"They are taking thy brother, worthiness, from a tree where he has been sitting since midday."
"Is he unwilling to come down?"
"He will come down now, for the first queen's jester has gone for him, and has promised to take him to the inn where dissectors are drinking."
"And hast Thou heard anything of the maneuvers of today?"
"They say that the staff was cut off from the corps."
"And what more?"
The official hesitated.
"Tell what Thou hast heard."
"We heard, moreover, that because of this five hundred blows of a stick were given to a certain officer at thy command, worthiness."
"It is all a lie!" said one of the adjutants of the heir in an undertone.