led. Brilliana appealed to
the justice of the peace.

"Yet it is very clear. Is it not, Sir Blaise?"

"Limpidity itself," Sir Blaise approved, complacently. Brilliana
resumed.

"One or other of you is a traitor and shall be sent to Oxford in
chains, to await the King's pleasure and his own pain. I care not
which it be."

"You have set me in such a quandary," Master Paul protested, "my head
buzzes like a hive."

Brilliana directly questioned him.

"You, Master Hungerford, are you a King's man?"

Master Paul was vehement in asseveration.

"I am a King's man, hook and eye."

"Then," Brilliana assumed, "'tis Master Rainham must fare in chains
to Oxford."

Master Rainham, staring at her over Clupp's paw, had such appealing
terror in his eyes that Brilliana pitied him.

"'Tis your turn now," she said. "Let him give tongue, Clupp."

Clupp withdrew his hand and Master Rainham gurgled:

"I proclaim myself a faithful subject of the King. Let that dog trot
to Oxford."

"You matchless basilisk!" screamed Master Paul at him, and "You
damnable mandrake!" retorted Master Peter. The pair would have flown
at each other if they could have wriggled free. But as they could not
they perforce resigned themselves to hear what Brilliana would say
next.

"Why, then, it stands thus," Brilliana summed up. "This court decides
that you are both servants of the King; that you have both done the
King good service, willing and yet unwilling. I think I shall have
some little credit with the King, and I shall use it with his Majesty
by entreating him to grant the grace of knighthood to two honest
friends of mine and two honest lovers of his--Master Hungerford and
Master Rainham."

Master Paul looked at Master Peter; Master Peter looked at Master
Paul. Master Paul smiled. Master Peter smiled.

"A knighthood!"

Master Peter mumbled the word lovingly. Master Paul blew a kiss
towards Brilliana.

"Then I shall be indeed your knight," he simpered.

"Are you content?" Brilliana asked, gravely, and the two squires
answered in union,

"We are content."

"Then this worshipful court adjourns sine die. Captain Halfman, see
that our friends be refreshed ere they depart."

Halfman rose, and with a "Follow me, sirs," made for the door. Sir
Blaise stooped over Brilliana's finger-tips.

"Farewell, my lady wisdom. Solomon was not more wise nor Minos more
sapient."

"I thought you would uphold me," Brilliana replied. "Farewell."

Sir