ose same Beauforts? Pardieu!
Sire, you need not me to tell you that Parliament belongs to him whose
writ summons it."

"I would never countenance it," the King answered; "and it would surely
destroy me if I did."

Stanley smiled shrewdly. "Did the Fourth Henry sit less easy on the
throne when the deposed Richard died suddenly at Pontefract? . . . Did
John tyrannize the less because of Arthur's cruel taking off?"

The King arose and paced the floor, looking straight before him. Stanley
watched him furtively, trying vainly to read behind the mask of that
passionless face.

"Tell me, my lord," said Richard presently, halting beside him and
putting a hand on his shoulder, "if you were King of England, what would
you do with the Princes?"

Stanley evaded the direct question. "Your Majesty is King of England,
and I can never be aught but a subject--how can I know what a King would
do?"

Richard nodded. "That is but fair, my lord," he said. "To decide as
King one must be King. Yet I would gather from our talk that you deem
the . . . removal . . . most essential--is it not so?"

Pushed into the corner, the shifty Baron hesitated and sought to evade
again. But he managed badly, for now the King's eyes were hard upon his
face.

"Of a truth, Sire," he replied, "our talk this night has convinced me it
would be most expedient for Your Majesty."

Richard's lips softened into the very faintest smile.

"Our talk------!" he began.

Then suddenly Stanley started up and pointed to the window.

"Who is yonder listener?" he exclaimed.

Richard turned quickly, following the gesture.

"Are your eyes failing?" he asked. "It is De Lacy--he is on duty
to-night."

"Did you know he was there?"

"Most assuredly, my lord."

Stanley stared at the King in amazed silence, and despite his careful
dissimulation the indignation blazed in his eyes.

"If Your Majesty deem it wise to discuss such matters before a simple
attendant," he said, "it is not for me to criticise . . . yet, methinks,
if it be not risky, it is at least unusual."

"Never fear, Lord Steward; I will answer for my Body-Knight," Richard
responded.

During the colloquy, De Lacy had been leaning on the window edge,
watching idly the courtyard below, but paying strict attention to all
that was said behind him. Now he came forward and bent knee to Richard.

"My King's confidence," he said, "makes contemptible the insinuations of
the fickle Stanley."

"