thou wilt, earl. From this day Edward IV. reigns alone,"
said the king. Warwick turned.

"My Lord Scales," said he, "lift the curtain; nay, sir, it misdemeans
you not. You are still the son of the Woodville, I still the descendant
of John of Gaunt."

"Not for the dead ancestor, but for the living warrior," said the Lord
Scales, lifting the curtain, and bowing with knightly grace as the earl
passed. And scarcely was Warwick in the open space than the crowd fairly
broke through all restraint, and the clamour of their joy filled with
its hateful thunders the royal tent.

"Edward," said Richard, whisperingly, and laying his finger on his
brother's arm, "forgive me if I offended; but had you at such a time
resolved on violence--"

"I see it all,--you were right. But is this to be endured forever?"

"Sire," returned Richard, with his dark smile, "rest calm; for the age
is your best ally, and the age is outgrowing the steel and hauberk. A
little while, and--"

"And what--"

"And--ah, sire, I will answer that question when our brother George
(mark him!) either refrains from listening, or is married to Isabel
Nevile, and hath quarrel with her father about the dowry. What, he,
there!--let the jongleurs perform."

"The jongleurs!" exclaimed the king; "why, Richard, thou hast more
levity than myself!"

"Pardon me! Let the jongleurs perform, and bid the crowd stay. It is by
laughing at the mountebanks that your Grace can best lead the people to
forget their Warwick!"

CHAPTER X. HOW THE GREAT LORDS COME TO THE KING-MAKER, AND WITH WHAT
PROFFERS.

Mastering the emotions that swelled within him, Lord Warwick returned
with his wonted cheerful courtesy the welcome of the crowd and the
enthusiastic salutation of the king's guard; but as, at length, he
mounted his steed, and attended but by the squire who had followed him
from Dover, penetrated into the solitudes of the chase, the recollection
of the indignity he had suffered smote his proud heart so sorely that
he groaned aloud. His squire, fearing the fatigue he had undergone might
have affected even that iron health, rode up at the sound of the groan,
and Warwick's face was hueless as he said, with a forced smile, "It is
nothing, Walter. But these heats are oppressive, and we have forgotten
our morning draught, friend. Hark! I hear the brawl of a rivulet, and
a drink of fresh water were more grateful now than the daintiest
hippocras." So saying, he flung himself fr