ded in his turn； 'why is the Lady Joan not here？'
'How can I tell？ It was no fault of mine。 I even got a prim warning that it became me not to meddle about her ladies； and I doubted what slanders you might hear if I were seen asking your Nightingale for a token。'
'Have you none！ Good John； I know you have。'
John smiled his ironical smile； produced from the pouch at his girdle a small packet bound with rose…coloured silk； and said： 'The Nightingale hath a plume； you see； and saith； moreover； that her knight hath done his devoir passably； but that she yet looks to see him send some captive giant to her feet。 So； Sir Knight； I hope your poor dwarf hath acquitted him well in your chivalrous jargon。'
James smiled and coloured with pleasure； the fantastic message was not devoid of reality in the days when young imaginative spirits tried to hide the prose of war and policy in a bright mist of romantic fancy； nor was he ashamed to bend his manly head in reverence to； and even press to his lips； his lady's first love… letter； in the very sight of the satirical though sympathizing Bedford； of whom he eagerly asked of the fair Joan's health and welfare； and whether she were flouted by Queen Catherine。
'No more than is the meed of her beauty；' said Bedford。 'Sister Kate likes not worship at any shrine save one。 Look at our suite： our knightsyea； our very grooms are picked for their comeliness； to wit that great feather…pated oaf of a Welshman； Owen Tudor there； while dames and demoiselles； tire…women and all； are as near akin as may be to Sir Gawain's loathly lady。'
'Not at least the fair Luxemburg。 Did not I see her stately mien？'
'She is none of the Queen's； and moreover she stands aloof； so that the women forgive her gifts！ There is that cough of Harry's again！ He is the shadow of the man he was； I would I knew if this were the step…dame's doing。'
'Nay； John； when you talk to me of Harry's cough； and of night… watches and flooded camps； I hearken； but when your wits run wool… gathering after that poor woman； making waxen images stuck full'
'You are in the right on't； James；' said Henry； who had come up to them while he was speaking。 'John will never get sorceries out of his head。 I have thought it over； and will not be led into oppressing my father's widow any more。 I cannot spend this Pentecost cheerily till I know she is set free and restored to her manors； and I shall write to Humfrey and the Council to that effect。'
And as John shrugged his shoulders； Henry gaily added： 'Thou seest what comes of a winter spent with this unbeliever Jamie； and truly； I found the thought of unright to my father's widow was a worse pin in my heart than ever she is like to thrust there。'
Thus then it was； that in the overflowing joy and good…will of his heart； and mayhap with the presentiment which rendered him willing to be at peace with all his kindred； Henry forgave and released his step…mother； Joan of Navarre； whom common rumour termed the Witch Queen； and whom he had certainly little reason to love； whether it were true or not that she had attempted to weave spells against him。 In fact； there were few of the new…comers from England who did not； like Bedford； impute the transparency of Henry's hands； and the hollowness of his brightly…tinted cheek； to some form of sorcery。
Meantime； Esclairmonde de Luxemburg； more beautiful than ever under a still simpler dress； had greeted Malcolm with her wonted kindness； adding； with a smile； that he was so much grown and embrowned that she should not have known him but for the sweet Scottish voice which he； like his king； possessed。
'You do me too much grace in commending aught that is mine； madame；' said Malcolm； with an attempt at the assurance he believed himself to have acquired； but he could only finish by faltering and blushing。 There was a power of repression about Esclairmonde that annihilated all his designs； and drove him back into his bashful self whenever he came into contact with her； and felt how unlike the grave serene loftiness of her presence was to the mere queen of romance； that in her absence her shadow had become。
Alice Montagu； returning to her side； relieved while disconcerting him。 Sweet little Alice had been in a continual flutter ever since commands had come from Meaux that she was to come out to meet the father whom she had not seen since what seemed like half her childish lifetime； and the betrothed whom she had never seen at all； and Lady Westmoreland had added to her awe by the lengthened admonition with which she took leave of her。 And on this day； when Esclairmonde herself had arrayed the fair child in the daintiest of rose…pink boddices edged with swan's…down； the whitest of kirtles； and softest of rosy veils； the flush of anxiety on the pale little face made it so fair to look upon； that as the maiden wistfully asked； 'Think you he will flout me？' it was impossible not to laugh at the very notion。 'Ah！ but I would be glad if he did； for then I might bide with you。'
When； in the general greeting； Alice had been sought out by a tall； dark…browed； grizzled warrior； Esclairmonde had； cruelly； as the maiden thought； kept her station behind the Countess； and never stirred for all those wistful backward glances； but left her alone to drop on her knee to seek the blessing of the mighty old soldier。
And now she was holding his great hand； almost as tough as his gauntlets； and leading him up to her friend； while he louted low； and spoke with a grand fatherly courtesy：
'Fair demoiselle； this silly wench of mine tells me that you have been good friend to her； and I thank you for the same with all mine heart。'
'Silly' was a fond term of love then； and had all the affection of a proud father in it； as the Earl of Salisbury patted the small soft fingers in his grasp。
'Truly； my lord；' responded Esclairmonde； 'the Lady Alice hath been my sweetest companion； friend； and sister； for these many months。'
'Nay； child； art worthy to be called friend by such a lady as this？ If so； I shall deem my little Alice grown a woman indeed； as it is time she wereDiccon Nevil is bent on the wedding before we go to the wars again。'
Alice coloured like a damask rose； and hid her face behind her friend。
'Hast seen him； sweet？' asked Esclairmonde； when Salisbury had been called away。 'Is he here？'
'Yes； out therehe with the white bull on his surcoat；' said Alice； dreading to look that way。
'And hast spoken with him？' asked the lady next； feeling as if the stout； commonplace； hardy…looking soldier she saw was scarce what she would have chosen for her little wild rose of an Alice； comely and brave though he were。
'He hath kissed mine hand；' faltered Alice； but it was quite credible that not a word had passed。 The marriage was a business contract between the houses of Wark and Raby； and a grand speculation for Sir Richard Nevil； that was all； but gentle Alice had no reluctance beyond mere maidenly shyness； and unwillingness to enter on an unknown future under a new lord。 She even whispered to her dear Clairette that she was glad Sir Richard never tormented her by talking to her； and that he was grave； and so old。
'So old？ why； little one； he can scarce be seven…and…twenty！'
'And is not that old？ oh； so old！' said Alice。 'Able to take care of me。 I would not have a youth like that young Lord of Glenuskie。 Oh nonever！'
'That is well；' said Esclairmonde； smiling； 'but wherefore put such disdain in thy voice； Alice？ He used to be our playfellow； and he hath grown older and more manly in this year。'
'His boyhood was better than such manhood；' said Alice； 'he was more to my taste when he was meek； than now that he seems to say； 〃I would be saucy if I durst。〃 And he hath not the stuff to dare any way。'
'Fie！ fie！ Alice； you are growing slanderous。'
'Nay； now； Clairette； own verilyyou feel the like！'
'Hush； silly one； what skills it？ Youths must pass through temptation； and if his king hindered his vocation； maybe the poor lad may rue it sorely； but methinks he will come to the right at last。 It were better to say a prayer for his faults than to speak evil of them； Alice。'
Poor Malcolm！ He was at that very moment planning with an embroiderer a robe wherein to appear； covered with flashes of lightning transfixing the world； and mottoes around'Esclaire mais Embrase'
Every moment that he was absent from Esclairmonde was spent in composing chivalrous discourses in which to lay himself at her feet； but the mere sight of her steady dark eyes scattered them instantly from his memory； and save for very shame he would have entreated King James again to break the ice for him； since the lady evidently supposed that she had last year entirely quashed his suit。 And in this mood Malcolm mounted and took his place to ride into Paris； where the King wished to arrive in the evening； and with little preparation； so as to avoid the weary length of a state reception； with all its speeches and pageants。
In the glow of a May evening the cavalcade passed the gates； and entered the city； where the streets were so narrow that it was often impossible to ride otherwise than two and two。 The foremost had emerged into an open space before a church and churchyard； when there was a sudden pause； a shock of surprise。 All across the space； blocking up the way； was an enormous line of figures； looking shadowy in the evening light； and bearing the insignia of every rank and dignity that earth presented。 Popes were there； with triple crown and keys； and fanned by peacock tails； scarlet…matted and caped cardinals； mitred and crosiered bishops； crowned and sceptred kings； ermined dukes； steel…clad knights； gowned lawyers； square…capped priests； cowled monks； and friars of every degreenay； the mechanic with his tools； the peasant with his spade； even the beggar within his dish； old men； and children of every age； and women too of all gradesthe tower…crowned queen； the beplumed dame； the lofty abbess； the veiled nun； the bourgeoise； the peasant； the beggar；all were there； moving in a strange shadowy wild dance； sometimes slow； sometimes swift and mad with gaiety； to the music of an unseen band of clashing kettle…drums； cymbals； and other instrumen