon must ever be worn to the offices of the Church. Whatever theoutcome, no man shall challenge another man in arms, for any reasonsoever, until we who are met here again separate. If your Grace iscontent so?”