"The more sober of these suits are a good deal gayer
than those we wore at home even at court ceremonies."
"King Edward objects to show," Wulf said, "and his own pages are
so sober in their attire that the earl likes not that we should
outshine them, and we usually cut a poor figure beside those of
William of London and the other Normans of his court."
In a short time the chamberlain came in and informed them that
supper was served, and conducted them to the hall, where he presented
them to the duke's gentlemen and pages as William's guests, and
wards and pages of the Earl of Wessex. The news of Harold's shipwreck
and imprisonment travelled quickly, for orders had already been
issued for the court to prepare to start early the next morning to
accompany the duke to Eu, in order to receive with due honour
William's guest and friend, Harold of England; and while the meal
went on many questions were asked as to the shipwreck and prisonment
of the earl, and the liveliest indignation was expressed at the
conduct of Conrad of Ponthieu.
"Truly all Normans will be reckoned churls," one of the gentlemen
exclaimed indignantly. "The fame of Harold's bravery, wisdom, and
courtesy to all men is known in every court in Europe, and that the
duke's vassal should have dared to imprison and chain him will
excite universal indignation. Why, the rudest of our own Norse
ancestors would not have so foully treated one so noble whom fate
had cast into his hands.
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