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
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.