"My lord," she said, "this good knight, whose blood you are about
to spill, hath done, in his time, service to Christendom. He has
fallen from his duty through a snare set for him in mere folly
and idleness of spirit. A message sent to him in the name of one
who--why should I not speak it?--it was in my own--induced him
for an instant to leave his post. And what knight in the
Christian camp might not have thus far transgressed at command of
a maiden, who, poor howsoever in other qualities, hath yet the
blood of Plantagenet in her veins?"
"And you saw him, then, cousin?" replied the King, biting his
lips to keep down his passion.
"I did, my liege," said Edith. "It is no time to explain
wherefore. I am here neither to exculpate myself nor to blame
others."
"And where did you do him such a grace?"
"In the tent of her Majesty the Queen."
"Of our royal consort!" said Richard. "Now by Heaven, by Saint
George of England, and every other saint that treads its crystal
floor, this is too audacious! I have noticed and overlooked this
warrior's insolent admiration of one so far above him, and I
grudged him not that one of my blood should shed from her high-born sphere such influence as the sun
bestows on the world
beneath.
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