"But whispering tongues may poison truth."
Spite of sadness of heart and severe retrenchments, a certain number of
court ceremonials were inevitable, particularly when the convocation of
the States-General had filled Lisbon with the Portuguese nobility and
great ecclesiastics.
Nella did not love pomp and state; she had been accustomed to a life of
great freedom and simplicity, and, spite of some girlish pleasure in the
handsome dresses provided for her by her father, she found it
unspeakably wearisome to stand behind Queen Leonor for hours while she
held receptions. One of these took place as soon as the offer of a
ransom for Dom Fernando had been decided on, and the whole company were
full of the subject, discussing the wrongs and rights of it at every
moment when speech was possible. But besides the main question, there
was a strong undercurrent of suspicion and indignation against the
supposed sharers of Brother Martin's treason. A great many people who
had followed the apostate priest and had admired his preaching were loud
in abuse of him, and repeated more than one saying which _now_ appeared
to them suspicious. Harry Hartsed, from a mixture of obstinacy and
dislike to join in an outcry on an absent man who could not defend
himself, declared that there was no proof against Brother Martin, and
that he had always heard him express the most loyal sentiments. He was
fresh from rather a sharp discussion on these points when the queen's
movements made it possible to approach Nella, who looked very handsome,
her fair skin set off by her green and silver dress, and her golden head
towering above the other ladies. She smiled when she saw Harry, as if
his presence was a pleasing variety.
"Well sir," she said, in English, "these court receptions may be mighty
fine for you, who have your tongue free to talk, but I find it dull
enough to stand speechless for hours."
"Speak now, then, fair mistress," said Harry, smiling; "and let me catch
your words as they fall. Or would you prefer to listen while I tell you
that I have but lived through the hours till I could reach your side?"
"No," said Nella, pouting. "Why, have you grown into a courtier too?"
"And do you really wish yourself back again at Northberry?"
"Ay, that I do! Indeed, Harry," said Nella, with a sudden change to
earnestness that reminded him of her childish days, "sometimes I think
that I do not love my good father nearly enough; for I cannot help
wishing to go back again to Devon, though since Adela and Walter
Coplestone have married and left the old manor it has been solitary
enough."
"I shall not be able to go back to Devon till I have seen war enough
make my fortune," said Harry; "nor do I wish to go--now," he added,
meaningly.
Nella blushed a little and cast down her eyes, and as she raised them
they met those of Alvarez, fixed on her with an expression of such
passionate jealousy that her heart gave a frightened throb. How she
wished that she had never teased Harry by encouraging his rival--for as
such she began to recognise Alvarez; and though she scarcely realised
that Harry wished her to be more to him than his old playmate, he had
always been jealous of interference, and the feelings of Alvarez were
unmistakable. The latter, too, was by far the best match, and Nella had
a frightened conviction that her father would favour this suit whenever
it was formally offered. She was glad when the queen signed to her to
attend her, so that further speech was impossible.
While this little scene was passing a dance had been going forward--one
of those stately and ceremonious exercises which were limited to a few
couples at a time, whose graceful movements afforded a spectacle for the
rest of the company.
Dom Pedro had led out Queen Leonor; and the king excusing himself on the
plea of fatigue, sat down a little apart, watching the dancers with sad,
unseeing eyes. Presently Enrique came up and joined him.
"I have a petition to present to you, my brother," he said.
"What is it, then?" asked Duarte; "what is it you wish?"
"Will you give me leave to go with the envoys who offer the Moors this
ransom? Who could plead as I? And at least I should see my Fernando
once more."
"I cannot refuse you," said Duarte; "but, Enrique, my mind misgives me.
I would not be too long without your counsel."
"_My_ counsel!" said Enrique, bitterly; "take any counsel rather than
mine."
Duarte smiled.
"Your presence, then," he said. "But I think it is well that you should
go, though I have little hope, Enrique, in my heart--"
"Dare to utter such a threat, and you shall answer for it with your
life!"
These words, in tones of high indignation, suddenly interrupted the
brothers' colloquy.
"How now? Young gentlemen, remember where you are?" said Enrique,
advancing, and confronting with his stately presence Hartsed and
Alvarez, who, with flashing eyes, and hands on their sword-hilts, had
been so carried away by their dispute as to forget entirely the royal
presence.
Alvarez collected himself at once, bowed, and drew back; but Harry cried
out, fiercely, "My lord, I care not where I am! Dom Alvarez has
insulted me foully, and I defy him to repeat his base slander!"
"The cause of your dispute, sir," said the prince, "can be of no moment
to me, unless it were confided to me in a more suitable manner. Such
violence argues ill for your cause, be it what it may."
The prince was himself very sore-hearted, and Harry had committed a
great breach of propriety; but he felt himself deeply injured, and flung
away without a word. Alvarez followed him into the court outside, and
then the two young men turned and faced each other, and Alvarez spoke.
"I believe you to have been cognisant of the treason of your friend, the
miscreant priest, Martin."
"Speak at your peril," shouted Harry, "or I will go back and before all
the princes give you the lie!"
"As you will, senor. I will not yield the Lady Eleanor to a traitor,
nor see my prince's confidence abused by a foreigner."
"Foreigner!" cried Harry. "No one but a rascally _foreigner_ would
utter such an insult. Draw, and defend yourself!"
Alvarez was not slow to answer this demand, but the clash of arms in the
palace precincts soon collected an indignant crowd, and among them Sir
Walter Northberry.
"Now, Master Hartsed," he cried, wrathfully, "brawling in the palace
court. What means all this? Put up your swords this moment,
gentlemen--for shame?"
"Master Hartsed challenged me and gave me the lie," said Alvarez.
"Dom Alvarez insulted me and called me traitor," cried Harry.
"This is not the first time that I have heard this wrangling," said Sir
Walter. "Senor Dom Alvarez, it would be well if you would explain your
charge against a member of my household. And you, Harry, be silent
until I question you."
Trembling with indignation, Harry put a great force upon himself and
remained silent; while Alvarez bowed, and looking at Sir Walter with his
dark, flashing eyes, said--
"Sir, I had not meant in any way to make public my suspicions, but
Master Hartsed's violence towards me, in especial after the honour which
you this morning have done me, obliges me to speak."
Sir Walter bowed, and Alvarez continued--"Perceiving some slight tokens
of favour which the lady whom I am unworthy to name had the grace to
bestow on me, Master Hartsed lost patience and demanded how I dared to
address Mistress Northberry."
"That is false?" cried Harry, "you lie in your teeth!"
"Master Harry, will you be silent at my desire?" said Northberry,
sternly, "and hear Dom Alvarez to the end!"
"I," said Dom Alvarez, "was fain to tell him, that I marvelled how the
friend and defender of the traitor Martin, whose name was on all men's
lips, should dare to raise his eyes to an honourable lady. Upon which
he threatened, and finally drew upon me."
"And on what grounds, Senor Dom Alvarez, do you accuse Master Hartsed of
cognisance of this foul treason?"
"Master Hartsed," said Alvarez, "was ever in the company of the traitor,
he has denied the possibility of his treason, and still calls him his
_friend_. He must choose, I think, between this friend and loyal
gentlemen."
"Into my house he comes not if he takes the traitor's name on his lips,"
said Northberry. "Now, Master Harry, what have you to say?"
"Nothing, before those who call me traitor," said Harry, with some
dignity; then his anger getting the better of him he exclaimed--"Dom
Alvarez knows best whether it was not he who threatened to interrupt
_my_ suit with his foul slander."
"Your suit, ha, ha!" said Sir Walter, roughly, "'tis the first I have
heard of it. Now, to put an end to this folly, I will tell you, sir,
that I have betrothed my daughter to Senor Dom Alvarez de Pereira. Nor
do you make a fit return for my hospitality by raising your eyes to her.
And this matter of your intimacy with the traitor priest must be looked
to. Not that I hold you guilty of his treason, but it misbecomes you
even to name his name."
Those present noticed, that instead of violent self-defence Harry
Hartsed received this speech in silence, only turning very pale as he
bowed stiffly to Sir Walter and walked away by himself.