"Did he say nothing as to the present status of the situation?" inquired Gloucester quietly. "I am far from Court and know little of its happenings."
"With them, my lord, I am fully acquainted," said De Lacy, "both from my own observation and by the Duke himself."
"How stands the matter, then?"
"Rather favorable to the Queen's faction than otherwise. The King's coronation has been fixed for the first Lord's Day of the coming month and His Majesty is to be escorted from Ludlow by two thousand men. The Marquis of Dorset has seized the treasure in the Tower and Sir Edward Woodville has been tampering with the navy, and methinks not without result. The Queen and the whole family are catering to the populace and spare no effort to win their favor. Only action sharp and sudden will enable the Barons to prevail."
For a moment Gloucester made no response, but sat with his head bent upon his bosom, as was his habit when in thought. Presently he said:
"How do you know that the King's escort will number two thousand?"
"The Council so fixed it, and very much against the wishes of the Queen."
"She wanted more, I doubt not," said the Duke meditatively.
"She long held that less than five thousand would not be fitting the dignity of a King."
Gloucester looked up with a trace of a smile around his eyes.