“That,” said Hugh flatly, “I shall neverunderstand. He, of all people! Gloucester’s own son, andGloucester has been the empress’s prop and stay as good assinglehanded throughout, and now his son turns against him andjoins the king! And no half-measures, either. By all accounts,he’s righting for Stephen as fiercely as he ever fought forMaud.”

“And bear in mind, Philip’s sister is wife to Ranulfof Chester,” the courier pointed out, “and these twochanges of heart chime together. Which of them swept the other awaywith him, or what else lies behind it, God he knows, not I. Butthere’s the plain fact of it. The king is the fatter by twonew allies and a very respectable handful of castles.”

“And I’d have said, in no mood to make anyconcessions, even for the bishops,” observed Hugh shrewdly.“Much more likely to be encouraged, all over again, tobelieve he can win absolute victory. I doubt if they’ll everget him to the council table.”

“Never underestimate Roger de Clinton,” saidLeicester’s squire, and grinned. “He has offeredCoventry as the meeting-place, and Stephen has as good as agreed tocome and listen. They’re issuing safe conducts already, onboth sides. Coventry is a good center for all, Chester can make useof Mountsorrel to offer hospitality and worm his way intofriendships, and the priory has housing enough for all. Oh,there’ll be a meeting! Whether much will come of it isanother matter. It won’t please everyone, and there’llbe those who’ll do their worst to wreck it. Philip FitzRobertfor one. Oh, he’ll come, if only to confront his father andshow that he regrets nothing, but he’ll come to destroy, notto placate. Well, my lord wants your voice there, speaking for yourshire. Shall he have it? He knows your mind,” said the youngman airily, “or thinks he does. You rank somewhere in thelist of his hopes. What do you say?’