herefore was it he commanded their
presence, determined to question them himself, rather than through the
still enraged Buchan.

Calmly and collectedly the noble pair received alike the displeasure of
their sovereign and the ill-concealed fury of Buchan. They neither
denied the charge against them nor equivocated in their motives for
their conduct; alarmed they were, indeed, for the unhappy Agnes; but as
denial and concealment were now alike impossible, and could avail her
nothing, they boldly, nay, proudly acknowledged that which they had
done, and openly rejoiced it had been theirs to give one gleam of
comfort to the dying Nigel, by extending protection to his wife.

"And are ye not traitors--bold, presuming traitors--deserving the
chastisement of such, bearding me thus in my very palace?" wrathfully
exclaimed Edward. "Know ye not both are liable to the charge of treason,
aye, treason--and fear ye to brave us thus?"

"My liege, we are no traitors, amenable to no such charge," calmly
answered Gloucester; "far, far more truly, faithfully, devotedly your
grace's subjects than many of those who had shrunk from an act as this.
That in so doing we were likely to incur your royal displeasure, we
acknowledge with deep regret and sorrow, and I take it no shame thus on
my knee to beseech your highness's indulgence for the fault; but if you
deem it worthy of chastisement, we are ready to submit to it, denying,
however, all graver charge, than that of failing in proper deference to
your grace."

"All other charge! By St. Edward, is not that enough?" answered the
king, but in a mollified tone. "And thou, minion, thou whom we deemed
the very paragon of integrity and honor, hast thou aught to say? Did not
thy lips frame falsehood, and thy bold looks confirm it?"

"My father, my noble father, pardon me that in this I erred," answered
Joan, kneeling by his side, and, despite his efforts to prevent it,
clasping his hand and covering it with kisses; "yet I spoke no
falsehood, uttered naught which was not truth. She _was_ ill and weakly;
she was well-nigh maddened from scenes and sounds of blood. I had
besought her not to attend me, but a wife's agony could not be
restrained, and if we had refused her the protection she so wildly
craved, had discovered her person to your highness, would it have
availed thee aught? a being young, scarce past her childhood--miserable,
maddened well-nigh to death, her life wrapt up in her husband's, wh