er, it happened that Ulf Jarl saw the cook's scullion pour something
into a broth that was intended for me to eat. Suspecting evil, he forced
the fellow instead to swallow it, and the result was that, that night,
the boy died."

The Etheling exclaimed in horror: "My lord! know you whence he got it?"

"You prove a good guesser to know that it was not his crime," the King
said dryly. "A little while ago, I found out that he got it from the
British woman who is nurse to Elfgiva of Northampton." To this, the new
Marshal volunteered no answer whatever, but drew his breath in sharply
as though he found himself in deep water; and the King spoke on. "I did
not suspect the Lady of Northampton of having evil designs toward me,
because--because she is more prosperous in every respect while I am
alive; and now that belief is proved true, for I am told for certain
that, the day before the British woman gave the boy the liquid, a
Danishman gave the British woman an herb to make a drink of." He paused,
and his voice became slower and much harder, as though he were curbing
his feelings with iron. "Since you have heard the Norman rumor," he
said, "it is likely that you have heard also of the discontent among the
Danes, who dislike my judgments; but in case you have not, I will tell
you that an abundance of them have betaken themselves to a place in the
Middlesex forest where they live outlaws,--and their leader is Rothgar
Lodbroksson."

To motion back a man who was approaching him with a paper, he turned
away for a moment; and Sebert was glad of the excuse to avoid meeting
his glance. Not until now had he understood what the judgment in his
favor had cost the judge, and his heart was suddenly athrob with
many emotions. "In no way is it strange that I am hateful to him," he
murmured. "But by Saint Mary, _he_ is of the sort that is worth enduring
from!"

He inclined his head in devoted attention as the King turned back,
lowering his tone to exclude all but the man before him. "Even less
than I believe it of Elfgiva of Northampton, do I believe it of Rothgar
Lodbroksson, that he would seek my life. But often that happens which
one least expects, and it is time that I use forethought for myself. Now
I know of no man in the world who is better able to help my case than
you."

"I!" the Etheling ejaculated. Suddenly it occurred to him to suspect
that his new-sworn vow of obedience was about to be put genuinely to the
test, and he drew hi