rotector."

Hastings laughed, for he was well pleased that Richard's suspicion took
that turn.

"And now," he said, "I suppose Master Nevile and the Duchess of
Bedford's page may enter. Your guard stopped them hitherto. They come
for this gentleman from her highness the queen's mother."

"Enter, Master Nevile, and you, Sir Page. What is your errand?"

"My lady, the duchess," said the page, "has sent me to conduct Master
Warner to the apartments prepared for him as her special multiplier and
alchemist."

"What!" said the prince, who, unlike the irritable Clarence, made it
his policy to show all decorous homage to the queen's kin, "hath that
illustrious lady taken this gentleman into her service? Why announced
you not, Master Warner, what at once had saved you from further
questioning? Lord Hastings, I thank you now for your intercession."

Hastings, in answer, pointed archly at Marmaduke, who was aiding Sibyll
to support her father. "Do you suspect me still, prince?" he whispered.

The duke shrugged his shoulders, and Adam, breaking from Marmaduke
and Sibyll, passed with tottering steps to the shattered labour of his
solitary life. He looked at the ruin with mournful despondence, with
quivering lips. "Have you done with me?" then he said, bowing his head
lowlily, for his pride was gone; "may we--that is, I and this, my poor
device--withdraw from your palace? I see we are not fit for kings!"

"Say not so," said the young duke, gently: "we have now convinced
ourselves of our error, and I crave thy pardon, Master Warner, for my
harsh dealings. As for this, thy toy, the king's workmen shall set it
right for thee. Smith, call the fellows yonder, to help bear this to--"
He paused, and glanced at Hastings.

"To my apartments," said the chamberlain. "Your Highness may be sure
that I will there inspect it. Fear not, Master Warner; no further harm
shall chance to thy contrivance."

"Come, sir, forgive me," said the duke. With gracious affability the
young prince held out his hand, the fingers of which sparkled with
costly gems, to the old man. The old man bowed as if his beard would
have swept the earth, but he did not touch the hand. He seemed still in
a state between dream and reason, life and death: he moved not, spoke
not, till the men came to bear the model; and he then followed it, his
arms folded in his gown, till, on entering the court, it was borne in
a contrary direction from his own, to the chamberlain's apar