without a
word of warning?"

"Dismissed and degraded, without a shadow of it!--and a string of the
most cruel, wicked accusations brought against him--things that he never
did nor dreamed of doing--Aunt Marjory, it makes my blood boil, only to
remember them! I am not going to tell you all: there was one too horrid
to mention."

"I know, my maiden." Marjory interposed rather hastily. She had heard
already of King Henry's delicate and affectionate assault upon the fair
name of Margaret's mother, and she did not wish for a repetition of it.

"But beyond that, of what do you think he was accused?"

"I have not heard the other articles, Magot."

"Then I will tell you. First, of preventing the Lord King's marriage
with the Duke of Austria's daughter, by telling the Duke that the King
was lame, and blind, and deaf, and a leper, and--"

"Gently, Magot, gently!" said Marjory, laughing.

"I am not making a syllable of it, fair Aunt!--And that he was a wicked,
treacherous man, not worthy of the love or alliance of any noble lady.
_Pure foy_!--but I know what I should say, if I said just what I think."

"It is sometimes quite as well not to do that, Magot."

"Ha! Perhaps it is, when one may get into prison by it. It is a
comfort one can always think. Neither Pope nor King can stop that."

"Magot, my dear child!"

"Oh yes, I know! You think I am horribly imprudent, Aunt Marjory. But
nobody hears me except you and Eva de Braose--she is the only person in
the wardrobe, and there is no one in the ante-chamber. And as I have
heard her say more than I did just now, I don't suppose there is much
harm done.--Then, secondly,--they charged my fair father with stealing--
only think, _stealing_!--a magical gem from the royal treasury which
made the wearer victorious in battle, and sending it to the Prince of
Wales." [Llywelyn the Great, with whom King Henry was at war.]

"Why should they suppose he would do that?"

"_Pure foy_, Aunt Marjory, don't ask me! Then, thirdly, they said it
was--"

Margaret sprang from her footstool suddenly, and disappeared for a
second through the door of the wardrobe. Marjory heard her say--

"Eva! I had completely forgotten, till this minute, to tell Marie that
my Lady and mother desired her to finish that piece of tapestry
to-night, if she can. Do go and look for her, and let her know, or she
will not have time."

A slight rustle as of some one leaving the room was audible, and