"Certainly," said the king.
"By all means," added Edric.
The bishop called an attendant, and ordered him to fetch Alfgar.
"Before he enters I must remind you all," said Edric, "that the word of a Dane is to be opposed to that of a Christian."
"I have already said that Alfgar is a Christian."
But Edric had already, by his adroit suggestion about St. Brice's day, predisposed the company to doubt the genuineness of Alfgar's conversion.
A long pause succeeded, which no one seemed to care to break. Ethelred was anxious for his favourite; the traitor himself was studying how to meet the accusation; the Prince was furious, and was striving in vain to repress his surging passions, the others were perplexed.
The messenger returned after a time to say that Alfgar had left the palace.
"Left the palace!" said Edmund.
"About half-an-hour since."