kings and emperors. I might as well fall in love with a twinkling
star. Then, besides, my heart is not on my sleeve. You must think me a
fool; a poor, enervated, simpering fool like--like--well, like one of
those nobles of England. Don't put me down with them, Caskoden, if you
would remain my friend."

We both laughed at this sort of talk, which was a little in advance of
the time, for a noble, though an idiot, to the most of England was a
noble still, God-created and to be adored.

Another great bond of sympathy between Brandon and myself was a
community of opinion concerning certain theories as to the equality of
men and tolerance of religious thought. We believed that these things
would yet come, in spite of kingcraft and priestcraft, but wisely kept
our pet theories to ourselves: that is, between ourselves.

Of what use is it to argue the equality of human kind to a man who
honestly thinks he is better than any one else, or to one who really
believes that some one else is better than he; and why dispute about
the various ways of saving one's soul, when you are not even sure you
have a soul to save? When I open my mouth for public utterance, the
king is the best man in Christendom, and his premier peer of the realm
the next best. When the king is a Catholic I go to Mass; since,
praised be the Lord, I have brains enough not to let my head interfere
with the set ways of a stone wall.

Now, when Mary returned the whole court rejoiced, and I was anxious
for Brandon to meet her and that they should become friends. There
would be no trouble in bringing this meeting about, since, as you
know, I was upon terms of intimate friendship with Mary, and was the