struggling within my
heart.

The next morning the dead tyrant was buried, and Frederick, Michael,
and I went to Grey Friars' Church to look the last upon the one on
which the result of our oath made to his brother had fallen. I touched
his hand. In death he was as cold as a salamander, and 'tis like his
soul was in that place where this peculiar beast best flourishes.

"Richard succeeded better than I thought possible, when he drew in the
ship of power," said Harleston. "But when the sailors found what kind
of captain they did have to rule them they mutinied and killed their
tyrant master."

"His tower of crime did fall, and it crushed its builder, as thou
saidst it should," said I.

"Yes," replied Frederick.

Then he continued in his musing way; his head bowed in thought.

"We are all but dry leaves, lying upon the ground of time. The gust of
life doth come along, and it hurls us some distance from the earth. On
we travel for a short space; some of us sailing higher than the others.
The breeze dies out, and we all do fall back to the same low level."

The truth of Harleston's words was made most clear to me then, as I
gazed upon the corpse of him who had been, but a short time since, a
King, and now was a cold lump of earth, such as we all must be.

We then went to ask the King for his permission for us to return to
Westminster with the Lady Hazel.

His Majesty received us in a most friendly manner, and granted us the
desired permission.

"I suppose," said he, as we were leaving his presence, "that I need not
ask thee, Sir Walter, nor thee, Sir Frederick, to remain at my court
when I do reach London; for I have heard of two fair maidens which ye
do intend to make your wives. Well, ye are both right, and, when the
Government hath been set in order, I do intend to follow your worthy
example, and wed the fair, budding young Elizabeth. Ye both have my
heartiest wishes of the happiness that ye have won through many dark
days of misery, and by your gallant acts in the liberating of England
from a rule of tyranny. Never doubt but that ye ever shall live in my
memory, or that I ever will neglect some small reward for noble service
rendered."

"Thanks, thanks, your Majesty!" we replied.

"And if your Grace doth ever require--the which pray God ye never
may--two trusty swords, thou shalt never be compelled to send an order
for them," said Harleston with a heartiness that could not be mistaken.

"Well do