uchess, haughtily, "lower
thy tone. This holy man is under my protection, and his fault was but
over-zeal. What were this sage's devices and spells?"

"Marry," said the friar, "that is what your Grace just hindereth my
knowing. But he cannot deny that he is a pestilent astrologer, and
sends word to the rebels what hours are lucky or fatal for battle and
assault."

"Ha!" said the duchess, "he is an astrologer! true, and came nearer to
the alchemist's truth than any multiplier that ever served me! My own
astrologer is just dead,--why died he at such a time? Peace, peace!
be there peace between two so learned men. Forgive thy brother, Master
Warner!" Adam had hitherto disdained all participation in this dialogue.
In fact, he had returned to the Eureka, and was silently examining
if any loss of the vital parts had occurred in its melancholy
dismemberment. But now he turned round and said, "Lady, leave the lore
of the stars to their great Maker. I forgive this man, and thank your
Grace for your justice. I claim these poor fragments, and crave your
leave to suffer me to depart with my device and my child."

"No, no!" said the duchess, seizing his hand. "Hist! whatever Lord
Warwick paid thee, I will double. No time now for alchemy; but for the
horoscope, it is the veriest season. I name thee my special astrologer."

"Accept, accept," whispered Alwyn; "for your daughter's sake--for your
own--nay, for the Eureka's!"

Adam bowed his head, and groaned forth, "But I go not hence--no, not a
foot--unless this goes with me. Cruel wretch, how he hath deformed it!"

"And now," cried Alwyn, eagerly, "this wronged and unhappy maiden?"

"Go! be it thine to release and bring her to our presence, good Alwyn,"
said the duchess; "she shall lodge with her father, and receive all
honour. Follow me, Master Warner."

No sooner, however, did the friar perceive that Alwyn had gone in search
of the jailer, than he arrested the steps of the duchess, and said, with
the air of a much-injured man,--

"May it please your Grace to remember that unless the greater magician
have all power and aid in thwarting the lesser, the lesser can prevail;
and therefore, if your Grace finds, when too late, that Lord Warwick's
or Lord Fitzhugh's arms prosper, that woe and disaster befall the king,
say not it was the fault of Friar Bungey! Such things may be. Nathless
I shall still sweat and watch and toil; and if, despite your unhappy
favour and encouragement t