oposition.

"Perhaps, most Elysian of fair ladies, it would be, as one might say,
more seemly if I, as a justice of the peace--"

Brilliana daffed him down.

"Sir Blaise, we are at war now, and by your leave I will handle this
matter after my own fashion."

"I must protest," Blaise bleated, but Brilliana would not listen to
him.

"You must do nothing," she insisted, "but help me to set chairs. One
here for me, one there for you, my brother justice; one there for
Captain Cloud, who, as a stranger of distinction, shall have a seat
on the bench."

"I thank you for the honor," said Evander, watching the scene with
much entertainment. As Brilliana talked she, with Blaise and Halfman,
had been busy placing seats as she directed at the table.

"Captain Halfman," Brilliana went on, "you write a clerkly hand. Sit
you here; you shall be our clerk. Arraign the prisoners."

By this time all were seated as Brilliana had disposed; Sir Blaise
had completely surrendered his dignity to her spell. Even Halfman
found pleasure in the grotesque sham trial.

Garlinge and Clupp brought their charges down to face the newly
formed tribunal. Halfman spoke.

"Here, my lady, we have two hobs who have come to loggerheads as to
which is best disposed to the King. Garlinge, let Master Hungerford
speak." Garlinge removed his massive hand from his prisoner's mouth,
and Paul, after gaping like a fish for some seconds, gasped out,

"Lady, you know well enough how you have befooled us."

Brilliana stared upon him, bewitchingly unembarrassed by the charge.

"Manners, master," cried Halfman, angrily, "or I'll manner you."

Brilliana daintily deprecated his heat.

"Wait, wait," she said. "First of all, are you a loyal subject of the
King?"

Master Paul rubbed his chin dubiously. "That is as it may be," he
muttered.

Brilliana tapped the table. "Faint hesitation is flat treason," she
cried. Turning to Halfman, she commanded, "Write him down for a
confessed Roundhead."

Master Paul clawed towards her excitedly.

"No, no; pray you not so fast," he entreated. "I am a good King's
man."

Brilliana condescended approval.

"He amends his plea," she noted to Halfman. Master Paul went on,
fractiously,

"But that does not make me love to be plundered."

Brilliana rose and, resting the tips of her fingers on the table,
addressed Master Hungerford sternly.

"Master Hungerford, one of two things. Either you are a Roundhead, in
which case