He would have summoned his attendants then, but Prince Arthur stayed him with one more question.  “And how would you take my life, dear Hubert?” he asked in a gentle voice.

But this the chamberlain would not tell him.  Instead he stamped on the floor and the two attendants entered hurriedly, one bearing a hot iron and the other a cord with which to bind the prince’s hands and feet.  “These,” said Hubert, “will make plain the manner of the deed.”

But Arthur only clapped his hands in mirth.  “It is your way of jesting, Hubert,” he said, “to amuse me.”  But there was a catch in his voice as he continued, “It is your way of driving away the shadows which hang about me always.  Dear Hubert, I know what a kind heart you have!”

But despite these brave words he turned pale and suddenly clapped his hands to his eyes to shut out the terrible vision he had beheld.

Hubert cried out huskily to the attendants, “Bind him—­and be quick!”

With this the attendants seized the prince, one on either side.  Yet they paused when they perceived that the prince wished to speak:  a final word to the chamberlain.  The boy had turned upon Hubert a calm glance.  A strange stillness had come over him.  He spoke in a low, intense voice—­

“Do not permit them to bind me,” he said.  “It would be shameful for a prince to be bound.  I know you were not speaking in jest, but please do not let them bind me, as if I were a slave.  I shall think of you as my friend—­as long as my hands are free.  Come, Hubert . . . do you recall how, when your head once ached, I put my handkerchief about it to comfort you?  It was one that a princess did make for me.  Remember how I have loved you—­and do not let them bind me!”

His plea prevailed.  “So—­then they shall not!” cried Hubert.  And to the attendants he exclaimed fiercely, “Begone!  Did I not bid you be swift, that the very blood in my veins should not turn to water?  Fellows—­begone!  It may be that my task will be easier if I work alone and he resist me.”

The two attendants turned in terror before the wrath of the chamberlain and fled.  And before Hubert had withdrawn his eyes from their retreating forms certain strange events came to pass.

The Masked Lady had remained, strangely tranquil, before the Book of Truth; but now she lifted her eyes, because the great windows with their leaded panes had been thrust open.  Outside the open windows there were revealed the head and shoulders of the giant, Will o’Dreams.

The giant paused long enough to take in the scene before him, and then he disappeared in great agitation.

A moment later he had reappeared and had lifted Everychild to a level with the window sill.

CHAPTER XIX

HOW AN UNFORTUNATE PRINCE ESCAPED

The giant could be heard whispering to Everychild:  “I cannot enter here.  The things which are taking place in this room—­they stagger me.  But you may do so.”  Whereupon he placed Everychild on the window sill and withdrew with a shudder.