``Atrucewithyourraillery，SirKnights，’’saidFitzurse；——``anditwerewell，’’headded，addressingthePrince，``thatyourhighnessshouldassuretheworthyCedricthereisnoinsultintendedhimbyjests，whichmustsoundbutharshlyintheearofastranger。’’
``Insult?’’answeredPrinceJohn，resuminghiscourtesyofdemeanour；``ItrustitwillnotbethoughtthatIcouldmean，orpermitany，tobeofferedinmypresence。Here！IfillmycuptoCedrichimself，sinceherefusestopledgehisson’shealth。’’
Thecupwentroundamidthewell-dissembledapplauseofthecourtiers，which，however，failedtomaketheimpressiononthemindoftheSaxonthathadbeendesigned。Hewasnotnaturallyacuteofperception，butthosetoomuchundervaluedhisunderstandingwhodeemedthatthisflatteringcomplimentwouldobliteratethesenseofthepriorinsult。
Hewassilent，however，whentheroyalpledgeagainpassedround，``ToSirAthelstaneofConingsburgh。’’
Theknightmadehisobeisance，andshowedhissenseofthehonourbydrainingahugegobletinanswertoit。