human
exclaimed the knight sympathetically.
gpt
Yet Heaven knows there are many such. The highways are thick with broken soldiers.
human
Ay, Sir John, returned the man despondently.
gpt
A bolt through the thigh is a sorry return for my trouble, and not a silver penny's worth of spoil to show for it! Nevertheless, the saints helping me, I hope to adventure myself again in this matter.
human
And with better luck, rejoined the Constable.
gpt
And, now tell me, how goes the war in Guienne?
human
Faith, it goeth against us in the main. Pembroke and Sir Walter Manny are shut up in Aiguillon, and when I left Bordeaux they had sent urgent appeals for succour. For my part I know but little of Aiguillon, being besieged with Lord Norwich in Angoulême.
gpt
And how fared Norwich?
human
As crafty as ever.
gpt
How so?
human
The Duke of Normandy pressed him sorely, so that the French looked likely to take the town by escalade. Thereupon Norwich beat a parley. 'How, now!' exclaimed the Duke. 'Dost wish to give in?' 'Nay,' replied our leader, 'but as to-morrow is the Feast of the Virgin, to whom we both bear great devotion, I desire a cessation of strife for that day.' 'Right willingly,' replied the Duke, and Norwich, nigh bursting with badly-concealed merriment, descended from the walls. That night he ordered us to prepare our baggage, and early next morning we marched out straight for the enemy's camp. The Frenchmen flew to arms, but Norwich, forbidding our men to draw, sent a knight to remind the Duke of his promise.
gpt
And what did the Duke?
human
He kept his word. 'I see the sly fox has outwitted us, but let us be content with gaining the town,' he exclaimed; and right between the lines of astonished Frenchmen we marched, without losing as much as a single stick.
gpt
Ho! ho! ho! laughed Sir John.
human
A clever trick, but, methinks, 'twill not pass another time. And Pembroke hath sent an urgent message to the King for aid, didst thou say?
gpt
Ay, directly our ship tied up alongside the quay at Southampton the messenger rode off at headlong speed to Windsor, although he could scarce keep his seat by reason of sea-sickness.
human
Then, Raymond, exclaimed the Constable, turning to his squire,