among my horse?’ ‘Splendour, it is Rikardos, King of the West,’ they told him, ’reputed a fierce swimmer.’  ‘He drowns, he drowns!’ cried the Emperor, as the red plumes were whelmed in black.  ‘Nay, but he dives rather, Majesty.’  He heard the death-shouts, he saw white faces turned his way; then the mass was cleft asunder, blown off and dispersed like the sparks from a smithy.  The thing was of little moment in a time of much; there was no fighting left in the Cypriotes after that sunny morning’s work.  Nikosia fell, and the Emperor Isaac, in silver chains, heard from his prison-house the shouts which welcomed the Emperor Richard.  These things were accomplished by the first week in May.  Then came Guy of Lusignan with bad news of Acre and worse of himself.  Philip was before the town, Montferrat with him.  Montferrat had the Archduke’s of Austria as well as French support; with these worthies, and the ravished wife of old King Baldwin for title-deed, he claimed the throne of Jerusalem; and King Guy of Lusignan (but for the name of the thing) was of no account at all.  Guy said that the siege of Acre was a foppery.  King Philip was ill, or thought he was; Montferrat was treating with Saladin; the French knights openly visited the Saracen women; and the Duke of Burgundy got drunk.  ‘What else could he get, poor fool?’ asked Richard; then said, ’But I promise you this:  Montferrat shall never be King of Jerusalem while I live—­not because I love you, my friend, but because I love the law.  I shall come as soon as I can to Acre, when I have done here the things which must be done.’  He meant his marriage.

Little Madame Berengere was lodged, as became her, in the Emperor’s palace at Limasol, having with her Queen Joan of Sicily, and among her women the young fair lady Jehane, none too fair, poor girl, by this time.  Berengere herself, who was not very intelligent, remarked her, and gave her the cold shoulder.  As day swallowed up day, and Richard, at his affairs, gave her no thought, or at least no sign, Jehane’s condition became an abominable eyesore to the Queendesignate; so Queen Joan plucked up her courage age to the point, and seeking out her brother, let him know that she had tidings for his private ear.

‘I do not admit that I have such an ear,’ said Richard.  It is no part of a king’s baggage.  Yet by all means name your tidings, my sister.’

‘Dear sire,’ said Joan, ’it appears that you have sown a seed, and must look before long for the harvest.’  The King laughed.

’God knows, I have sown enough seeds.  But mostly they come up tares, I am apt to find.  My harvesting is of little worth.  What now, sister?’

‘Beau sire,’ says the Queen, I know not how you will take it.  Your bonamy, the Picardy lady, is with child, and not so far from her time neither.  My sister Berengere is greatly offended.’

King Richard began to tremble; but whether from the ague which was never long out of him, or from joy, or from trouble, who knows?