stead before I be much older."

"The best sword arm in all Christendom needs no other logic than the sword,

I should think," said Brus, returning to his work.

That afternoon, De Vac stood in a window of the armory looking out upon the

beautiful garden which spread before him to the river wall two hundred

yards away. In the foreground were box-bordered walks, smooth, sleek

lawns, and formal beds of gorgeous flowering plants, while here and there

marble statues of wood nymph and satyr gleamed, sparkling in the brilliant

sunlight, or, half shaded by an overhanging bush, took on a semblance of

life from the riotous play of light and shadow as the leaves above them

moved to and fro in the faint breeze. Farther in the distance, the river

wall was hidden by more closely massed bushes, and the formal, geometric

precision of the nearer view was relieved by a background of vine-colored

bowers, and a profusion of small trees and flowering shrubs arranged in

studied disorder.

Through this seeming jungle ran tortuous paths, and the carved stone

benches of the open garden gave place to rustic seats, and swings suspended

from the branches of fruit trees.

Toward this enchanting spot slowly were walking the Lady Maud and her

little charge, Prince Richard; all ignorant of the malicious watcher in the

window behind them.

A great peacock strutted proudly across the walk before them, and, as

Richard ran, childlike, after it, Lady Maud hastened on to the little

postern gate which she quickly unlocked, admitting her lover, who had been

waiting without. Relocking the gate the two strolled arm in arm to the

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