me to Richard
was a thought not to be borne. She was at her wits' end what to answer,
and was on the point of denying that either had assisted her, when the
Chancellor's next remark gave her a clue.

"If ne my Lord of York ne my Lord of Cambridge did aid you, how cometh
it to pass that three servants of the Duke's Grace were with you in your
journey?"

"Ask at their master, not me," said Constance coolly.

"'Tis plain, Madam, that his Grace of York did give you aid, methinks."

"You be full welcome, Sir Keeper, to draw your own conclusions."

"Lo' you, my Lords, the prisoner denieth it not!--And my Lord of
Cambridge--what part took he. Lady?"

"Never a whit, Sir," answered Constance audaciously.

"May I crede you, mewondereth?"

"You did but this moment, my Lord. If my word be worth aught in the one
matter, let it weigh in the other."

The Chancellor meditated a minute, but he could not deny the justice of
the plea.

"Moreover, Lady, we heard,"--how had they heard it?--"that some trial
were to be made of scaling the walls of the King's Grace's Palace of
Eltham."

Constance grew paler. If they had heard this of Edward, what might they
have heard of Richard's presence in the journey to Hereford?

"Have you so, Sir?" she answered, losing none of her apparent coolness.

"We have so, Madam!" replied Beaufort sternly; "and moreover of
conspiration to steal away his Highness' person, and prison him--if not
worser matter than this."

"Not of my doing," said Constance.

"How far you were privy thereto or no, that I leave. But can you deny
that it were of my Lord of York his doing?"

"I was not there," she quickly rejoined. "How then wis I?"

"Can you deny that my Lord of Cambridge was therein concerned?"

"I can!" cried Constance in an agony--too hastily.

"Oh, you can so?" retorted Beaufort, seeing and instantly pressing his
advantage. "Then you do wis thereof something?"

She was silent.

"My Lord of York--he was there, trow?"

No answer.

"He was there?"

"Sir Keeper, I was not there. What more can I say?"

"Who was there, Dame?--for I am assured you know."

"Who was where?" retorted the Princess satirically. "If no man scaled
the Palace walls, how ask you such questions?"

"Nay, ask that at your Ladyship's own conscience; for it was not I, but
you, that said first you were not there."

She was becoming entangled in the meshes.

"Lock you up whom your Lordship will!" she exclaime