CHAPTER II

South of the armory of Westminster Palace lay the gardens, and here, on the

third day following the King's affront to De Vac, might have been a seen a

black-haired woman gowned in a violet cyclas, richly embroidered with gold

about the yoke and at the bottom of the loose-pointed sleeves, which

reached almost to the similar bordering on the lower hem of the garment. A

richly wrought leathern girdle, studded with precious stones, and held in

place by a huge carved buckle of gold, clasped the garment about her waist

so that the upper portion fell outward over the girdle after the manner of

a blouse. In the girdle was a long dagger of beautiful workmanship.

Dainty sandals encased her feet, while a wimple of violet silk bordered in

gold fringe, lay becomingly over her head and shoulders.

By her side walked a handsome boy of about three, clad, like his companion,

in gay colors. His tiny surcoat of scarlet velvet was rich with

embroidery, while beneath was a close-fitting tunic of white silk. His

doublet was of scarlet, while his long hose of white were cross-gartered

with scarlet from his tiny sandals to his knees. On the back of his brown

curls sat a flat-brimmed, round-crowned hat in which a single plume of

white waved and nodded bravely at each move of the proud little head.

The child's features were well molded, and his frank, bright eyes gave an

expression of boyish generosity to a face which otherwise would have been

too arrogant and haughty for such a mere baby. As he talked with his

companion, little flashes of peremptory authority and dignity, which sat

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