ion to the Lord Chancellor.

The Lord Chancellor took the black portfolio, and handed it to the Clerk
of the Parliament.

The Clerk received it ceremoniously, and then sat down.

The Clerk of the Parliament opened the portfolio, and arose.

The portfolio contained the two usual messages--the royal patent
addressed to the House of Lords, and the writ of summons.

The Clerk read aloud these two messages, with respectful deliberation,
standing.

The writ of summons, addressed to Fermain Lord Clancharlie, concluded
with the accustomed formalities,--

"We strictly enjoin you, on the faith and allegiance that you owe, to
come and take your place in person among the prelates and peers sitting
in our Parliament at Westminster, for the purpose of giving your advice,
in all honour and conscience, on the business of the kingdom and of the
church."

The reading of the messages being concluded, the Lord Chancellor raised
his voice,--

"The message of the Crown has been read. Lord Clancharlie, does your
lordship renounce transubstantiation, adoration of saints, and the
mass?"

Gwynplaine bowed.

"The test has been administered," said the Lord Chancellor.

And the Clerk of the Parliament resumed,--

"His lordship has taken the test."

The Lord Chancellor added,--

"My Lord Clancharlie, you can take your seat."

"So be it," said the two sponsors.

The King-at-Arms rose, took the sword from the stand, and buckled it
round Gwynplaine's waist.

"Ce faict," says the old Norman charter, "le pair prend son espee, et
monte aux hauts sieges, et assiste a l'audience."

Gwynplaine heard a voice behind him which said,--

"I array your lordship in a peer's robe."

At the same time, the officer who spoke to him, who was holding the
robe, placed it on him, and tied the black strings of the ermine cape
round his neck.

Gwynplaine, the scarlet robe on his shoulders, and the golden sword by
his side, was attired like the peers on his right and left.

The librarian presented to him the red book, and put it in the pocket of
his waistcoat.

The King-at-Arms murmured in his ear,--

"My lord, on entering, will bow to the royal chair."

The royal chair is the throne.

Meanwhile the two clerks were writing, each at his table--one on the
register of the Crown, the other on the register of the House.

Then both--the Clerk of the Crown preceding the other--brought their
books to the Lord Chancellor, who signed them. Having s