all chance of yet speaking to him?"

"Thou wert ever cool! I wot that I could not have borne it," said
Stephen.

They told the story to Perronel, who was on the whole elated by her
husband's promotion, declaring that the King loved him well, and that he
would soon come to his senses, though for a wise man, he certainly had
too much of the fool, even as he had too much of the wise man for the
fool.

She became anxious, however, as the weeks passed by without hearing of
or from him, and at length Ambrose confessed his uneasiness to his kind
master, and obtained leave to attend him on the next summons to Windsor.

Ambrose could not find his uncle at first. Randall, who used to pervade
York House, and turn up everywhere when least expected, did not appear
among the superior serving-men and secretaries with whom his nephew
ranked, and of course there was no access to the state apartments. Sir
Thomas, however, told Ambrose that he had seen Quipsome Hal among the
other jesters, but that he seemed dull and dejected. Then Ambrose
beheld from a window a cruel sight, for the other fools, three in
number, were surrounding Hal, baiting and teasing him, triumphing over
him in fact, for having formerly outshone them, while he stood among
them like a big dog worried by little curs, against whom he disdained to
use his strength. Ambrose, unable to bear this, ran down stairs to
endeavour to interfere; but before he could find his way to the spot, an
arrival at the gate had attracted the tormentors, and Ambrose found his
uncle leaning against the wall alone. He looked thin and wan, the light
was gone out of his black eyes, and his countenance was in sad contrast
to his gay and absurd attire. He scarcely cheered up when his nephew
spoke to him, though he was glad to hear of Perronel. He said he knew
not when he should see her again, for he had been unable to secure his
suit of ordinary garments, so that even if the King came to London, or
if he could elude the other fools, he could not get out to visit her.
He was no better than a prisoner here, he only marvelled that the King
retained so wretched a jester, with so heavy a heart.

"Once thou wast in favour," said Ambrose. "Methought thou couldst have
availed thyself of it to speak for the Lord Cardinal."

"What? A senseless cur whom he kicked from him," said Randall. "'Twas
that took all spirit from me, boy. I, who thought he loved me, as I
love him to this day. To send