“Odd’s fish, the female that did don man’s attire and flirt about with foppish airs is trying to play the hen and has made a nest and gone to setting on spoiled eggs that will hatch nothing but shades, and wraiths, and mandrakes!” And he lifted a cocoanut, from which the milk was oozing out slowly and in a curdled state.

“And who, mistress of the chemist’s shop, hath taught thee his art?”

“’Tis a great and awful thing that hath happened; indeed, oh!  King, I knew not the things were under the stool—­”

“Then ’twas unfortunate thou shouldst remain seated before thy King; in this case ’twas condemning.”  And he turned and cried,—­

“Hi! hi! call the guard!  Thou shalt go into durance until I have sifted this dairy business.”  Before the unfortunate woman could open her mouth to plead further, the King was gone and two stalwart guards stood at either side of her, ready to conduct her behind bolts and bars.

Now the King was inclined to be easy with all his subjects, but when treason lay so open before him, he was quick to punish.  Constance, being a cousin of the Duke of Ellswold, he put the case before him.  On the instant, the Duke gave a solution to Constance’ aims, explaining everything to the King.  He also—­for he dreaded what the King might do—­said ’twas possible she was not of sound mind.  His Majesty saw the Duke’s drift and declared that death should not come upon her, but she should be imprisoned.  This satisfied the Duke, for he was seriously afraid for the young heir and his wife.

Now Constance was utterly without hope.  She was degraded at Court, nevermore to rise again, and of course this state of things would be known at every street corner.  Even though she could make her escape, where could she go?  Who would accept her as the noble Lady Constance again?  She would wander up and down the world, friendless; while Katherine would have love, wealth and honour, all one could wish for, all there was in life to have.

“Nay, nay, nay!” she cried in her agony.  “I shall have one more chance.”  She threw out her arms to the air and ground her teeth and dragged herself from end to end of her bare and lonely cell.  “One more chance,” she cried, “and ’twill be death to her; aye, death!”

CHAPTER XXIV

WHAT HAPPENED IN THE TOWER

Sir Julian had been striving for months to make peace with the young Duchess; but all effort appeared futile, until Providence suddenly stepped in and aided him.  Cantemir had turned religious, owing to the taking hold upon him of a mortal disease; and though he had not been about to undo any of his schemes in Cedric’s case, yet he intended to do so as soon as he was able.  He was not idle, however, as he wrote many letters and received visits from the ones who were foremost in the fight.  Nor was he long in discovering that their feelings were already changed toward Ellswold, for they saw ’twas unpopular to be striving against the King’s desires, and against a nobleman who would be very powerful when he should regain his fortunes.  The Count wrote to Pomphrey, saying he wished to speak face to face with him.