tment; then
wistfully pursuing it with his eyes, he uttered such a sigh as might
have come from a resigned father losing the last glimpse of a beloved
son.

Richard hesitated a moment, loth to relinquish his research, and
doubtful whether to follow the Eureka for renewed investigation; but
partly unwilling to compromise his dignity in the eyes of Hastings,
should his suspicions prove unfounded, and partly indisposed to risk the
displeasure of the vindictive Duchess of Bedford by further molestation
of one now under her protection, he reluctantly trusted all further
inquiry to the well-known loyalty of Hastings. "If Margaret be in
London," he muttered to himself as he turned slowly away, "now is the
time to seize and chain the lioness! Ho, Catesby,--hither (a
valuable man that Catesby--a lawyer's nurturing with a bloodhound's
nature!)--Catesby, while King Edward rides for pleasure, let thou and
I track the scent of his foes. If the she-wolf of Anjou hath ventured
hither, she hides in some convent or monastery, be sure. See to our
palfreys, Catesby! Strange," added the prince, muttering to himself,
"that I am more restless to guard the crown than he who wears it! Nay,
a crown is a goodly heirloom in a man's family, and a fair sight to see
near--and near--and near--"

The prince abruptly paused, opened and shut his right hand convulsively,
and drew a long sigh.

BOOK IV. INTRIGUES OF THE COURT OF EDWARD IV.

CHAPTER I. MARGARET OF ANJOU.

The day after the events recorded in the last section of this narrative,
and about the hour of noon, Robert Hilyard (still in the reverend
disguise in which he had accosted Hastings) bent his way through the
labyrinth of alleys that wound in dingy confusion from the Chepe towards
the river.

The purlieus of the Thames, in that day of ineffective police, sheltered
many who either lived upon plunder, or sought abodes that proffered, at
alarm, the facility of flight. Here, sauntering in twos or threes, or
lazily reclined by the threshold of plaster huts, might be seen that
refuse population which is the unholy offspring of civil war,--disbanded
soldiers of either Rose, too inured to violence and strife for peaceful
employment, and ready for any enterprise by which keen steel wins bright
gold. At length our friend stopped before the gate of a small house, on
the very marge of the river, which belonged to one of the many religious
orders then existing; but from its site and asp