birthday present.
"By Jove Hugh, you're a fine fellow. I like the bowl of oranges, my favourite fruit don't you know."
"Of course, that's exactly what I thought Sire."
"It'll be marvellous, in battle everyone will know who I am. There's that Duke William with the bowl of oranges they'll say. Scare the pants off 'em if they know it's me coming. Well done Hugh! You must get one for yourself."
"Yes Sire, I will, next week."
"Now then Hugh you old rascal, what have you got lined up to entertain us with tonight. Some of those marvellous aerial shows you put on. Anything new in it this time?"
"Well Sire, I've got a new catapult and."
"Yes, yes?"
"And I've dressed one of the serfs as a pigeon.”
"Yes, yes?"
“He will glide gracefully over the wall, across the courtyard, and land safely in that haystack by the stables."
"Wow, Hugh that's marvellous! I don't know how you think of all these wonderful things."
The guests sat down for dinner.
When they had eaten the starter, barbecued pigeon, an old family recipe, Hugh launched the first round of clay balls, followed by a round of lances, all trailing silk streamers.
"Oooohhhh."
"Ahhhhhh."
Next came the main course, Hugh's favourite, flattened chicken fried in olive oil, it went down well with the guests.
The servants started to bring out the dessert while the guests were still licking their fingers. The sweet was a lot of mixed fruits covered in a yellow milky substance and sprinkled will small colourful confectionary.
"Before you continue my guests, the new highlight of my aerial display," Hugh announced with pride.
Instantly the serf, dressed in a pigeon suit, was launched from behind the wall. Unfortunately, Hugh had miscalculated the weight of the serf who came crashing down in the middle of a huge bowl of dessert.
Splosh!
"Never mind Hugh," said the Duke, "I expect he'll recover in a trifle!"
The party continued and was a resounding success.
As the guests were leaving one of them approached Sir Hugh.
"Ah Sir Hugh, I am Sir Francis Flachew-Lance, here representing Harold the King of England, burp."
"Sir Francis, I do hope you enjoyed the party," responded Sir Hugh.
"Absolutely marvellous, Sir Hugh, one has never seen such, burp, superb entertainment. Tremendously funny dumping that chap in the trifle, excellent shot, can't have been easy. One is arranging such an event for King Harold in October on the
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