e, at least, who has not ceased to hope and to search," she
said.

"And has been as successful as myself," he retorted, nor hid the sneer.

"But if he find her?"

Darby shrugged his shoulders. "Think you there is recognition in the
spirit world?"

"Then you actually believe the Countess dead?" the Lady Lovel asked.

"Beyond all question, madam. It is near three months since the
abduction and a trace of her has yet to be discovered;" and was going
on when the Countess of Ware stopped him.

"Can you tell us what detains the King?" she asked.

"I have no notion," he replied. "I saw him an hour or so ago and he
was in the best of health and humor."

"Your news is stale," she laughed; "a King's humor an hour old is very
ancient."

"True," said Darby, "true indeed, yet here comes one who can doubtless
answer fittingly. . . Sir Ralph, what delays His Majesty?"

But De Wilton looked him straight in the face, and with never a word in
reply, passed on.

And at that moment the Black Rod entered, and behind him came the King.

Save for the crimson lining of his short gown, he was clad in white
from head to foot, an ivory boar with eyes of rubies and tusks of
sapphires, pinned the feather in his bonnet, about his neck hung the
George, and his only weapon was the diamond hilted dagger at his
girdle. With it he toyed, looking neither to the right nor to the
left, nor yet to the front; but rather at the mental picture of one
engrossed in thought.

Slowly and with the impressive dignity that was the natural heritage of
the Plantagenets, he mounted the steps to the Throne and turning faced
his Court; and all bowed low, and then in silence waited, while his
dark eyes searched them through.

"You may take your places, my Lord Cardinal and Lord Chancellor," he
said. "Her Majesty will not join us until later."

Bowing in response, the Archbishop of Canterbury and the Bishop of
Lincoln assumed their stools on the third step of the dais; and the
crowd, released from the ceremonial calm, began to buzz softly with
conversation, though without taking eye from the King. And they turned
quickly dumb again as Richard raised his hand.

"We will have to beg your kind indulgences if, for a while, we delay
the games and the dance," he said. "It is a most unhappy chance upon
this evening of all others, when we are about to celebrate our safe
return from rebellious war, that there has come to us evidences of
foulest crime and