Two persons, who, through delay, had only arrived from the country during

This morning, and had now been in this room only five minutes, stood listening

To these words and looking at the king, then at the scarecrow, then at the king

Again, in a sort of torpid bewilderment. These were Sir Hugh and the Lady

Edith. But the new earl did not see them. He was still staring at the monarch,

in a dazed way, and muttering:

'Oh, body o' me! This my pauper! This my lunatic! This is he whom I would

Show what grandeur was, in my house of seventy rooms and seven and twenty

servants! This is he who had never known aught but rags for raiment, kicks

for comfort, and offal for diet! This is he whom I adopted and would make

respectable! Would God I had a bag to hide my head in!'

Then his manners suddenly came back to him, and he dropped upon his

knees, with his hands between the king's, and swore allegiance and did

Homage for his lands and titles. Then he rose and stood respectfully aside, a

Mark still for all eyes — and much envy, too.

Now the king discovered Sir Hugh, and spoke out, with wrathful voice and

kindling eye:

'Strip this robber of his false show and stolen estates, and put him under lock

and key till I have need of him.'

The late Sir Hugh was led away.

There was a stir at the other end of the room now; the assemblage fell apart,