ends of the late king, some the friends of the new. In the faces of
not a few of the former might be detected traces of uneasiness and
anxiety; while the latter talked and looked, for the most part,
confident and triumphant. It was easy to guess the cause of this
strange variety of feeling. The gay young reveller was now king. There
were some there who had made no secret of their disapproval of his wild
courses as a prince. How would he regard them now the crown was on his
head? Others there were who had borne him company in his excesses,
drinking from the same bowl, and sharing in all the lawlessness of his
lawless youth. Was not the time for their advancement come, now that
the fountain of honour was in the person of their own boon companion and
comrade?

Amid waving and acclamation, the young king stepped into the presence
chamber to receive the homage of his subjects.

In general appearance he was not much changed from the tall, handsome
youth who, a few years ago, had openly defied the law and insulted its
dignity; but the more serious expression of his face, and the more
sedate pose of his lips, betokened an inward change of no small
importance. And now that the whole court was eagerly looking for some
indication of his conduct under the new honours and duties which had
this day devolved upon him, he was not long in satisfying their
curiosity in a decided and significant manner.

Glancing for a moment among the gay throng which surrounded him, his eye
lit on a grave, dignified man, with clear eye and firm mouth, now
advanced in years, and clad in the robes of a judge.

King Henry stepped towards him, and, with a friendly smile, took him by
the hand.

"Good Master Gascoigne," he said, "I know you of old. What my father
said of you, let me say too, in the hearing of all these people. _Happy
is the king that has such a man who dares to execute justice even on the
king's son_. You did well by me when you once committed me to prison;
you shall still be my councillor and the trusted guardian of my laws."

The judge bowed low as he replied, "My lord, your father added yet
another word to that you have yourself recalled. _Happy_, said he, _the
king that has such a son, who will submit even his princely self to the
hand of justice_."

And a tear stood in the grave man's eye as he kissed the hand of him who
had once been his prisoner, but was now his king and his friend.

CHAPTER TWENTY SIX.

LAMB