art could not yet prevail
over enemies merely mortal.

The servitor announced Alwyn, and retired; the queen turned--"What news,
Master Alwyn? Quick! What tidings from the lord mayor?"

"Gracious my queen and lady," said Alwyn, falling on his knees, "you
have but one course to pursue. Below yon casement lies your barge, to
the right see the round gray tower of Westminster Sanctuary; you have
time yet, and but time!"

The old Duchess of Bedford turned her sharp, bright, gray eyes from the
pale and trembling friar to the goldsmith, but was silent. The queen
stood aghast. "Mean you," she faltered, at last, "that the city of
London forsakes the king? Shame on the cravens!"

"Not cravens, my lady and queen," said Alwyn, rising. "He must have iron
nails that scratches a bear,--and the white bear above all. The king has
fled, the barons have fled, the soldiers have fled, the captains have
fled,--the citizens of London alone fly not; but there is nothing save
life and property left to guard."

"Is this thy boasted influence with the commons and youths of the city?"

"My humble influence, may it please your Grace (I say it now openly,
and I will say it a year hence, when King Edward will hold his court in
these halls once again), my influence, such as it is, has been used
to save lives which resistance would waste in vain. Alack, alack! 'No
gaping against an oven,' gracious lady! Your barge is below. Again I say
there is yet time,--when the bell tolls the next hour that time will be
past!"

"Then Jesu defend these children!" said Elizabeth, bending over her
infants, and weeping bitterly; "I will go!"

"Hold!" said the Duchess of Bedford, "men desert us, but do the spirits
also forsake us?--Speak, friar! canst thou yet do aught for us?--and if
not, thinkest thou it is the right hour to yield and fly?"

"Daughter," said the friar, whose terror might have moved pity, "as I
said before, thank yourself. This Warner, this--in short, the lesser
magician hath been aided and cockered to countervail the greater, as I
forewarned. Fly! run! fly! Verily and indeed it is the prosperest of all
times to save ourselves; and the stars and the book and my familiar all
call out, 'Off and away!'"

"'Fore heaven!" exclaimed Alwyn, who had hitherto been dumb with
astonishment at this singular interlude, "sith he who hath shipped the
devil must make the best of him, thou art for once an honest man and a
wise counsellor. Hark! the second gun