Richard paused a moment, as the officer hesitatingly watched his
countenance before giving the desired permission. But the prince,
turning to him, and smoothing his brow, said mildly, "Certes! all
that can divert the Lord Henry must be innocent pastime. And I am well
pleased that he hath this cheerful mood for recreation. It gainsayeth
those who would accuse us of rigour in his durance. Yes, this warrant
is complete and formal;" and the prince returned the passport to
the officer, and walked slowly on through that gloomy arch ever more
associated with Richard of Gloucester's memory, and beneath the very
room in which our belief yet holds that the infant sons of Edward IV.
breathed their last; still, as Gloucester moved, he turned and turned,
and kept his eye furtively fixed upon the porter.

"Lovell," he said to one of the gentlemen who attended him, and who was
among the few admitted to his more peculiar intimacy, "that man is of
the North."

"Well, my lord?"

"The North was always well affected to the Lancastrians. Master Warner
hath been accused of witchcraft. Marry, I should like to see his
device--um; Master Catesby, come hither,--approach, sir. Go back, and
the instant Adam Warner and his contrivance are dismissed, bring them
both to me in the king's chamber. Thou understandest? We too would
see his device,--and let neither man nor mechanical, when once they
reappear, out of thine eye's reach. For divers and subtle are the
contrivances of treasonable men!"

Catesby bowed, and Richard, without speaking further, took his way to
the royal apartments, which lay beyond the White Tower, towards the
river, and are long since demolished.

Meanwhile the porter, with the aid of one of the attendants, had carried
the model into the chamber of the august captive. Henry, attired in a
loose robe, was pacing the room with a slow step, and his head sunk on
his bosom,--while Adam with much animation was enlarging on the wonders
of the contrivance he was about to show him. The chamber was commodious,
and furnished with sufficient attention to the state and dignity of the
prisoner; for Edward, though savage and relentless when his blood was
up, never descended into the cool and continuous cruelty of detail.

The chamber may yet be seen,--its shape a spacious octagon; but the
walls now rude and bare were then painted and blazoned with scenes
from the Old Testament. The door opened beneath the pointed arch in
the central si