third there was nothing interposed between the boards of the
table and the lumps of meat from which the soup had been made.

Jean's quick eyes soon detected more men-at-arms and with
different badges from the thyme spray of Drummond, and her
brother was evidently bursting with some communication, held
back almost forcibly by the Bishop, who had established a
considerable influence over the impetuous boy, while Sir Patrick
maintained a wise and tedious political conversation about the
peace between France and England, which was to be cemented by
the marriage of the young King of England to the daughter of
King Rene and the cession of Anjou and Maine to her father.

'Solid dukedoms for a lassie!' cried young James. 'What a
craven to make such a bargain!'

'Scarce like his father's son,' returned Sir Patrick, 'who gat
the bride with a kingdom for her tocher that these folks have
well-nigh lost among them.'

'The saints be praised if they have.'

'I cannot forget, my liege, how your own sainted father loved
and fought for King Harry of Monmouth. Foe as he was, I own
that I shall never look on his like again.'

'I hold with you in that, Patie,' said Bishop Kennedy; 'and
frown as you may, my young liege, a few years with such as he
would do more for you--as it did with your blessed father--than
ever we can.'