'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.