that trying
moment.

No time was to be lost, and measures were immediately taken to
countervail these designs.

"What answer sent he?" she hastily inquired.

"The de'il's buckie said his master would be at the hall by dinner-time;
and I'll not be one o' the guests where old Clootie has the pick o' the
table."

"Thou witless runnion, haste, or we are lost! It is the king! I would I
had trusted thee before with the secret. Mayhap thy wit would have been
without obscuration. Supernatural terrors have taken thy reason
prisoner. Haste, nor look behind thee until thou art under the eaves of
Bashall. This to my cousin, Edmund Talbot; he is honest, or my wishes
themselves are turned traitors," said the maiden wistfully. She scrawled
but one line, with which Gregory departed on his errand.

Oliver Tempest grew uneasy at his daughter's absence. He inquired the
cause, but all were alike ignorant. The king inquired too, with some
surprise; and a messenger was despatched with a close whisper in his
ear.

The meal was nigh finished, when all eyes were turned towards the
entrance. A little blackamoor page came waddling in. He made no sign nor
obeisance, but took his station, without speaking, behind his master's
chair.

"Why, how now, my trusty squire?" said the disguised monarch; "thou wast
not bidden to this feast."

The dwarf cast a scowling glance at the master of the house, and he
replied, while a hideous grin dilated his thick stubborn features--

"This be goodly wassail, methinks. I am weary of lurching and
torchlight."

"Tempest," said the king, "I would crave grace for this follower of
mine. He is somewhat fearsome and forbidding, but of an unwearied
fidelity."

"Troth," said Tempest, still wishful to maintain the king's incognito,
"the Turks having now taken Byzantium, the great bulwark of Christendom,
I did fear me that the first of the tribe from that great army of
locusts had descended upon us."

"Fear not," said the unfortunate monarch, with a smile; "this poor
innocent will do no ill. His mistress brought him for me a present from
her father's court; and, to say the truth, he has been a great solace in
my trouble. He hath not forsaken me when they who fattened on my
bounty--who dipped their hands with me in the dish--have been the first
to betray me. The knave is shrewd and playful, but of an incredible
strength, being, as ye may observe, double-jointed. Madoc, let them
behold some token of thy power.