CHAPTER XVIII

IN THEIR MAJESTIES' LODGINGS

"At least," Dick reflected as he and Lionel crossed the bridge and went up the street into Arncastor. "At least, I have not been recognized or stopped yet. And I might meet him now--any minute."

As he thought so, Lionel pulled him aside. Three gentlemen were passing, and as Lionel bared his head Dick did also, and then turned pale. He met well-remembered eyes fixed on him for a second--indifferently, indeed, but he quailed.

"That was his highness Prince Rupert," said Lionel as they went on again. "The tallest of the three."

Dick drew a long breath. It was the gentleman who had teased him at Lumley.

Another hundred yards farther and Lionel's hat was off again. Again Dick saw a familiar face and met the blank expression of eyes that had once frowned on him severely.

"My master, my Lord Newcastle," said Lionel.

"My master, too, for the time," said Dick with another sigh of relief. "How fortunate he did not stay you to ask why a strange lad was with you as page."

Lionel laughed. "Od zooks, sir! His lordship scarce knows his page from his bed-post. These great men heed their servants very little. They know their falcon's peculiarities and their hounds' tempers, but, save your innocence, their servants are as wood or stone."

Dick thought of Giles and his master.

"There's His Majesty, I grant you," Lionel observed. "They say he knows his servants. He never forgets a face. But I know no one else like that."

"I know one," said Dick.

"So? Well, here we are!"

They were in a side street having a long bare wall, with a door round which stood a group of soldiers. Gentlemen's servants in livery, calling their masters' names, were hurrying in and out. Pages in silken suits were hustling about, chaffing the troopers and getting in everyone's way.

"My Lord of Newcastle!" Lionel cried, and he and Dick were admitted. They crossed a court to a door at the back of the house, a large rambling mansion occupied now by the King and Queen. The guards here knew Lionel, and he stayed to talk with them, whilst Dick, carrying his unlit torch and holding his cloak about him, stood near, shivering with excitement and suspense. At last Lionel turned to him.

"Come along. His Majesty has not come in yet from walking. We're in luck, you see," he said as they threaded a crowded hall and a corridor thronged with guards and servants. "For, after supper, there is to be a masque--sort of play, sir--in the gardens by torchlight, and every gentleman about the court will be present. Such bravery! Such music and singing! Now the Queen's back all the court's alive."

Dick followed him into a panelled gallery. There were benches along the walls, and Lionel sat down on one near the farthest end. Close to them four broad white stone steps led down into a great square hall, with costly hangings, lounges, and pictures. Wide doors stood open, and beyond, Dick caught a glimpse of a beautiful lawn, where splendidly attired ladies and courtiers were strolling up and down. In the hall were guards with gleaming cuirasses, and a group of young gentlemen in the costliest dresses were lounging at a window, chattering. As Dick watched, a page in the Royal livery ran in from the garden and spoke to one of these. He parted from his companions and came up the steps by Dick.

"Will His Majesty be coming in soon, sir?" asked Lionel, bowing respectfully.

"He has just gone in by the Queen's entrance," said the gentleman, and hurried on.

"That is one of His Majesty's Gentlemen of the Bedchamber," said Lionel. "We shall have to wait now an hour or more, till he passes to the supper."

"Oh, this waiting!" Dick sighed. "If only I knew his name!"

"Patience!" urged Lionel. "Sit down here, and kick your heels."

"But he might go through the hall!" Dick cried. "I must keep looking."

"Point him out to me," said Lionel yawning. "Then I'll learn his name and be after him like a flash."

The minutes passed heavily enough. The hall was getting dusky now. Suppose he passed down there, and Dick did not recognize him? Or, suppose he came, and did not know the boy again, and would not hear his story. He might hand Dick over to the guards without a word of explanation. Ah, how slow the time went! Yet, how fast! It would be to-morrow very soon, and nothing done yet.

But there was movement in the hall. The guard was changed. A delicious sound of harps and violins came from the Queen's apartments on the left. Servants were bringing lights--thousands of lights, it seemed to Dick. The hall glowed with a soft radiance, and the soldiers' equipments winked like silver. Dick stole out on the top step. The lights from below shone on his pale face.

"Stand back, there!" called an officer irritably. "Whose are you?"

"My Lord Newcastle's!" cried Lionel, coming to Dick's assistance.

"What are you doing?"

"What you should be doing," Lionel retorted; "minding our own business."

There was a very hurriedly-suppressed laugh. The officer had only just time to spring back to his place, saluting, as Prince Rupert sauntered past on his way to the Queen's rooms--a perfect dream of scarlet and gold, with his tall fair head, and superb, easy grace. His page, carrying his cloak and plumed hat, followed him as far as the steps, where he bowed sedately to his master's back, and then came up to join Lionel in the gallery. He would have proceeded to quiz Dick, but Dick was far too intent upon his own affairs to heed questions, or answer them.

"New to his place?" said the scented page scornfully.

"Not so new but he can keep others in theirs," Lionel responded. They kept up a lively bickering, for the servants were rivals as much as their masters, whilst Dick, all eyes, watched the brilliant scene below. The unhurried movements, the decorous laughter, the soft lights were very enthralling. But what now? A gentleman darted down the steps, brushing past him, spoke to the guard, and came back.

"What's the news, friend?" asked the page.

"His Majesty," the gentleman replied, sitting down by them. "He goes to speak to the Prince before supper."

"Hey, big eyes!" cried the page, "step out and see thy King!" He gave Dick a push which unintentionally sent him flying out upon the top step. His torch flew from his hand, clattering into the hall below. The King's gentleman cuffed the page. Lionel sprang to his feet. The guardsman at the foot of the steps wheeled with a growl of anger. The rest saluted. A gentleman passing stopped and looked up. Dick gave a cry, plunged down the steps, and was pinioned by the guardsman.

"Let me go!" he cried. "Sir!--for pity's sake!"

"Let him go," said the gentleman. "He is a friend of mine. Stand back!"

Dick had contracted an odd habit at the inn of clasping and wringing his hands, whilst his eyes looked up in such a way that no one less than a brute could have denied him anything. As the guard, astonished, fell back, he stood before Giles's master in this pathetic way, saying: "Sir, help me for Giles's sake!"

The gentleman, somewhat moved, stretched out his hand. Dick took it in both his own and shook it heartily.

"Great powers!" murmured Lionel, staggering back.

"Well I--never--did!" gasped the appalled and tittering page.

"What help do you need, Sir Richard Chester?" asked Giles's master, stroking his moustache to hide a smile. "Is it another castle to relieve?"

"No, sir," said Dick, conscious of the staring eyes about him. "'Tis about my cousin Dorothy--the Lady Dorothy Byng."

"What of her?" demanded the gentleman, waving back a brilliant creature with a white wand, who was bearing down upon them.

"We--we must stop her marrying--" Dick began.

"Stop her marrying?" the gentleman said with a lift of the eyebrows. "We mustn't meddle with ladies' marriages, must we? They never thank us. When did you last see Giles? Eh? What now?" Dick had hidden his face in his hands. The gentleman was laughing at him. All round him people were smiling. The page in the gallery above was giggling. No one would listen to him then. Giles's master touched him gently.

"Answer me. When did you last see Giles?"

"Giles is dead," said Dick, raising his head. "You must know that, sir, or I would have gone to him instead of you. He wouldn't have given me up! I know what will happen to me. But do--do help my cousin! She saved my life yesterday. Oh, sir! I do not care--you may do what you like with me."

"Thanks, Dick." And Giles's master took his hand, with a swift, rather stern glance at the amazed guards, the tittering page above, the official with the white wand, waiting with a kind of protesting, yet patient air, behind. "That being so, you shall come with me a little. Excuse me to His Highness, my lord. I shall be with him presently." He walked away with Dick, the noble lord bowing profoundly.

"What think you of that?" gasped Lionel, looking after them.

"Death," answered the page gloomily, shaking his head. "Do you often bring lunatics to court, sirrah?"