A Ladder of Swords

his dying day. When, after varied troubles hereafter set down, he went back to Jersey, he mad

kneeling and retiring. Now it was the saltcellar, the plate, and the bread; then it was a Duke's Daughter-a noble soul as ever lived-with a tasting-knife, as beautiful as a rose; then another lady enters who glares at me, and gets to her knees as does the other. Three times up and down, and then one rubs the plate with bread and salt, as solemn as St. Ouen's when he says prayers in the royal court. Gentles, that was

carried a dish-that her notorious Majesty be safe against the hand of poisoners. There was I, fed by a Duke's Daughter; and thus was Jersey honored; and the Duke's Daughter whispers to me, as a dozen other unmarried ladies enter, '

set to do that day, and he the greatest gallant of the kingdom, as all the world knows. What they said among themselves I know not, but I heard Leicester's name, and I guessed that they were mostly in the pay of his soft words. But the Duke's Daughter was on my side, as was proved betimes when Leicester made

n as she sat at dinner, and of what she said to him; but since his wo

Queen's chair until she summoned him to face her. Then, having finished her meal and dipped her fingers in a bowl of

ons: First, what concern is it of yours whether this Michel

sea-one good turn deserves ano

arply at him, then

uth, or I'll have you where that jerkin will fit you not so well a month hence. Plain answers I will have to plain questions, or De Car

erned about my head, but more about my honors, and most about my honor," he replied. "My head is my own, my honors are my family's,

and, with a glance of satisfaction towards

've spoken well, Rozel, and you shall speak by the book to the end, if you will sav

sworn to befriend, and that is m

the f

iselle

of this Miche

ut I made sure De la Forêt was de

niless exile-he, a butler to the Queen, with three dove-cotes and the perquage-and a Huguenot withal. He is refused; then comes the absent lover oversea, to shipwreck; and our seigneur rescues him, 'fends him; and when yon master exile is in peril,

red Lemprière, stubbornly, "and I

y aboard his ship on the high seas-'tis a miraculous chivalry, cousin," she added to the Duke's Daughter, w

arrest this De la Forêt," continued Elizabeth. "Call

he matter might the more surely be

have brought you

in this, as in all else. So I came hither to t

r," said the Queen, with amused irony. "What

e la Forêt shall not be returned t

France and England, and De la Forêt may turn the sca

d her father may live withou

t sour grapes ad

ey on pledge that he sin no more, not even to raid St. Ouen's

estioned him closely upon Buonespoir's raid; and so infectious was his mirth as he told

igneur," she said; "but for his fut

Jersey Isle, your c

y go and bring mademoiselle and her father hither. Orders are given for their disposal. And to-morrow at this hour you shall

ither, preceded by the Queen's messenger. Leicester stopped and said, with a slow, m

he replied: "You are mistook, my lord. You will remember I was in the presence-cham

were a farmer and raised cabbages.

ng at his obtuseness. Then suddenly he knew he had been mocked, and he turned

ng with his motions. As Leicester disappeared he looked from under his arm at Lemprière. "If a bird will not sto

turning on his heel, he spread himself like a Colossus and looked down in grandeur. "And wherefore cry David

other ways be found. David the ancient put a stone in a sling, and Goliath laid him down like an egg in a nest-therefore, Nuncio, get thee to the quar

orn sensible and infinite. I understand thee like a book. Thou hast not folly, and thou shall not be answered as if thou wast

l at court, for is it not written that a fool and his money are soon pa

gold-piece, gossip. But see"-his voice lowered-"know you where is

now where he hides, Nuncio; so

in Jersey," rejoined Lemprière, and strode ponderously

her, O co

bride up

rewn her o'e

roses 'nea

and tears a

aughter i

o the valley,

e roses the