you please about it!" said Sir Norman, who knew
his case was as desperate as it could be, and was quite reckless what he
answered.

"You admit that you are a spy, then?"

"No such thing. I have owned nothing. As I told you before, you are
welcome to put what construction you please on my actions."

"Sir Norman Kingsley, this is nonsensical equivocation! You own you came
to hear and see?"

"Well!"

"Well, hearing and seeing constitute spying, do they not? Therefore, you
are a spy."

"I confess it looks like it. What next?"

"Need you ask What is the fate of all spies?"

"No matter what they are in other places, I am pretty certain what they
are here!"

"And that is?"

"A room in black, and a chop with an axe--the Earl of Gloucester's fate,
in a word!"

"You have said it! Have you any reason why such a sentence should not be
pronounced on you?"

"None; pronounce it as soon as you like."

"With the greatest pleasure!" said the duke, who had been scrawling on
another ominous roll of vellum, and now passed it to the dwarf. "I never
knew anyone it gave me more delight to condemn. Will your highness pass
that to her majesty for signature, and pronounce his sentence."

His highness, with a grin of most exquisite delight, did as directed;
and Sir Norman looked steadfastly at the queen as she received it. One
of the gauzy nymphs presented it to her, kneeling, and she took it with
a look half bored, half impatient, and lightly scrawled her autograph.
The long, dark lashes did not lift; no change passed over the calm, cold
face, as icily placid as a frozen lake in the moonlight--evidently the
life or death of the stranger was less than nothing to her. To him she,
too, was as nothing, or nearly so; but yet there was a sharp jarring
pain at his heart, as he saw that fair hand, that had saved him once, so
coolly sign his death warrant now. But there was little time left for to
watch her; for, as she pushed it impatiently away, and relapsed into her
former proud listlessness, the dwarf got up with one of his death's-head
grins, and began:

"Sir Norman Kingsley, you have been tried and convicted as a spy, and
the paid-hireling of the vindictive and narrow-minded Charles; and the
sentence of this court, over which I have the honor to preside, is, that
you be taken hence immediately to the place of execution, and there lose
your head by the axe!"

"And a mighty small loss it will be!" remarked the duke to himself, in