’I would not tell you, Malcolm, while there might yet be a slip between cup and lip,’ said the King; ’it might have hindered the humanities; and yet I needed you as much when I was glad as when all seemed like to fail!’

‘You had Patrick,’ said Malcolm.

‘Patrick’s a tall and trusty fellow,’ said the King, ’with a shrewd wit, and like to be a right-hand man; but there’s something in you, Malcolm, that makes a man turn to you for fellow-feeling, even as to a wife.’

Nevertheless, the King and Patrick had grown much attached to each other, though the latter, being no lover of books, had wearied sorely of the sojourn at Windsor, which the King himself only found endurable by much study and reflection.  Their only variety had been keeping Christmas at Hertford with Queen Catherine; ‘sorry pastime,’ as Drummond reported it to him, though gladdened to the King by Joan Beaufort’s presence, in all her charms.

‘The Demoiselle of Luxemburg was there too, statelier than ever,’ said James.  ’She is now at Middleham Castle, with the Lady Montagu, and you might make it your way northward, and lodge a night there.  If you can win her consent, it were well to be wedded when we are.’

‘Never shall I, my lord.  I should not dare even to speak of it.’

’It is well; but, Malcolm, you merit something from the damsel.  You are ten times the man you were when she flouted you.  If women were not mostly witless, you would be much to be preferred to any mere Ajax or Fierabras; and if this damsel should have come to the wiser mind that it were pity to be buried to the world—­’

‘Sir, I pray you say no more.  I were forsworn to ask such a thing.’

’I bid you not, only I would I were there to see that all be not lost for want of a word in season; and it is high time that something be done.  Here be letters from my Lord of Therouenne, demanding the performance of the contract ere our return home.’

‘He cannot reach her here,’ said Malcolm.

’No; but his outcry can reach your honour; and it were ill to have such a house as that of Luxemburg crying out upon you for breach of faith to their daughter.’

Malcolm smiled.  ’That I should heed little, Sir.  I would fain bear something for her.’

’Why, this is mere sublimated devoir, too fine for our gross understandings,’ said James, ironically.  ’Mayhap the sight of the soft roseate cheek may bring it somewhat down to poor human flesh and blood once more.’

‘Once I was tempted, Sir,’ said Malcolm, blushing deeply; ’but did I not know that her holiness is the guardian of her earthly beauty, I would not see her again.’

‘Nay, there I command you,’ said the King; ’soon I shall have subjects enough; but while I have but half a dozen, I cannot be disobeyed by them!  I bid you go to Middleham, and there I leave all to the sight.’