interested in her cloak. "I
do not now even recall his name," she added negligently.

De Lacy smiled and looked at the stars.

Presently she shot a quick glance up at him.

"Did you not meet him at the evening meal, Sir Ralph?"

"He was there--on the Duke's left," De Lacy answered carelessly.

"And his name?"

"De Lacy---Aymer de Lacy."

"A good North of England name," she commented.

"Aye, it once ran with Clare in Yorkshire," he answered.

"The Clares are done," said she, and sighed a bit.

"And the flower of them all bloomed last," he added gravely.

But she put the words aside.

"Do not be foolish, Sir Ralph. You know I dislike compliments. Tell
me about this Sir Aymer de Lacy--I never heard of him at Court."

"He has lived all his life in France."

"Patriotic, truly!" with a shrug.

"As to that," said the Knight, "it is fit that he should answer for
himself, and not through Sir Ralph de Wilton; though either Richard of
Gloucester entirely ignored the point or else he was quite satisfied."

She laughed. "Then it is not for me to raise it; so tell me why he
came to Pontefract."

"To take service with the Duke, I fancy--and methinks he has already
found one more reason for staying than for coming."

"The Duke is reason enough for a soldier who wants a man for a master,"
she said. Then suddenly faced about. "Let us hasten--I fear I have
overstayed my time."

As they rounded a bastion near the keep they encountered Lord Darby.

"Ah, Beatrix, well met," he said, offering his arm and nodding
carelessly to De Lacy. "Her Grace desires you."

"Did she send you for me?" the Countess asked, ignoring his arm and
hurrying on--and De Lacy noting it, kept beside her.

Lord Darby forced a smile. "Not exactly; I volunteered to go for you."

"You are very kind," she said rather tartly; "a moment longer and you
would have been saved the trouble."

Darby's smile failed completely and he made no answer.

In the doorway the Countess halted--and gave De Lacy her hand.

"I thank you for the walk," she said, as he bowed over it; then a merry
gleam came in her eyes--"Good night, Sir . . . Aymer."

IV

TRAILING CHAINS

"Women are queer creatures," De Wilton remarked, as he turned away from
the window and sat down beside De Lacy, who having just completed his
first tour of duty in the Household as Knight-in-waiting was still
lounging in the antechamber.

"It seems to me," said Aymer, "I have