ord of the matter, and I had not
spoken of it, either. I wanted to see how long he would remain silent
concerning an adventure that would have set most men of the court
boasting at a great rate. To have a tilt with the ever-victorious
Mary, and to come off victor, was enough, I think, to loosen any
tongue less given to bragging than Brandon's.

"So," continued Mary, evidently somewhat piqued, "he did not think his
presentation to me a thing worth mentioning? We had a little
passage-at-arms, and, to tell you the truth, I came off second best,
and had to acknowledge it, too. Now, what do you think of this new
friend of yours? And he did not boast about having the better of me?
After all, there is more virtue in his silence than I at first
thought." And she threw back her head, and clapped her hands and
laughed with the most contagious little ripple you ever heard. She
seemed not to grieve over her defeat, but dimpled as though it were a
huge joke, the thought of which rather pleased her than otherwise.
Victory had grown stale for her, although so young.

"What do I think of my new friend?" I repeated after her; and that
gave me a theme upon which I could enlarge eloquently. I told her of
his learning, notwithstanding the fact that he had been in the
continental wars ever since he was a boy. I repeated to her stories of
his daring and bravery, that had been told to me by his uncle, the
Master of the Horse, and others, and then I added what I knew Lady
Jane had already said. I had expected to be brief, but to my surprise
found a close and interested listener, even to the twice-told parts,
and drew my story out a little, to the liking of us both.

"Your friend has an earnest advocate in you, Sir Edwin," said the
princess.

"That he has," I replied. "There is nothing too good to say of him."

I knew that Mary, with her better, clearer brain, held the king almost
in the palm of her hand, so I thought to advance Brandon's fortune by
a timely word.

"I trust the king will see fit to favor him, and I hope that you will
speak a word in his behalf, should the opportunity occur."

"What in the name of heaven have we to give him?" cried Mary
impatiently, for she kept an eye on things political, even if she were
only a girl--"the king has given away everything that can be given,
already, and now that the war is over, and men are coming home, there
are hundreds waiting for more. My father's great treasure is
squandered, to say