So Gloucester, instead of delivering Brand a prisoner to the Lord
Protector, must give the delay and the courtesies of a duel.
But Prince Ali understood. "Allow me," he said graciously; "sir, as
a witness to this quarrel, may I venture----"
"Well, what have you got to say?" Gloucester was on dangerous
ground, and seeing the position, the American intervened. "Look
here, gentlemen, this situation is too damned delicate for a plain
man. What passes between her Majesty's Commandant and a prisoner
charged with high treason--well, I'm not a party to the
conversation--so I'm going to clear out."
Gloucester shrank back aghast, for he saw that he had been entrapped
again by his antagonist.
"As Mr. Brand remarks," said Prince Ali, with a low bow, "we are both
prisoners, and her Majesty's command is that we must be delivered to
Lord Ulster."
Gloucester drew a deep breath of relief. "Sir,"--he faced Mr.
Brand--"I shall be ready to meet you when you are free to fight. For
the moment----"
He strode to the door, and gave a rapid command to his orderly, who
was waiting in the corridor.
He turned back again into the room, leaving the door wide open.
"I have summoned the main guard," he said. "I shall deliver you
prisoner to the Lord Protector."
At this moment a shadow darkened the room, the light no longer
streamed through the loopholes of the barricades. One would have
thought that a cloud had passed over the sun, but for a shrill
whistle sounding without, and a heavy clang of steel.
"Call the main guard," said the American, derisively.
With a deafening crash the barricades which filled the window fell
down in splintered masses to the floor. Outside lay the great steel
hull of the _Mary Rose_, the doors in her side flung open, her
gangway lowered upon the balcony. Upon the gangway were a company of
sailors grounding a heavy beam, with which they had forced the
window. An officer brought them to the salute with drawn cutlasses.
"Now, Duke," said Brand, "hand over your sword."
But even while he spoke there came a rush of men at the double,
troopers of the guard, who presently formed up within the room.
"Surrender your yacht," cried Gloucester. "She is commanded with
machine guns from every salient of the main front."
"At the first shot," said Brand, "I shall blow up every cartridge in
the Palace, and explode every loaded gun. Call your Guardsmen to lay
down their carbines, lest they be blown to pieces."
Gloucester laughed at the threat, but Trooper Lord Sydney stood
forward at the salute.
"Sir, Mr. Brand speaks the truth. He released me from gaol by this
mysterious power of the ship."
Through the silence which followed there came a burst of cheering,
the noise of a multitude of people who were attending her Majesty
from St. Paul's Cathedral.
"Your Royal Highness," said Brand; "you found me closeted with Prince
Ali. You charge me with treason against our Lady?"
"Yes."
"To our Lady, and to her only, will I yield myself prisoner."
The Duke flushed at the generosity which saved him from exposure as
Ulster's agent. He bowed in assent and remained silent.
"If a man moves without my consent," said the American, "I shall
destroy the Palace. But you may send one messenger to the Queen."
A messenger was sent, who presently came to her Majesty, finding her
hurt and angry that the main guard should not be in attendance to
give her welcome.
But before she appeared, Mr. Brand walked to the gangway of the yacht
and in a low voice bade her commander await further orders at Tower
Hill. Turning, he came back to his place in the middle of the room.
Her Majesty stood in the doorway, and to her the Duke of Gloucester
made his accusation against the Master of Lyonesse, telling how he
had been found in privacy with Prince Ali of Haidar, and how he had
resisted arrest until she came.
Mr. Brand walked with bowed head to the Queen, and kneeling upon one
knee, looked up in her face.
"My Queen," he murmured, his voice inaudible to all but her. "I am
plotting to outwit a deeper treachery. Let me be prisoner here with
a trusted man to guard me until you can come to-night. Send
overtures to Ulster, and promise to hand me over."
"How can I believe you?" said the Queen, but her speech lacked force.
How could she even pretend to distrust Brand now!
"Oh, play the part," he whispered, "so much depends."
"You have deceived me, I cannot trust you." But her voice was only a
murmur without force.
"Oh, be stronger, be stronger," he pleaded, seizing her hand.
"I will not hear another word," she cried.
"You shall, you shall." His voice rose high in supplication. "You
must hear me before it is too late."
She drew back astonished, but could not find another word to say.
"Oh, be brave, little Queen," he whispered, passionately kissing her
hand.
"Gloucester!" Margaret called across the room; "hold Mr. Brand a
prisoner here in this room. Let nobody come near or speak to him.
Put a trustworthy man here to guard him."
The Duke selected a man, his own orderly, but the Queen looked from
face to face until she saw one that she fully trusted.
"Lancaster!"
Tom of Lancaster stood forward at the salute.
"I place you on guard," said the Queen.
Then Mr. Brand went over to Lord Sydney. "Gloucester is disloyal,"
he whispered, "guard the Queen."
Suddenly her Majesty gave a startled cry. "You said Prince Ali was
here with Mr. Brand. Where is Prince Ali?"
Under cover of the general confusion Prince Ali had escaped from the
Palace.