d. "The truth of all
I have said can be proven, and thereto I do offer Master Will Maydeston
mine esquire, which shall prove my truth with his body against such, as
do accuse me [by duel; a resource then permitted by law]. And further
will I say nought."

"But you must needs have had further aid, Lady."

"Ay so, Sir?"

"Most surely. Who were it, I demand of you?"

"I have said my saying."

"And you do deny, Madam, to further justice?"

"Right surely, without justice were of my side." What was to be done
with such a prisoner? Beaufort at last gave up in despair the attempt
to make her criminate her accomplices any further, though he could
hardly avoid guessing that Bertram and Maude had helped her more or
less. The sentence pronounced was a remarkably light one, so far as
Constance was concerned. In fact, the poor smith, who was the most
innocent of the group, suffered the most. How he was found can but be
guessed; but his life paid the forfeit of his forgery. The Princess was
condemned to close imprisonment in Kenilworth Castle during the King's
pleasure. Maude was sentenced to share her mistress's durance; and
Bertram's penalty was even easier, for he was allowed free passage
within the walls, as a prisoner on parole.

It was in the beginning of March that the captive trio, in charge of
Elmingo Leget, arrived at Kenilworth. Two rooms were allotted for the
use of Constance and Maude. The innermost was the bedchamber, from
which projected a little oratory with an oriel window; the outer, the
"withdrawing chamber," which opened only into a guardroom always
occupied by soldiers. Bertram was permitted access to the Princess's
drawing-room at her pleasure, and her pleasure was to admit him very
frequently. She found her prison-life insufferably wearisome, and even
the scraps of extremely local news, brought in by Bertram from the
courtyard, were a relief to the monotony of having nothing at all to do.
She grew absolutely interested in such infinitesimal facts as the
arrival of a barrel of salt sprats, the sprained ankle of Mark Milksop
[a genuine surname of the time] of the garrison, the Governor's new
crimson damask gown, and the solitary cowslip which his shy little girl
offered to Bertram "for the Lady."

But having nothing to do, by no means implied having nothing to think
about. On the contrary, of that there was a great deal. The last items
which Constance knew concerning her friends were, tha