!--But _why_
did not the Counts of the Chamber rise up in eager demonstration of
interest to put their best men in those vacant seats? And why--are we
quite safe to discuss it here?--_why_ did we--having her interests at
heart--not dare to ask the great nobles whom we wished to reach, to take
those places?"

"It is because of Janus, who hath been heedless and unfair?" she asked
reflecting. "For verily the people love the Queen."

"Let us not deceive ourselves out of our very loyalty. The citizens and
the nearer peasants hold her in love and reverence: but those of the
larger _casals_ and fiefs--the ancient nobles, have the power; and few
of these are in her court. I would it were otherwise."

"It is something, your Excellency, to have won the love of the simpler
folk as no Queen of this land hath ever done before," the Lady
Margherita said staunchly.

"It is something, but not all," he answered; "the nobles are as much to
be taken into consideration as the poorer classes. It is not all," he
repeated with emphasis. "One may win from sympathy--but one must rule a
kingdom by power. And the Queen--God help her!--is a charming child."

"My Lord!"

"A charming child--with a heart developed and matured like a saint; but
with a mind untrained to intrigue, unsuspicious of jealousies,
unconscious of any injustice wrought by her husband, not apt to
comprehend, perhaps, any grievance of the nobles----"

"May we not help her?" Dama Margherita interrupted eagerly. "She would
give back the fiefs if she knew that they had been misplaced--that any
right had been violated. And now--after these confiscations----"

"Aye, there are more lands to satisfy their demands, it is true. But in
their pride they might refuse--let her not wonder at it, nor cease from
her courtesies. The nobles are rather sullen than overt in their
discontent. They do not want Venetian galleys in their waters--though
they must welcome them--nor to do homage to a Venetian for the gift of
their own lands. And the restoration is less simple than was the
confiscation. For temporary lords have been created and these remain to
be reckoned with--even if the will were there."

"I am sure, your Excellency, that the will would not be lacking if this
matter were understood; for Her Majesty is fair and generous, and eager
to do all her duty by her people. It is of them, and never of herself,
that her heart is full."

The old Knight looked at her with kindling eyes as