One day, about the hour of prime, in that season of the year when
fields smell of young grass, the Duke of Gloucester sent for Edward
Maudelain. The court was then at Windsor. The priest came quickly to
his patron. He found the Duke in company with Edmund of York and bland
Harry of Derby, John of Gaunt's oldest son. Each was a proud and
handsome man. To-day Gloucester was gnawing at his finger nails, big
York seemed half-asleep, and the Earl of Derby patiently to await
something as yet ineffably remote.

"Sit down!" snarled Gloucester. His lean and evil countenance was that
of a tired devil. The priest obeyed, wondering so high an honor should
be accorded him in the view of three great noblemen. Then Gloucester
said, in his sharp way: "Edward, you know, as England knows, the King's
intention toward us three and our adherents. It has come to our
demolishment or his. I confess a preference in the matter. I have
consulted with the Pope concerning the advisability of taking the crown
into my own hands. Edmund here does not want it, and John is already
achieving one in Spain. Eh, in imagination I was already King of
England, and I had dreamed-- Well! to-day the prosaic courier arrived.
Urban--the Neapolitan swine!--dares give me no assistance. It is
decreed I shall never reign in these islands. And I had dreamed--
Meanwhile, de Vere and de la Pole are at the King day and night, urging
revolt. Within the week the three heads of us will embellish Temple
Bar. You, of course, they will only hang."

"We must avoid England, then, my noble patron," the priest considered.

Angrily the Duke struck a clenched fist upon the table. "By the Cross!
we remain in England, you and I and all of us. Others avoid. The Pope
and the Emperor will have none of me. They plead for the Black
Prince's heir, for the legitimate heir. Dompnedex! they shall have
him!"

Maudelain recoiled, for he thought this twitching man insane.

"Besides, the King intends to take from me my fief at Sudbury," said
the Duke of York, "in order he may give it to de Vere. That is both
absurd and monstrous and abominable."

Openly Gloucester sneered. "Listen!" he rapped out toward Maudelain;
"when they were drawing up the Great Peace at Bretigny, it happened, as
is notorious, that the Black Prince, my brother, wooed in this town the
Demoiselle Alixe Riczi, whom in the outcome he abducted. It is not as
generally known, however, that, finding t