ents in watchful
surveillance.

"Nay, my lord," said Richard, pursuing with much unction the
conversation he had commenced, "you wrong me much, Holy Paul be my
witness, if you doubt the deep sorrow I feel at the unhappy events which
have led to the severance of my kinsmen! England seems to me to have
lost its smile in losing the glory of Earl Warwick's presence, and
Clarence is my brother, and was my friend; and thou knowest, Montagu,
thou knowest, how dear to my heart was the hope to win for my wife and
lady the gentle Anne."

"Prince," said Montagu, abruptly, "though the pride of Warwick and the
honour of our House may have forbidden the public revelation of the
cause which fired my brother to rebellion, thou, at least, art privy to
a secret--"

"Cease!" exclaimed Richard, in great emotion, probably sincere, for his
face grew livid, and its muscles were nervously convulsed. "I would not
have that remembrance stirred from its dark repose. I would fain forget
a brother's hasty frenzy, in the belief of his lasting penitence." He
paused and turned his face, gasped for breath, and resumed: "The cause
justified the father; it had justified me in the father's cause, had
Warwick listened to my suit, and given me the right to deem insult to
his daughter injury to myself."

"And if, my prince," returned Montagu, looking round him, and in a
subdued whisper, "if yet the hand of Lady Anne were pledged to you?"

"Tempt me not, tempt me not!" cried the prince, crossing himself.
Montagu continued,--

"Our cause, I mean Lord Warwick's cause, is not lost, as the king deems
it."

"Proceed," said Richard, casting down his eyes, while his countenance
settled back into its thoughtful calm.

"I mean," renewed Montagu, "that in my brother's flight, his retainers
were taken by surprise. In vain the king would confiscate his lands,--he
cannot confiscate men's hearts. If Warwick to-morrow set his armed heel
upon the soil, trowest thou, sagacious and clear-judging prince, that
the strife which would follow would be but another field of Losecote?
[The battle of Erpingham, so popularly called, in contempt of the rebel
lions runaways.] Thou hast heard of the honours with which King Louis
has received the earl. Will that king grudge him ships and moneys? And
meanwhile, thinkest thou that his favourers sleep?"

"But if he land, Montagu," said Richard, who seemed to listen with an
attention that awoke all the hopes of Montagu, coveting so