CHAPTER XX. HOW ALLEYNE WON HIS PLACE IN AN HONORABLE GUILD.
Whilst the prince's council was sitting, Alleyne and Ford had remained in the outer hall, where they were soon surrounded by a noisy group of young Englishmen of their own rank, all eager to hear the latest news from England.
“How is it with the old man at Windsor?” asked one.
“And how with the good Queen Philippa?”
“And how with Dame Alice Perrers?” cried a third.
“The devil take your tongue, Wat!” shouted a tall young man, seizing the last speaker by the collar and giving him an admonitory shake. “The prince would take your head off for those words.”
“By God's coif! Wat would miss it but little,” said another. “It is as empty as a beggar's wallet.”
“As empty as an English squire, coz,” cried the first speaker. “What a de
