teps she laid her hand upon the
Evangel, where His Grace the Archbishop held open the page for her, and
kneeling to kiss the venerated Book of the Assizes, she solemnly swore
to uphold the laws and statutes of Cyprus.

* * * * *

But this day was destined to become memorable in the annals of the
courts.

There had been some disputes and decrees of minor interest to be passed
upon before the matter of the recent conspiracy had been brought
forward. This had absorbed the attention of the most learned Cyprian men
at law for some time past, and at this first session of the Court of
Assizes, the summing up of evidence and the closing arguments were to be
laid before the tribunal and sentence would be declared. The revelations
of the trial had thus far been kept secret--but it was known from other
sources that the identity of many of those implicated had been
discovered, and an important prisoner, who was supposed to have had a
large share in shaping the plot, was to be brought into court to close
her trial.

It was she, they said, who, trusted near the person of Her Majesty,
having full opportunity of access to those highest in authority and of
friendly intercourse with all the ancient Cyprian nobility, had been
chosen by the chiefs of the conspiracy to receive and transmit their
orders covertly; to win converts for the scheme, wherever there might be
hope of partisans, and to protect their plans from suspicion. The charge
was "High Treason," for it was whispered that the seizure of the
strongholds was but to have been a step toward the seizure of the Crown,
and this leader came of an ambitious race, than which no family of
Cyprus could boast a more ancient lineage.

In the innermost circle about the Queen, whatever the suspicions of the
maids and knights might have been, the name of this arch-offender was
not even whispered: for their dear Queen herself, with eyes that were
dark with emotion, had pleaded with them.

"For love of me, seek not to know until her innocence or guilt shall be
declared. If she should be innocent--which may our Blessed Lady
grant!--let us save her from dishonor in thought and name."

But one of their number had been long absent, on a visit, it had been
declared, to her distant estates; and if some who came less frequently
to court, named the name of "Madama di Niuna" over-curiously, the
courtiers turned their faces from each other, lest their eyes should
betr