Thou art shamming!"

"I mean every word; 'tis my Lord _en masque_, for to-night there is to
be a great and magnificent spectacle."

"And what does that mean, Janet?"

"It means there is to be a masque ball, and my Lord Cedric is in his
costume, and he does not look like that at all. We may be sure he
appears quite the opposite when apparelled in his usual dress."

"But his tongue, he cannot change that!"

"Thou wilt have to wait and see for thyself, and fortune favours, for
now thou wilt not have long to wait. I saw his wicked young eyes--too
young for so old a man, as it appeared--directing enamoured darts upon
thee."

"But art thou not afraid of so oath-beladen tongue? He is dreadfully
profane!"

"He has already seen his peril and will drop his oaths like jetsam and
wilt come to thee with flotsamy oglings and tender nothings and bow
and smirk; and thou wilt find thyself an old man's sweetheart."

"Janet, can we not find some point of observation where we may look
upon the maskers unseen?"

"Thou art speaking my own mind. I will look about and find some
seclusion that thou mayest look and sate thine eyes upon Royalty; and