Mount the throne, and mad remain. God protect England, since she will need

it!'

'Verily it promiseth so, indeed. But... have you no misgivings as to... as to...'

The speaker hesitated, and finally stopped. He evidently felt that he was upon

Delicate ground. Lord Hertford stopped before him, looked into his face with

a clear, frank eye, and said:

'Speak on — there is none to hear but me. Misgivings as to what?'

'I am loath to word the thing that is in my mind, and thou so near to him in

Blood, my lord. But craving pardon if I do offend, seemeth it not strange that

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madness could so change his port and manner! — not but that his port and

speech are princely still, but that they differ in one unweighty trifle or

Another, from what his custom was aforetime. Seemeth it not strange that

madness should filch from his memory his father's very lineaments; the

Customs and observances that are his due from such as be about him; and,

leaving him his Latin, strip him of his Greek and French? My lord, be not

Offended, but ease my mind of its disquiet and receive my grateful thanks. It

haunteth me, his saying he was not the prince, and so —'

'Peace, my lord, thou utterest treason! Hast forgot the king's command?

Remember I am party to thy crime, if I but listen.'

St. John paled, and hastened to say:

'I was in fault, I do confess it. Betray me not, grant me this grace out of thy