“I shall be that, mother.  Rather would I meet death in the field than live cooped up here, a pensioner of France.  But I own that I should feel more joy at the prospect if the people of England had declared in our favour, instead of its being Warwick —­ whom you have always taught me to fear and hate —­ who thus comes to offer to place my father again on the throne, and whose goodwill towards us is simply the result of pique and displeasure because he is no longer first in the favour of Edward.  It does not seem to me that a throne won by the aid of a traitor can be a stable one.”

“You are a foolish boy,” the queen said angrily.  “Do you not see that by marrying Warwick’s daughter you will attach him firmly to us?”

“Marriages do not count for much, mother.  Another of Warwick’s daughters married Clarence, Edward’s brother, and yet he purposes to dethrone Edward.”

The queen gave an angry gesture and said, “You have my permission to retire, Edward.  I am in no mood to listen to auguries of evil at the present moment.”

The prince hesitated for a moment as if about to speak, but with an effort controlled himself, and bowing deeply to his mother, left the room.

“Edward is in a perverse humour,” the queen said in a tone of much vexation to Sir Thomas Tresham, when Gervaise had left the room.  “However, I know he will bear himself well when the hour of trial comes.”

“That I can warrant he will, madam; he has a noble character, frank and fearless, and yet thoughtful beyond his years.  He will make, I believe, a noble king, and may well gather round him all parties in the state.  But your Majesty must make excuses for his humour.  Young people are strong in their likes and dislikes.  He has never heard you speak aught but ill of Warwick, and he knows how much harm the Earl has done to your House.  The question of expediency does not weigh with the young as with their elders.  While you see how great are the benefits that will accrue from an alliance with Warwick, and are ready to lay aside the hatred of years and to forget the wrongs you have suffered, the young prince is unable so quickly to forget that enmity against the Earl that he has learnt from you.”

“You are right, Sir Thomas, and I cannot blame Edward that he is unable, as I am, to forget the past.  What steps would you advise that I myself should take?  Shall I remain passive here, or shall I do what I can to rouse our partisans in England?”

“I should say the latter, madam.  Of course it will not do to trust to letters, for were one of these to fall into the wrong hands it might cause the ruin of Warwick’s expedition; but I should say that a cautious message sent by word of mouth to some of our old adherents would be of great use.  I myself will, if your Majesty chooses to entrust me with the mission, undertake to carry it out.  I should take ship and land in the west, and would