orgive the temper of my house!" She
stretched out her hand to him.

"So thou but know when to curb it," he answered smiling, "it is thy
strength and our pride. And now--as to this other?"

"My Lord, I do not know"--but she paused suddenly.

"It is well," he said watching her, "for I may name no names--but thou
art on thy guard. She was named to me as very fair--subtle--charming--of
an ancient house of Cyprus--_we have named no names_. Let no confidences
escape thee in her presence: but we have no knowledge yet of any
traitorous intent that might excuse her dismissal from Court; and if it
be but petty, personal jealousy"--again Margherita had flushed
unwontedly--"for a mere jealousy, one may not insult a noble, ancient
house. It is not known if her sympathy be with Naples, or with
Carlotta."

"Your Excellency shall know if aught be discovered that should be told,"
Margherita promised. "But the matter is difficult."

"As to Her Majesty," the Admiral continued lowering his voice still
further, "it hath been found needful to guard her interests, and the
Signor Bernardini hath been named to the Council--a most excellent
gentleman--if he were not of Venice. I would have had another of our
Cyprian nobles, because of this jealousy of Venice. But they have kept
themselves so much from court that we have not seen their color; and we
dare not trifle with them, for the time is critical."

"Why not thou--Eccellentissimo?"

"Nay; I may keep a wider outlook on the interests of the kingdom without
the Council. The city of Nikosia shall stand for her; the trading
interests are to watch; the fleets must be re-manned; these intrigues
must be thwarted. I outside the court, and thou within, very closely
within--as near to the heart of the Queen as she will let thee--we shall
work and help her, for her task is not light. She swore her oath of
office to me, and I to her gave mine, as solemnly--to help her with my
life. It is a heavy load for such tender hands to lift:--a question if
one may conquer wile with innocency--yet the strife is noble."

"What may be done to help her?" Dama Margherita questioned,
heavy-hearted. "What is my part? It is not only the scandal of watching
against intrigue."

"That is no scandal to loyal service: and such her very trust and
goodness do demand. But there is more: out of thy fuller knowledge of
the Cyprian temper--thy comprehension of their grievances--thy loyal
Cyprian pride--thy staunchness to th