t we understand one another。'
'I am not certain of that； Sir；' said James； smiling； 'though I see you mean me kindly。'
'Nay； now；' continued Philippe； 'I know how to honour royalty； even in durance； nor will I even press Madame la Dauphine on you instead of Anne； though it were better for us all if she could have her wish and become a queen； and you would have her jointureif you or any one else can get it。'
'Stay； my Lord Duke；' said James； with dignity； 'I spake not of myself； deeming that it was well known that my troth is plighted。'
'How？' said Burgundy； amazed； but not offended。 'Methought the House of Somerset was a mere bastard slip； with which even King Henry with all his insolence could not expect you to wed in earnest。 However； we may keep our intentions secret awhile； and then； with your lances and my resources； English displeasure need concern you little。'
James； who had learned self…control in captivity； began politely to express himself highly honoured and obliged。
'Do not mention it。 Royal blood； thus shamefully oppressed； must command the aid of all that is chivalrous。 Speak； and your ransom is at your service。'
The hot blood rushed into James's cheek at this tone of condescension； but he answered； with courteous haughtiness： 'Of myself； Sir Duke； there is no question。 My ransom waits England's willingness to accept it； and my hand is not free； even for the prize you have the goodness to offer。 I came not to speak of myself。'
'Not to make suit for my sister； nor my intercession！' exclaimed Philippe。
'I make suit to no man；' said James； then； recollecting himself； 'if I did so； no readier friend than the Duke of Burgundy could be found。 I did in effect come to propose an alliance between one of my own house and a fair vassal of yours。'
'Ha！ the runaway jade of Luxemburg！' cried Burgundy； 'the most headstrong girl who lives！ She dared to plead her foolish vows against my brother Boemond； fled with that other hoyden of Hainault； and now defies me by coming here。 I'll have her； and make her over to Boemond to tame her pride； were she in the great Satan's camp instead of King Henry's。'
And this is the mirror of chivalry！ thought James。 But he persevered in his explanation of his arrangement for permitting the estates of Esclairmonde de Luxemburg to be purchased from her and her husband； should that husband be Malcolm Stewart of Glenuskie； and he soon found that these terms would be as acceptable to the Duke as they had already proved to her guardian； Monseigneur de Therouenne。 Money was nothing to Philippe； but his policy was to absorb the little seignoralties that lay so thick in these border lands of the Empire； and what he desired above all； was to keep them from either passing into the hands of the Church； or from consolidating into some powerful principality； as would have been the case had Esclairmonde either entered a convent or married young Waleran de Luxemburg； her cousin。 Therefore he had striven to force on her his half…brother； who would certainly never unite any inheritance to hers； but he much preferred the purchase of her Hainault lands； and had no compunction in throwing over Boemond； except for a certain lurking desire that the lady's contumacy should be chastised by a lord who would beat her well into subjection。 He would willingly have made a great show of generosity； and have laid James under an obligation； and yet by the King's dignified tone of courtesy he was always reduced to the air of one soliciting rather than conferring a favour。
Finally； Malcolm was called in； and presented to the Duke； making his own promise on his word of honour as a prince； and giving a written bond； that so soon as he obtained the hand of the Demoiselle de Luxemburg he would resign her Hainault estates to the Duke of Burgundy for a sum of money； to be fixed by persons chosen for the purpose。
This was more like earnest than anything Malcolm had yet obtained； and he went home exulting and exalted； his doubts as to Esclairmonde's consent almost silenced； when he counted up the forces that were about to bear upon her。
And they did descend upon her。 Countess Jaqueline had been joined by other and more congenial Flemish dames； and was weary of her grave monitress； and she continually scolded at Esclairmonde for perverseness and obstinacy in not accepting the only male thing she had ever favoured。 The Bishop of Therouenne threatened and argued； and the Duke of Burgundy himself came to enforce his commands to his refractory vassal； and on finding her still unsubmissive； flew into a rage； and rated her as few COULD have done； save Philippe； called the Good。
All she attempted to answer was； that they were welcome to her lands； so they would leave her person free； her vows were not to man； but to God； and God would protect her。
It was an answer that seemed specially to enrage her persecutors； who retorted by telling her that such protection was only extended to those who obeyed lawful authority； and hints were thrown out that； if she did not submit willingly； she might find herself married forcibly； for a bishop could afford to disregard the resistance of a bride。
Would Malcolmwould his kingconsent to her being thus treated？
As to Malcolm； he seemed to her too munch changed for her to reckon on what remnant of good feeling there might be to appeal to in him。 And James； though he was certain not to permit palpable coercion in his presence； or even if he were aware that it was contemplated； seemed to have left the whole management of the affair to Esclairmonde's own guardians； and they would probably avoid driving matters to extremities that would revolt him； while he was near enough for an appeal。 And Esclairmonde was too uncertain whether her guardians would resort to such lengths； or whether it were not a vain threat of the giddy Countess； to compromise her dignity by crying out before she was hurt； and she had no security； save that she was certain that in the English household of King Henry such violence would not be attempted； and out of reach of that protection she never ventured。
Once she said to Henry； 'My only hope is in God and in you； my lord。'
And Henry bent his head； saying； 'Noble lady； I cannot interfere； but while you are in my house； nothing can be done with you against your will。'
Yet even Henry was scarcely what he had been in all…pervading vigilance and readiness。 Like all real kings of men； he had been his own prime minister； commander…in…chief； and private secretary； transacting a marvellous amount of business with prompt completeness； and when； in the midst of shattered health which he would not avow； the cares of two kingdoms； and the generalship of an army； with all its garrisons； rested on him； his work would hardly have been accomplished but for his brother's aid。 It was never acknowledged； often angrily disdained。 But when John of Bedford had watched the terrible lassitude and lethargy that weighed on the King at times in the midst of his cabinet work； he was constantly on the watch to relieve him； and his hand and style so closely resembled Henry's that the difference could scarce be detected； and he could do what none other durst attempt。 Many a time would Henry； whose temper had grown most uncertain； fiercely rate him for intermeddling； but John knew and loved him too well to heed； and his tact and unobtrusiveness made Henry rely on him more and more。
If the illness had only been confessed； those who watched the King anxiously would have had more hope； but he was hotly angered at any hint of his needing care； and though he sometimes relieved oppression by causing himself to be bled by a servant； he never allowed that anything ailed him； it was always the hot weather； the anxious tidings； the long pageant that wearied himthings that were wont to be like gnats on a lion's mane。
Those solemn banquets and festivalslasting from forenoon till eventide； with their endless relays of allegorical subtleties； their long…winded harangues； noisy music； interludes of giants； sylvan men； distressed damsels； knights…errant on horseback； ships and forests coming in upon wheels； and fulsome compliments that must be answered… …had been always his aversion； and were now so heavy an oppression that Bedford would have persuaded the Queen to curtail them。 But to the fair Catherine this appeared an unkind endeavour of her disagreeable brother…in…law； to prevent her from shining in her native city； and eclipsing the Burgundian pomp； and she opened her soft brown eyes in dignified displeasure； answering that she saw nothing amiss with the King； and she likewise complained to her husband of his brother's jealousy of her welcome from her own people； bringing on him one of Henry's most bitter sentences。
Henry would only have had her abate somewhat of the splendour that gratified her； because he did not think it becoming to outshine her parents； but Catherine scorned the notion。 Her old father would know nothing； or would smile in his foolish way to see her so brave； and for her mother； she recked not so long as she had a larded capon before her： nor was it possible to make the young queen understand that this fatuity and feebleness were the very reasons for deferring to them。
The ordering of the feast fell to Catherine and her train； and its splendours on successive days had their full development； greatly to the constraint and weariness； among others； of Esclairmonde； who was always assigned to Malcolm Stewart； and throughout these long days had to be constantly repressing him； not that he often durst make her any direct compliment； for he was usually quelled into anxious wistful silence； and merely eyed her earnestly； paying her every attention in his power。 And such a silent tedious meal was sure to be remarked； either with laughing rudeness by Countess Jaqueline； or with severe reproof by the Bishop of Therouenne； both of whom assured her that she had better lay aside her airs； and resign herself in good part； for there was no escape for her。
One day； however； when the feast was at the Hotel de Bourgogne； and there were some slight differences in the order of the guests； the Duke of Bedford put himself forward as the Lady Esclairmonde's c