clear the chamber."

As soon as the three members of the royal family were left alone, the
king, stretching himself, with a slight yawn, observed, "This man looks
not like a conspirator, brother Richard, though his sententiary as to
nature and science lacked loyalty and respect."

"Sire and brother," answered Richard, "great leaders often dupe their
own tools; at least, meseemeth that they would reason well so to
do. Remember, I have told thee that there is strong cause to suppose
Margaret to be in London. In the suburbs of the city has also appeared,
within the last few weeks, that strange and dangerous person, whose very
objects are a mystery, save that he is our foe,--Robin of Redesdale. The
men of the North have exhibited a spirit of insurrection; a man of that
country attends this reputed wizard, and he himself was favoured in past
times by Henry of Windsor. These are ominous signs when the conjunctions
be considered!"

"It is well said; but a fair day for breathing our palfrey is
half-spent!" returned the indolent prince. "By'r Lady! I like the
fashion of thy super-tunic well, Richard; but thou hast it too much
puffed over the shoulders."

Richard's dark eye shot fire, and he gnawed his lip as he answered, "God
hath not given to me the fair shape of my kinsmen."

"Thy pardon, dear boy," said Edward, kindly; "yet little needest thou
our broad backs and strong sinews, for thou hast a tongue to charm women
and a wit to command men."

Richard bowed his face, little less beautiful than his brother's,
though wholly different from it in feature, for Edward had the long oval
countenance, the fair hair, the rich colouring, and the large outline
of his mother, the Rose of Raby. Richard, on the contrary, had the short
face, the dark brown locks, and the pale olive complexion of his father,
whom he alone of the royal brothers strikingly resembled. [Pol. Virg.
544.]

The cheeks, too, were somewhat sunken, and already, though scarcely past
childhood, about his lips were seen the lines of thoughtful manhood. But
then those small features, delicately aquiline, were so regular; that
dark eye was so deep, so fathomless in its bright, musing intelligence;
that quivering lip was at once so beautifully formed and so expressive
of intellectual subtlety and haughty will; and that pale forehead was so
massive, high, and majestic,--that when, at a later period, the Scottish
prelate [Archibald Quhitlaw.--"Faciem tuam summo imperio