But, I repeat, I am
already your friend. You have only to speak, and all in my power to
serve you shall be done."
"Then, sir," returned he, "as mine is rather a melancholy story, and
parts of it have already drawn tears from Lady Helen, if you will honor
me with your attention apart from her, I would relate how I fell into
disgrace with my sovereign."
Wallace fell a little back with Grimsby; and while Bruce and Helen rode
briskly forward, he, at a slower pace, prepared to listen to the
recapitulation of scenes in which he was only too deeply interested.
The soldier began by narrating the fatal events at Ellerslie, which had
compelled him to leave the army in Scotland. He related that after
quitting the priory of St. Fillan, he reached Guienne, and there served
under the Earl of Lincoln, until the marriage of Edward with King
Philip's sister gave the English monarch quiet possession of that
province. Grimsby then marched with the rest of the troops to join
their sovereign in Flanders. There he was recognized, and brought to
judgment by one of Heselrigge's captains; one who had been a particular
favorite with the tyrant from their similarity of disposition, and to
whom he had told the mutiny and desertion (as he called it) of Grimsby.
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