Buckingham stands by,
biting his lip, his brow like a thundercloud. You'll find in
to-morrow's antagonist, Ralph Percy, as potent a conjurer as your
cousin Hotspur found in Glendower. He'll conjure you up the
Tower, and a hanging, drawing, and quartering. Who touches the
King's favorite had safer touch the King. It's l?se-majest‚ you
contemplate."
He lit his pipe and blew out a great cloud of smoke, then burst into
a roar of laughter. "My Lord High Admiral may see you through.
Zooks! there'll be a raree-show worth the penny, behind the church
to-morrow, a Percy striving with all his might and main to serve a
Villiers! Eureka! There is something new under the sun, despite
the Preacher!" He blew out another cloud of smoke. By this the
tankard was empty, and his cheeks were red, his eyes moist, and
his laughter very ready.
"Where's the Lady Jocelyn Leigh?" he asked. "May I not have the
honor to kiss her hand before I go?"
I stared at him. "I do not understand you," I said coldly. "There 's
none within but Mistress Percy. She is weary, and rests after her
journey. We came from Weyanoke this morning."
He shook with laughter. "Ay, ay, brave it out!" he cried. "It's what
every man Jack of us said you would do! But all's known, man!
The Governor read the King's letters in full Council an hour ago.
She's the Lady Jocelyn Leigh; she 's a ward of the King's; she and
her lands are to wed my Lord Carnal!"
"She was all that," I replied.
Pages:
89
90
91
92
93
94
95
96
97
98
99
100
101
102
103
104
105
106
107
108
109
110
111
112
113