eather gauntlets, the firm foot in
the small, square shoe, the riding-whip with its pommel of gold which
she carried so commandingly. Lovely shadows trooped into his mind,
names that had been naught but names to him till now--Rosalind,
Camiola, Bianca. They had passed before him as so many smooth-faced
youths, carrying awkwardly and awry their woman's wear, and
lamentably uninspiring. Now he saw all these divine ladies take life
incarnate in this divine lady, and he marvelled which of the
loveliest of the rarely named company could have shone on her poet's
eyes so dazzlingly as this creature.

He stared in silence till she had reached the foot of the staircase,
still stared silent as she advanced towards him. There was nothing
disrespectful in his direct glance, but the steadfastness and the
silence stirred her challenge.

"Sir," she said, "when you asked to see me it was not, I hope, in the
thought to stare me out of countenance."

Halfman made her a sweeping salutation and found his voice with an
effort, but his words did not interpret the admiration of his eyes.

"I asked to see you," he answered, respectfully, "because I ride with
tidings that may touch you. I am newly from Cambridge."

Brilliana's eyes widened.

"What do you carry from Cambridge?" she asked; then swiftly added,
"But first, I pray you, be seated."

She pointed to a chair on one side of the great table, and to set him
the example seated herself at another. Halfman bowed and took his
appointed place, resting his hat upon his knees.

"Lady," he said, "there was at Cambridge a certain Parliament man who
plays at being a soldier, and though he should be no more than plain
master, those that would do him pleasure call him Captain or Colonel
Cromwell."

Brilliana frowned a little. "I have heard of the man," she said. "He
talks treason at Westminster; he is the King's enemy."

Halfman leaned a little nearer to her across the table and spoke with
a well-managed air of mystery.

"Captain Cromwell is not only the King's enemy; he is also the enemy
of the Lady Brilliana Harby."

Brilliana shook her dark head proudly, and Halfman thought that her
curls glanced like the arrows of Apollo.

"Any enemy of the King is an enemy to me, but not he, as I think,
more than another."

Halfman tapped the table impressively.

"There you are mistaken, lady," he said. "The man is very especially
and particularly your enemy. He has been very busy of late in