"And dost thou then think that the Duke of Gloucester is not honest?"
asked Hazel. "Why, he seems to be most honourable and just, so far as
I have seen."

"So far as thou hast seen," I replied. "That distance is not great.
My father--rest his soul--saw this same Richard stab to the heart,
without provocation, and in the coldest blood, young Edward, son of
Henry. I've heard my father, with tears upon his cheeks, tell the tale
of that foul deed.

"The young Prince, after Tewkesbury, was brought before King Edward and
his brothers.

"'What meanest thou, so to rebel against the laws of England and her
Sovereign, by thus taking up arms to disturb the peace of this thy
native land?' asked our now dead King.

"'Proud and rebellious York,' replied the youth; 'by what right dost
thou question us, thy true and lawful Sovereign? Hadst thou the
loyalty equal to thine impertinence, thou wouldst now be at our feet,
craving our pardon for this show of force before us, England's only
King.'

"My father said 'twas grand to see the young Prince, as he did finish
this speech, so full of dignity and power. His face was flushed with
excitement, and with pride; and as he raised his hand to Heaven, as
though asking of the powers there to bear him out, he looked as though
he were inspired.

"Then Richard of Gloucester, now our _pro tem._ ruler, unable to look
upon this righteous indignation, with his steel gauntlet, struck young
Edward on that tender cheek. This proud bud of the noble flower of
Lancaster could ill brook this insult; especially from one of a rival
house. His hand flew to his dagger. Gloucester, who knew full well
that this was but an impulse, pounced on the Prince, as doth the tiger
on its tender prey, buried his weapon in that noble flesh, and, as the
body fell upon the ground, he spurned it with his armoured foot.
This," I continued, "doth show the tenderness of Richard, and the
treatment that they may expect, which do not please his Highness, the
Protector. His words and his actions are of but distant kin."

"Then dost thou not think he will be bound by his oath, made to the
King before his Majesty deceased?" asked Hazel.

"Indeed who can tell?" I replied. "Mayhap a year will show, mayhap
two. He may be honest, and he may be not. Which course he doth find
to be most profitable, it is mine opinion, he will follow."

Thus we spent most of the morning, discussing the policy of the new
Protector; and