'As Christ is my Saviour,' the Lord d'Espahn said, 'I, since I am the
Queen's Marshal, am answerable in this, as well I know. Yet never saw I
this man till to-night at supper. He would have my seat then, and I gave
it him. Ne let ne hindrance had he of me, but went his way where and
when he would.'
'You did very well,' the King said. 'Who else speaks?'
The Archbishop looked over his shoulder, and with a dry mouth uttered,
'Lascelles!'
Lascelles, deft and blond and gay, shouldered his way through that
unwilling crowd, and fell upon his knees.
'Of this I know something,' he said; 'and if any have offended,
doubtless it is I, though with good will.'
'Well, speak!' the King said.
Lascelles recounted how the Queen, riding out, had seen afar this
gentleman lying amid the heather.
'And if she should not know him who was her cousin, how should we who
are servants?' he said. But, having heard that the Queen would have this
poor, robbed wayfarer tended and comforted, he, Lascelles, out of the
love and loyalty he owed her Grace, had so tended and so comforted him
that he had given up to him his own bed and board. But it was not till
that day that, Culpepper being washed and apparelled--not till that day
a little before supper, had he known him for Culpepper, the Queen's
cousin. So he had gone with him that night to the banquet-hall, and
there had served him, and, after, had attended him with some lords and
gentles. But, at the last, Culpepper had shaken them off and bidden them
leave him.
'And who were we, what warrants had we, to restrain the Queen's noble
cousin?' he finished. 'And, as for letters, I never saw one, though all
his apparel, in rags, was in my hands. I think he must have lost this
letter amongst the robbers he fell in with. But what I could do, I did
for love of the Queen's Grace, who much hath favoured me.'
The King studied his words. He looked at the Queen's face and then at
those of the lords before him.
'Why, this tale hath a better shewing,' he said. 'Herein appeareth that
none, save the Queen's door-ward, came ever against this good knight and
cousin of mine. And, since this knight was in liquor, and not overwise
sensible--as well he might be after supping in moors and deserts--maybe
that door-ward had his reasonable reasonings.'
He paused again, and looking upon the Queen's face for a sign:
'If it be thus, it is well,' he said, 'I will pardon and assoil you all,
if later it shall appear that this is the true truth.'