f Castle or Court."

"And hence the pity that he has such power of rank and wealth behind
him with his new Countess, the Beaufort heiress."

"Aye--and what is worse, in her and her son lie the last hope of
Lancaster."

"You mean the Earl of Richmond?" said Aymer. "I saw him a year or more
ago at the Court of Blois. His appearance gave little promise of
kingly blood or spirit."

"Nathless, my good friend, our own Duke of Gloucester would give a few
hides of land to have that same Earl safe within these walls. York
sits not firm on England's throne while the Tudor lives in freedom."

"It is a shrewd test of Stanley's faith--his step-fathership to this
Richmond," De Lacy observed.

"Of a truth, yes; and one that will find him wanting if the trial ever
come. Had not His late Majesty died so suddenly, this Margaret would
have had a brood of treasons hatched ready for the occasion; and I
doubt not that she and her adherents are, even now, deep in plottings
with the Welsh and France's King."

"With Stanley's knowledge?"

De Wilton's only answer was a shrug and a jerk of his head toward the
river.

"Here are two more of the Council," he remarked; and the Duke of
Buckingham came rapidly up the path in company with Lord Lovel.

"Are we late or early?" Buckingham called.

"Late for Stanley and Hastings and their reverences of York and Ely,"
said Aymer, "but early for the Lord Protector."

"Did the Chamberlain and Stanley come together?" Lovel asked.

"They did, my lord."

"And their humor?"

"Not the most sympathetic. They were not entirely agreed about some
matter the Lord Hastings had submitted to his Countess, and that she
had decided, seemingly, against Stanley's wishes."

"It is the old matter of the Neville sisters that cropped up even in
Bonville's time," said Buckingham. "The more Stanley urges that now,
the better it will fit our purpose. Come, let us stimulate the dispute
if occasion offer," and with a sarcastic laugh he turned away.

"Methinks, my Lord of Buckingham," observed De Wilton, when he and De
Lacy were again alone, "that you will scarce find another Rivers in
either Hastings or Stanley. It requires a master hand to play Stoney
Stratford twice in six short weeks."

"No need for another seizure, I fancy," said De Lacy. "Richard's power
is secure now and the King will be crowned on St. John's Day."

De Wilton looked at him thoughtfully. "It is strange, Sir Aymer, that
you, who h