de, Le
Despenser climbed up into his hiding-place.

Ten minutes later, Sir William Hankeford was bowing low in the
banquet-hall before the royal lady of the Castle, who gravely and very
courteously assured him of her deep regret that her lord was not at home
to receive him.

"An' it like you, Madam," returned the acute old judge, "I am bidden of
the King's Grace to ensure me thereof."

"Oh, certes," said Constance accommodatingly. "Maude! call hither
Master Giles, and bid him to lead my learned and worshipful Lord into
every chamber of the Castle."

The judge, a little disarmed by her perfect coolness, instituted the
search on which he was bound. He turned up beds, opened closets, shook
gowns, pinched cushions, and looked behind tapestry. So determined was
he to secure his intended prisoner, that he went through the whole
process in person. But he was forced to confess at last that, so far as
he could discover, Cardiff Castle was devoid of its master. The baffled
judge and his subordinates took their departure, after putting a series
of questions to various persons, which were answered without the
slightest regard to truth, the replicants being ignorant of any penalty
attached to lying beyond confession and penance; and considering,
indeed, that in an instance like the present it was rather a virtue than
a sin. When they were fairly out of sight, Constance went leisurely
back to her bower, and called up the chimney.

"Now, my good Lord, you may descend in safety."

Le Despenser obeyed; but he came down looking so like a chimney-sweep
that Constance, whose versatile moods changed with the rapidity of
lightning, flung herself on the bed in fits of laughter. The
interrupted preparations were quickly resumed and completed; and when
all was ready, and the boatman waiting at the Castle pier, Le Despenser
went into the hall to bid farewell to his mother. She was sitting on
the settle with an anxious, care-worn look. Maude stood in the window;
and at the lower end three or four servants were hurrying about, rather
restlessly than necessarily.

The old lady rose when her son entered, and her often-repressed love
flowed out in unwonted fervour, as she clasped him in her arms, knowing
that it might be for the last time.

"Our Lord be thine aid, my lad, my lad! Be true to thy King; but whatso
shall befall thee, be truest to thy God!"

"God helping me, so will I!" replied he solemnly.

"And--Tom, dearest lad!-