Adventure Magazine Cover, October 30, 1924 — page 100: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

go Adventure said, “‘and my name is Louis Bonivard. I have come out of Switzerland to take my pleasure in Italy.” He laughed shyly. “You see; I am nobody, Sir Silvain. And you—you are a knight of renown. It isa great thing to me to ride by your side.” “Are your ventures all to come, Louis? Happy man!”’ “T can not tell. God send I shall not fail in my hour,”’ said Louis humbly, and began to make Silvain talk of his adventures. He had an eager appetite for tales of fighting and plied Silvain with questions of how each deed was done, and his wonder and his boyish praises were pleasant to hear. But Messire Thibaut, jogging along be- hind, made grimaces. “What does this Switzer want of us?” said he to himself. “Oh, my master, tell me what a great man you are, quoth my wife as she felt for my purse.”’ Louis Bonivard seemed to want nothing but to hear how Silvain had broken into a castle here or out of a castle there and every device of rescue or flight, and- they came very happily to Milan. There the only harm that he did was to confess he could not afford so fine an inn as that which Mes- sire Thibaut thought fit for his master’s greatness. He was for going off alone to some hum- bler place and when Silvain swore they should lodge together he had many shy excuses and apologies. And _ Thibaut, though he made a sour face at the little remote tavern to which they came, could not much blame the lad who would plainly have been well content to part from them. And Louis, like a good youth, fell to grooming his horse and cleaning his armor while Sil- vain went out to see the town. None so busy, none so rich he had found in all his travels. It bewildered him. He lingered a while where, dimly seen through a veil of workmen’s tackle, the white mag- nificence of the cathedral rose for his wor- ship. He went on to discover a town of palaces and townsfolk with the state and the airs of courtiers. He must needs wonder how so many people could be wealthy and who could buy all the show of silver ware and silken stuffs in the shops. A town of enchantment, a paradise of the works of men. He was ill at ease. Not in such a place as this was there honor for a bright sword. He came to the castle and saw a troop of hired men-at-arms march out. trained men, well drilled and their equip- ment gorgeous, but they had no spirit in them. They moved like lackeys. They made a square before the castle and a crowd gathered and gaped, and a herald came out and made proclamation of a trial at arms to which the Lord Lodovico bade all gentle- men of noble blood. SILVAIN went back to his little tavern singing to himself. Louis s Bonivard was in a corner with pen cae paper “Do you write chronicles or ballads, child?” Silvain laughed. “Tf you please, I keep my accounts,” said Louis Bonivard. Silvain opened his eyes. was new to him. ‘Here is better work for you, Louis,” he said gently. ‘They hold a trial of arms in Milan tomorrow.” “Oh, sir, you will win rich honor,” said Louis Bonivard. “We will venture ourselves,” Silvain smiled. ‘It is a noble chance for a young knight. All Italy will hear of him who does gallantly.” “T?”? said Bonivard. “Alas, my lord, I dare not. I have not proved myself.” Silvain frowned. ‘By my faith that is a reason to dare, not flinch, child.” “T would not flinch in fight, I think,”’ said Bonivard meekly. ‘‘But I do not seek a fight, sir. I have no mind to match myself against proved champions. I should go down.” This reasonable temper was disgusting to Silvain. He set himself for the good of Louis Bonivard’s soul to shame the lad into riding in the joust. Bonivard was humble, smooth, impenetrable. Silvain could not make him feel that to stand out of a trial for fear of failure was dishonor. Nothing stirred him, not reproach nor appeal nor mockery. Silvain could hardly believe he was real. And at last in despair, ‘‘Fie, go to your accounts. That is fit work for you,” he cried and stalked away, and Louis Boni- vard made a supper of bread and beans and went off to sleep by his horse. In the morn- ing he was gone. Silvain and Thibaut in all their glory rode out to the castle. The lists were set in the tilt-yard, where under a canopy sat the Lord Such a knight comicbooks.cO They were in