Resistance was utterly hopeless, and without a further word the Earl remounted; and Grey taking place beside him they passed slowly toward the rear.  Presently, as they neared the end of the long column, a hundred men detached themselves from the line and fell in behind them.  Rivers observed it with a smile, half sad, half cynical.

“They honor us, at least, in the size of our guard,” he remarked to Grey; then turned to Ratcliffe.  “May I inquire our prison, Sir Richard?”

“Certainly, my lord; we ride to Pontefract.”

“Whence two of us shall ne’er return,” said the Earl, with calm conviction.  “May the Good Christ watch over Edward now.”

X

THE LADY MARY CHANGES BADGES

Five weeks had expired since the coup d’etat at Stoney Stratford and Richard was now Lord Protector of the Realm.  Before his dominating personality all overt opposition had crumbled, and with Rivers and Grey in prison, the Queen Dowager in sanctuary at Westminster, and Dorset and Edward Woodville fled beyond sea the political horizon seemed clear and bright.

Meanwhile, the Duchess of Gloucester and her Household had come to London and were settled at Crosby Hall in Bishopgate Street.  When they neared the Capital, the Duke and a few of his chosen Knights had ridden out into the country to meet them; and Sir Aymer de Lacy had gone gayly and expectantly, thinking much of a certain fair face with ruddy tresses above it.  Nor had he been disappointed; and it was her pleasant, half-familiar greeting that lingered in his mind long after the words and sweet smile of the Duchess were forgotten.  He had tarried beside the Countess’ bridle until the Hall was reached; and as she seemed quite willing for him to be there, he had been blind to the efforts of others to displace him.  With Selim she had been openly demonstrative, welcoming him with instant affection and leaning over many times to stroke him softly on the neck or muzzle.  Once, as she did it, she shot a roguish smile at his master, and he had nodded and answered that again he was wishing he were a horse—­whereupon she deliberately repeated the caress, glancing at him the while, sidelong and banteringly.  But when he would have pursued the subject further, she crushed him with a look, and then for the remainder of the ride held him close to commonplaces.

And if De Lacy thought to have again the delightful associations and informal meetings that had obtained at Pontefract, he quickly realized his error.  There, the Household was relatively small, and life had run along in easy fashion.  He had seen the Countess daily—­had walked or ridden with her as his duties permitted, and every evening had attended in the presence chamber and gossiped with her for a while.  Those few days of unhampered intimacy had let them know each other better than months of London would have done.  Lord Darby