No message had reached him during the day.

He had heard the alarm-bells of the city ring, and a scout who had gone forward returned with the news that the gates were closed and the drawbridges raised, and that a strong body of men manned the walls.
"Your news is indeed bad," he said, when Walter related to him the events which had taken place in the town.

"This will altogether derange the king's plans.

Now that his ally is killed I fear that his hopes of acquiring Flanders for England will fall to the ground.

It is a thousand pities that he listened to Van Artevelde and allowed him to enter Ghent alone.