"I suppose so, and, I trust, in the Lord," was the reply.
"Doubtless—yet the heart was strong for life. His Highness will be sorrowful."
"He will; but grace abounded greatly; he was one of the Lord's best soldiers, and fought well in the good cause."
"Would that my time was passed! I would fain uplift my voice with theirs."
"I will go there forthwith," replied he in armour; and Robin heard the echo of his step die in the distance. Ere the messenger, despatched by the officer of the guard, had returned, a sort of rambling drowsy conversation was carried on by the soldiers within, which only reached the quick ear of the Ranger at intervals.
"His Highness has been tormented to-night; methinks the length of a summer day ought to satisfy those who want to see him."
The sun had set a good hour or more, when Sir Christopher Packe, the worshipful Lord Mayor, passed in.
"His Highness," replied the stern gruff voice of an old soldier, "is of the people; and he knows that his duty—next to awaiting the Lord always—is to wait on them."
"His time is not an easy one, then," thought Robin; and as he so thought, the messenger returned with an order that the Rabbi should be immediately admitted. The lumbering carriage passed under one archway, and traversed a small court—then under another—then across the next—then stopped, and one of the principal servants opened the door, and requested Manasseh to descend.
"Her Highness," he said, "had been indisposed; the Lord Protector, therefore, hoped the worthy Israelite would not object to walk across the next court, as her chamber was nearly over the entrance."