s in the power of the fool.

"Do you sorrow for me," he cried--"for me, the great King, the fair
King? Keep sorrow for yourself; for, if my body be blighted, yours is
smooth and soft, and at my mercy."

He made a snatch at her, but his wild eyes had warned her, and she
eluded his grasp. She felt herself indeed helpless, in such a place and
at a madman's mercy, but she prayed and faced him with steadfast eyes.
He moved slowly towards her, gloating over his purpose.

"Now you are mine," he said. "Doomed as I am, degraded as I am, you are
mine; you cannot escape me. Cling to your bridegroom, bride."

Perpetua slowly drew back from him, and there was that in her steady
gaze which, in spite of himself, restrained him.

"God, grant me the key to a madman's pity," she prayed; then to the fool
she pleaded: "Sir, in all hearts Heaven has set some spot of gentleness.
I am a woman set about by enemies, helpless but not hopeless. If ever
any woman's face was sacred in your eyes, if ever any woman's speech was
music to your ears, be gentle and befriend me."

Robert laughed a malign laugh. He seemed to revenge his own ruin in
triumphing over the child.

"My heart is a harp in a tree, and it sings to women's voices," he said.
"But you must whisper me love-words if you think to win me."

Perpetua answered him bravely, hoping for Heaven's help in the words she
might choose to soothe the madman.

"I will not kneel to you, for my knees bend only to Heaven. But I will
speak you fair. If you were shapely, strong, and beautiful, with the
white fire of knighthood glowing in your soul, you would laugh at death
to pluck the meanest woman in the world from such a snare as mine is."

Her speech stabbed Robert with a fresh fury at the thought of his
transformation, and he answered her, grinning like a snarling beast:

"If I were shapely, strong, and beautiful, I would do as I will do. The
powers that torture me have flung a jewel at my feet, and I will wear it
till I weary of it. You are in my power, saintliness! Discrowned,
deformed, dishonored, over you I can still be king."

Perpetua shook her head proudly.

"Do not cheat yourself. I am not in your power."

Robert laughed again.

"Am I deceived? I thought you were a prisoner here. I thought your
jailers flung you to me for my pleasure. I thought just now you were my
suppliant. Will these walls vanish at your wish? Will those hearts melt
at your pleadings? Will I deny myself del