Gwynplaine wore under his travelling cloak the suit of black silk, which he had not changed since the previous evening.  He had no sword.  He left his cloak in the carriage.  Under the arched way of the King’s Gate there was a small side door raised some few steps above the road.  In ceremonial processions the greatest personage never walks first.

The Usher of the Black Rod, followed by his officer, walked first; Gwynplaine followed.  They ascended the steps, and entered by the side door.  Presently they were in a wide, circular room, with a pillar in the centre, the lower part of a turret.  The room, being on the ground floor, was lighted by narrow windows in the pointed arches, which served but to make darkness visible.  Twilight often lends solemnity to a scene.  Obscurity is in itself majestic.

In this room, thirteen men, disposed in ranks, were standing—­three in the front row, six in the second row, and four behind.  In the front row one wore a crimson velvet gown; the other two, gowns of the same colour, but of satin.  All three had the arms of England embroidered on their shoulders.  The second rank wore tunics of white silk, each one having a different coat of arms emblazoned in front.  The last row were clad in black silk, and were thus distinguished.  The first wore a blue cape.  The second had a scarlet St. George embroidered in front.  The third, two embroidered crimson crosses, in front and behind.  The fourth had a collar of black sable fur.  All were uncovered, wore wigs, and carried swords.  Their faces were scarcely visible in the dim light, neither could they see Gwynplaine’s face.

The Usher of the Black Rod, raising his wand, said,—­

“My Lord Fermain Clancharlie, Baron Clancharlie and Hunkerville, I, the Usher of the Black Rod, first officer of the presence chamber, hand your lordship over to Garter King-at-Arms.”

The person clothed in velvet, quitting his place in the ranks, bowed to the ground before Gwynplaine, and said,—­

“My Lord Fermain Clancharlie, I am Garter, Principal King-at-Arms of England.  I am the officer appointed and installed by his grace the Duke of Norfolk, hereditary Earl Marshal.  I have sworn obedience to the king, peers, and knights of the garter.  The day of my installation, when the Earl Marshal of England anointed me by pouring a goblet of wine on my head, I solemnly promised to be attentive to the nobility; to avoid bad company; to excuse, rather than accuse, gentlefolks; and to assist widows and virgins.  It is I who have the charge of arranging the funeral ceremonies of peers, and the supervision of their armorial bearings.  I place myself at the orders of your lordship.”

The first of those wearing satin tunics, having bowed deeply, said,—­

“My lord, I am Clarenceaux, Second King-at-Arms of England.  I am the officer who arranges the obsequies of nobles below the rank of peers.  I am at your lordship’s disposal.”