envoy or delegate had better chance to be welcome than one empowered
to treat of an alliance that will bestow on a prince deserving, I
trust, his fortunes, the sister of the bravest sovereign in Christian
Europe."

"Now, out on thy flattery, my cousin; though I must needs own I
provoked it by my complaint of thy courtiership. But thou hast
learned only half thy business, good Warwick; and it is well Margaret
did not hear thee. Is not the prince of France more to be envied for
winning a fair lady than having a fortunate soldier for his brother-
in-law?"

"My liege," replied Warwick, smiling, "thou knowest I am a poor judge
of a lady's fair cheek, though indifferently well skilled as to the
valour of a warrior's stout arm. Algates, the Lady Margaret is indeed
worthy in her excellent beauties to become the mother of brave men."

"And that is all we can wring from thy stern lip, man of iron? Well,
that must content us. But to more serious matters." And the king,
leaning his hand on the earl's arm, and walking with him slowly to and
fro the terrace, continued: "Knowest thou not, Warwick, that this
French alliance, to which thou hast induced us, displeases sorely our
good traders of London?"

"Mort-Dieu!" returned Warwick, bluntly, "and what business have the
flat-caps with the marriage of a king's sister? Is it for them to
breathe garlic on the alliances of Bourbons and Plantagenets? Faugh!
You have spoiled them, good my lord king,--you have spoiled them by
your condescensions. Henry IV. staled not his majesty to
consultations with the mayor of his city. Henry V. gave the