that he
has been brought before the King. It is not yet over--but," she
added, bursting into a vehement flood of weeping, in which personal
apprehensions had some share, "it will soon, unless some course be
taken."

"I will vow a golden candlestick to the Holy Sepulchre, a shrine of
silver to our Lady of Engaddi, a pall, worth one hundred byzants, to
Saint Thomas of Orthez," said the Queen in extremity.

"Up, up, madam!" said Edith; "call on the saints if you list, but be
your own best saint."

"Indeed, madam," said the terrified attendant, "the Lady Edith speaks
truth. Up, madam, and let us to King Richard's tent and beg the poor
gentleman's life."

"I will go--I will go instantly," said the Queen, rising and trembling
excessively; while her women, in as great confusion as herself, were
unable to render her those duties which were indispensable to her levee.
Calm, composed, only pale as death, Edith ministered to the Queen
with her own hand, and alone supplied the deficiencies of her numerous
attendants.

"How you wait, wenches!" said the Queen, not able even then to forget
frivolous distinctions. "Suffer ye the Lady Edith to do the duties of
your attendance? Seest thou, Edith, they can do nothing; I shall never
be attired in time. We will send for the Archbishop of Tyre, and employ
him as a mediator."

"Oh, no, no!" exclaimed Edith. "Go yourself madam; you have done the
evil, do you confer the remedy."

"I will go--I will go," said the Queen; "but if Richard be in his mood,
I dare not speak to him--he will kill me!"

"Yet go, gracious madam," said the Lady Calista, who best knew her
mistress's temper; "not a lion, in his fury, could look upon such a face
and form, and retain so much as an angry thought, far less a love-true
knight like the royal Richard, to whom your slightest word would be a
command."

"Dost thou think so, Calista?" said the Queen. "Ah, thou little knowest
yet I will go. But see you here, what means this? You have bedizened
me in green, a colour he detests. Lo you! let me have a blue robe,
and--search for the ruby carcanet, which was part of the King of
Cyprus's ransom; it is either in the steel casket, or somewhere else."

"This, and a man's life at stake!" said Edith indignantly; "it passes
human patience. Remain at your ease, madam; I will go to King Richard. I
am a party interested. I will know if the honour of a poor maiden of
his blood is to be so far tampered with that her name s