he long arcaded corridors leading out to the court-yards of the palace
were thronged with serfs in attendance upon the knights and barons, and
with citizens who had no seat of right in the assembly; and beyond, from
the court-yards, came the sound of the champing of steeds impatient for
the voice of their masters and chafing under the unwelcome restraint of
their attendants, who kept up a ceaseless babel of adjuration and
coaxing.

Every noble of Cyprus in sympathy with the present Government was
waiting with his vassals and suites in splendid array to pay his homage
to the young Queen, who now first since the death of her child was to
appear among them at a high function; there were others who, uncertain
or careless of their sentiments had responded to the urgent invitation
of the Council of the Realm, from no stronger motive than a mild
curiosity; and possibly a few had come with a wrathful determination to
find something to condemn in the bearing of the Queen that might
stimulate an organized opposition.

Between the splendid shafts of the monoliths that rose like a Cyprian
forest from the polished marble pavement, a vast company of the
hierarchy of Cyprus--Greek, Latin, and Armenian, in rich sacerdotal
vestments--were waiting to take part in the solemn ceremonial; for the
royal white-robed procession had already ascended the steps of the dias
where the newly appointed Archbishop of Nikosia would offer his prayer
of consecration and receive the pledge of the Queen faithfully to uphold
the laws of the Realm.

The majestic martial music to which the procession had moved had
diminished to a dim, melodic undertone, over which the prayer of the
Primate rose and fell in swift, rhythmic periods--a litany of ascription
and petition, to which the people, standing with faces towards the East
and with outstretched hands, responded full-voiced.

O Thou, God over all, great in Majesty and power, to Thee we ascribe all
praise!

_To Thee we ascribe all praise!_

O Thou, Lord of lords and King of kings, grant to Caterina, Sovereign of
this Realm, grace and wisdom to rule her people.

_Grace and wisdom to rule her people!_

And grant to her, O Giver of all good, Thy benediction, with gladness!

_Thy benediction, with gladness!_

O Thou, Creator of Life and Immortality, Lord of the living and of the
dead, grant that the soul of thy servant Janus may rest in peace!

_May rest in peace!_

O Thou, Holy and Ineffable, aroun