Page 37 - A Knight of the White Cross

CHAPTER III

THE GRAND MASTER'S PAGE

The grand prior had, in accordance with Dame Tresham's request, sent the
steward of the house to one of the principal jewellers of the city who, as the

Order were excellent customers, paid a good price for her jewels. After the
payment for the numerous dresses required for the service as a page to the

grand master, the grand prior handed the balance of the money Dame
Tresham had brought with her, and that obtained by the sale of her jewels,
to one of the knights under whose charge Gervaise was to travel, to be

given by him to D'Aubusson for the necessities of Gervaise as a page.
During their term of service the pages received no remuneration, all their

expenses being paid by their families. Nevertheless, the post was
considered so honourable, and of such great advantage to those entering the
Order, that the appointments were eagerly sought after.

The head of the party was Sir Guy Redcar, who had been a commander in

England, but who was now relinquishing that post in order to take a high
office in the convent at the Island. With him were four lads between
seventeen and twenty who were going out as professed knights, having

served their year of probation as novices at the grand priory. With these
Gervaise was already acquainted, as they had lived, studied, and performed

their military exercises together. The three eldest of these Gervaise liked
much, but the youngest of the party, Robert Rivers, a relation of the queen,
had always shown a very different spirit from the others. He was jealous

that a member of one of the defeated and disinherited Lancastrian families
should obtain a post of such honour and advantage as that of page to the

grand master, and that thus, although five years younger, Gervaise should
enter the Order on an equality with him.

In point of strength and stature he was, of course, greatly superior to
Gervaise; but he had been spoilt from his childhood, was averse to exercise,

and dull at learning, and while Gervaise was frequently commended by his
instructors, he himself was constantly reproved, and it had been more than
once a question whether he should be received as a professed knight at the