tered, the philosopher
was accosted by Catesby,--a man who, in imitation of his young patron,
exhibited the soft and oily manner which concealed intense ambition and
innate ferocity.

"Worshipful my master," said he, bowing low, but with a half sneer on
his lips, "the king and his Highness the Duke of Gloucester have
heard much of your strange skill, and command me to lead you to their
presence. Follow, sir, and you, my men, convey this quaint contrivance
to the king's apartments."

With this, not waiting for any reply, Catesby strode on. Hugh's face
fell; he turned very pale, and, imagining himself unobserved, turned
round to slink away. But Catesby, who seemed to have eyes at the back of
his head, called out, in a mild tone,--

"Good fellow, help to bear the mechanical--you, too, may be needed."

"Cog's wounds!" muttered Hugh, "an' I had but known what it was to set
my foot in a king's palace! Such walking may do for the silken shoon,
but the hobnail always gets into a hobble." With that, affecting a
cheerful mien, he helped to replace the model on the mule.

Meanwhile, Adam, elated, poor man! at the flattery of the royal mandate,
persuaded that his fame had reached Edward's ears, and chafed at the
little heed paid by the pious Henry to his great work, stalked on, his
head in the air. "Verily," mused the student, "King Edward may have
been a cruel youth, and over hasty; it is horrible to think of Robert
Hilyard's calamities! But men do say he hath an acute and masterly
comprehension. Doubtless, he will perceive at a glance how much I
can advantage his kingdom." With this, we grieve to say, selfish
reflection--which, if the thought of his model could have slept a
while, Adam would have blushed to recall, as an affront to Hilyard's
wrongs--the philosopher followed Catesby across the spacious yard, along
a narrow passage, and up a winding turret-stair, to a room in the third
story, which opened at one door into the king's closet, at the other
into the spacious gallery, which was already a feature in the plan of
the more princely houses. In another minute Adam and his model were in
the presence of the king. The part of the room in which Edward sat was
distinguished from the rest by a small eastern carpet on the floor (a
luxury more in use in the palaces of that day than it appears to have
been a century later); [see the Narrative of the Lord Grauthuse, before
referred to] a table was set before him, on which the mode