Those who speak truth to a King must needs be so," was the curt
rejoinder.

"Steady your tongue, Lord Darby," said Richard sternly, "else may the
Tower teach you respect for England's King."

"Think you, then, I should find the young Fifth Edward
there------alive?" sneered Darby.

For a moment, Richard's eyes flashed like sparks springing from the
clashing of two angry swords. Then he smiled; and the smile was more
ominous than the sparks.

"Be easy, sir; the remainder of the declaration shall be read in
season," he said very quietly. "But first, will you reply now to
Stafford's allegation, or shall we proceed with Sir John de Bury's
charge?"

If this were all the evidence of treason Darby was in small danger and
it behooved him to change his bearing.

"I did Your Majesty grave wrong in presuming you had prejudged me," he
said with a frank smile, "for well I know that on such shallow
falsehoods no man could ever be condemned. And here do I place my own
knightly word against the traitor Buckingham's; and do specifically
deny all that has been read by the Lord Chancellor. And further, do I
solemnly affirm that neither by voice nor deed have I been recreant to
my oath of allegiance, nor false to you. Moreover, Sire, my very
action in the rebellion attests my truth: Did I not hasten to join your
army with all the force at my disposal? Have I not been ever honest
and faithful?"

And with arms folded proudly on his breast, he waited for the
acquittance that seemed to be his due.

"As the case stands now, it would be our duty and our pleasure to
pronounce you guiltless," Richard replied. "But it so chances that
there is still another witness on the charge of treason, whose
testimony deals also with the abduction. Wherefore, we shall be
obliged to mingle somewhat the two matters and so to withhold our
judgment until the trial is ended and all the evidence is in. . . My
Lord Chancellor, proceed with the reading."

The Bishop resumed:

"Also, I denounce the said Henry, Lord Darby, as the abductor of the
Countess of Clare whom, he told me, he by pre-arrangement with her had
seized one night in September and had carried to his castle--she loving
him, but being coerced by the King into marrying another. And I,
believing him, promised that he should wed her and receive her lands
and title when Henry Tudor became King. Only to-day did I learn that
he had taken the maid by force, and that his story of her lov