"Ha!" said Edward, "George comes
to importune me for leave to depart to the government of Ireland, and I
have to make him weet that I think my Lord Worcester a safer viceroy of
the two."

"Your Highness will pardon me; but, though I deemed you too generous in
the appointment, it were dangerous now to annul it."

"More dangerous to confirm it. Elizabeth has caused me to see the folly
of a grant made over the malmsey,--a wine, by the way, in which poor
George swears he would be content to drown himself. Viceroy of Ireland!
My father had that government, and once tasting the sweets of royalty,
ceased to be a subject! No, no, Clarence--"

"Can never meditate treason against a brother's crown. Has he the wit or
the energy or the genius for so desperate an ambition?"

"No; but he hath the vanity. And I will wager thee a thousand marks to
a silver penny that my jester shall talk giddie Georgie into advancing a
claim to be soldan of Egypt or Pope of Rome!"

CHAPTER IV. THE FOSTER-BROTHERS.

Sir Marmaduke Nevile was sunning his bravery in the Tower Green, amidst
the other idlers of the court, proud of the gold chain and the gold
spurs which attested his new rank, and not grieved to have exchanged the
solemn walls of Middleham for the gay delights of the voluptuous palace,
when to his pleasure and surprise, he perceived his foster-brother enter
the gateway; and no sooner had Nicholas entered, than a bevy of the
younger courtiers hastened eagerly towards him.

"Gramercy!" quoth Sir Marmaduke, to one of the bystanders, "what hath
chanced to make Nick Alwyn a man of such note, that so many wings
of satin and pile should flutter round him like sparrows round an
owl?--which, by the Holy Rood, his wise face somewhat resembleth."

"Know you not that Master Alwyn, since he hath commenced trade for
himself, hath acquired already the repute of the couthliest goldsmith
in London? No dague-hilts, no buckles are to be worn, save those that he
fashions; and--an he live, and the House of York prosper--verily, Master
Alwyn the goldsmith will ere long be the richest and best man from
Mile-end to the Sanctuary."

"Right glad am I to hear it," said honest Marmaduke, heartily; and
approaching Alwyn, he startled the precise trader by a friendly slap on
the shoulder.

"What, man, art thou too proud to remember Marmaduke Nevile? Come to my
lodgment yonder, and talk of old days over the king's canary."

"I crave your pardon, dear Mast