gine. Knowing from your Highness and your spies that he had been open
to the gifts of Charolois, I spoke to him plainly of the guerdon that
should await his silence. 'Friar,' he answered, 'if in this court and
this world I have found it were a fool's virtue to be more pure than
others, and if I know that I should but provoke the wrath of those who
profit by Burgundian gold, were I alone to disdain its glitter, I have
still eno' of my younger conscience left me not to make barter of
human flesh. Did I give these papers to King Edward, the heads of fifty
gallant men, whose error is but loyalty to their ancient sovereign,
would glut the doomsman; but,' he continued, 'I am yet true to my king
and his cause; I shall know how to advise Edward to the frustrating all
your schemes. The districts where you hoped a rising will be guarded,
the men ye count upon will be watched: the Duke of Gloucester, whose
vigilance never sleeps, has learned that the Lady Margaret is in
England, disguised as a priest. To-morrow all the religious houses will
be searched; if thou knowest where she lies concealed, bid her lose not
an hour to fly.'"

"I Will NOT fly!" exclaimed Margaret; "let Edward, if he dare, proclaim
to my people that their queen is in her city of London. Let him send his
hirelings to seize her. Not in this dress shall she be found. In robes
of state, the sceptre in her hand, shall they drag the consort of their
king to the prison-house of her palace."

"On my knees, great queen, I implore you to be calm; with the loss
of your liberty ends indeed all hope of victory, all chance even of
struggle. Think not Edward's fears would leave to Margaret the life that
his disdain has spared to your royal spouse. Between your prison and
your grave, but one secret and bloody step! Be ruled; no time to lose!
My trusty Hugh even now waits with his boat below. Relays of horses
are ready, night and day, to bear you to the coast; while seeking your
restoration, I have never neglected the facilities for flight. Pause
not, O gracious lady; let not your son say, 'My mother's passion has
lost me the hope of my grandsire's crown.'"

"My boy; my princely boy, my Edward!" exclaimed Margaret, bursting
into tears, all the warrior-queen merged in the remembrance of the fond
mother. "Ah, faithful friend! he is so gallant and so beautiful! Oh, he
shall reward thee well hereafter!"

"May he live to crush these barons, and raise this people!" said the
demago