fool and the pirate in whimsical converse.

The fool had brought a letter of inquiry and warm greeting from Angele to
Buonespoir, who was laboriously inditing one in return. When Lempriere
entered the pirate greeted him jovially.

"In the very pinch of time you come," he said. "You have grammar and
syntax and etiquette."

"'Tis even so, Nuncio," said the fool. "Here is needed prosody
potential. Exhale!"

The three put their heads together above the paper.




CHAPTER XI

"I would know your story. How came you and yours to this pass? Where
were you born? Of what degree are you? And this Michel de la Foret,
when came he to your feet--or you to his arms? I would know all. Begin
where life began; end where you sit here at the feet of Elizabeth. This
other cushion to your knees. There--now speak. We are alone."

Elizabeth pushed a velvet cushion towards Angele, where she half-knelt,
half-sat on the rush-strewn floor of the great chamber. The warm light
of the afternoon sun glowed through the thick-tinted glass high up, and,
in the gleam, the heavy tapestries sent by an archduke, once suitor for
Elizabeth's hand, emerged with dramatic distinctness, and peopled the