a soul in
the place which could compete with us, for elegance of dress--except,
perhaps, the Duke of Gloucester. And let me here put it down; that
room contained all the best of fashion that English tailors could
produce. The secret of our success lay in the fact that it was
Gloucester's own tailor which did make our garments; he being not over
busy whilst the Duke was absent in Scotland.

As the King (for some reason then unknown to us) had not yet arrived,
the ladies and gentlemen, after having been presented to the Queen,
were standing about, in groups of four or more, gossiping and making
all manner of remarks as each of the guests arrived.

After we had been presented to her Majesty, and saluted the girls, we
walked to the far end of the hall, where Gloucester, Buckingham, and a
fellow by the name of Sir William Catesby, a lawyer, with whom I shall
have to deal later on, were standing. The Prince was giving some
instructions to the musicians as we came up, but when he saw us he
turned, and in that voice, as smooth as the finest silk, he said:--"Ah!
Bradley, my dear friend, I am delighted to see thee here this evening,
and thee, Harleston. I have heard how swift were my messengers, and I
assure you both that it shall be none the worse for you that it was so."

We thanked his Grace for his pretty speech, in which, however, I could
not help but detect some insincerity; but could not, at that time,
imagine what his object could be--for this man ever did have one,--when
he acted in this manner. However, I learned it later.

Just then the King did enter, leaning upon the arm of Lord Hastings.
He looked very pale and his magnificent form seemed tottering as though
with age, and yet Edward was still a young man. I could scarce believe
mine eyes, so greatly was he changed since last I had seen him. "If so
short a time can work such a marvel, he must be nearing his end,"
thought I. Then Harleston's prophecy, when first I had met him,
flashed through my mind, and I wondered if it were going to be
fulfilled. "But yet, he may be suffering from some temporary attack,
and it will soon pass off." Thus did I try to convince myself that all
was well.

But Harleston nudged me with his elbow, and said, in a voice that no
one else might hear:--"Dost thou observe the King? If he doth live a
month it shall greatly surprise me; for if the stamp of death be not
upon that brow, then there is no such thing."

Then Gloucest