d her, or perhaps had
let her pass unchallenged from her dignified and erect gait, and the
numerous armed men through whom she now made her way seemed to be so
much occupied with their own affairs, that no one bestowed any notice on
her. In a narrow alley, which led to a second court and was lighted
by lanterns, one of the body-guard known as Philobasilistes, a haughty
young fellow in yellow riding-boots and a shirt of mail over his red
tunic, came riding towards her on his tall horse, and noticing her he
tried to squeeze her between his charger and the wall, and put out his
hand to raise her veil; but Klea slipped aside, and put up her hands to
protect herself from the horse's head which was almost touching her.

The cavalier, enjoying her alarm, called out: "Only stand still--he is
not vicious."

"Which, you or your horse?" asked Klea, with such a solemn tone in
her deep voice that for an instant the young guardsman lost his
self-possession, and this gave her time to go farther from the horse.
But the girl's sharp retort had annoyed the conceited young fellow,
and not having time to follow her himself, he called out in a tone of
encouragement to a party of mercenaries from Cyprus, whom the frightened
girl was trying to pass:

"Look under this girl's veil, comrades, and if she is as pretty as she
is well-grown, I wish you joy of your prize." He laughed as he pressed
his knees against the flanks of his bay and trotted slowly away, while
the Cypriotes gave Klea ample time to reach the second court, which
was more brightly lighted even than the first, that they might there
surround her with insolent importunity.

The helpless and persecuted girl felt the blood run cold in her veins,
and for a few minutes she could see nothing but a bewildering confusion
of flashing eyes and weapons, of beards and hands, could hear nothing
but words and sounds, of which she understood and felt only that they
were revolting and horrible, and threatened her with death and ruin.
She had crossed her arms over her bosom, but now she raised her hands
to hide her face, for she felt a strong hand snatch away the veil that
covered her head. This insolent proceeding turned her numb horror to
indignant rage, and, fixing her sparkling eyes on her bearded opponents,
she exclaimed:

"Shame upon you, who in the king's own house fall like wolves on a
defenceless woman, and in a peaceful spot snatch the veil from a young
girl's head. Your mothers wou