His grace, the duke, instantly stepped forward, bowing so low that

nothing was seen of him for a brief space, but the small of his back,

and when he reared himself up, after this convulsion of nature, Sir

Norman beheld a face not entirely new to him. At first, he could not

imagine where he had seen it, but speedily she recollected it was the

identical face of the highwayman who had beaten an inglorious retreat

from him and Count L'Estrange, that very night. This ducat robber drew

forth a roll of parchment, and began reading, in lachrymose tones,

a select litany of defunct gentlemen, with hifalutin titles who had

departed this life during the present week. Most of them had gone with

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the plague, but a few had died from natural causes, and among these were

the Earls of Craven and Ashley.

"My lords Craven and Ashley dead!" exclaimed the queen, in tones of some

surprise, but very little anguish; "that is singular, for we saw them

not two hours ago, in excellent health and spirits."

"True, poor majesty," said the duke, dolefully, "and it is not an hour

since they quitted this vale of tears. They and myself rode forth

at nightfall, according to Custom, to lay your majesty's tax on all

travelers, and soon chanced to encounter one who gave vigorous battle;

still, it would have done him little service, had not another person

come suddenly to his aid, and between them they clove the skulls of

Ashley and Craven; and I," said the duke, modestly, "I left."

"Were either of the travelers young, and tall, and of courtly bearing?"

exclaimed the dwarf with sharp rudeness.

"Both were, your highness," replied the duke, bowing to the small

speaker, "and uncommonly handy with their weapons."

"I saw one of them down at the Golden Crown, not long ago," said the

dwarf; "a forward young popinjay, and mighty inquisitive about this,

our royal palace. I promised him, if he came here, a warm reception--a

promise I will have the greatest pleasure in fulfilling."

"You may stand aside, my lord duke," said the queen, with a graceful

wave of her hand, "and if any new subjects have been added to our court

since our last weekly meeting, let them come forward, and be sworn."

A dozen or mare courtiers immediately stepped forward, and kneeling

before the queen, announced their name and rank, which were both

ambitiously high. A few silvery-toned questions were put by that royal

lady and satisfactorily answered, and then the archbishop, armed with

a huge tome, administered a severe and searching oath, which the

candidates took with a great deal of sang frond, and were then

permitted to kiss the hand of the queen--a privilege worth any amount of

swearing--and retire.

"Let any one who has any reports to make, make them immediately," again

commanded her majesty.




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