CanthisbeEdithPlantagenet？’’saidtheKing，bitterly。
EdithPlantagenet，thewiseandthenoble？-Orisitsomelove-sickwoman，whocaresnotforherownfameincomparisonofthelifeofherparamour？Now，byKingHenry’ssoul！
littlehindersbutIorderthyminion’sskulltobebroughtfromthegibbet，andfixedasaperpetualornamentbythecrucifixinthycell！’’
Andifthoudostsenditfromthegibbettobeplacedforeverinmysight，’’saidEdith，Iwillsayitisarelicofagoodknight，cruellyandunworthilydonetodeathby’’-shecheckedherself-byone，ofwhomIshallonlysay，heshouldhaveknownbetterhowtorewardchivalry-Minioncall’stthouhim？’’
shecontinuedwithincreasingvehemence，-Hewasindeedmylover，andamosttrueone-butneversoughthegracefrommebylookorword-contentedwithsuchhumbleobservanceasmenpaytothesaints-Andthegood-thevaliant-thefaithful，mustdieforthis！’’
Oh，peace，peace，forpity’ssake，’’whisperedtheQueen；youdobutoffendhimmore！’’
Icarenot，’’saidEdith；thespotlessvirginfearsnottheraginglion。Lethimworkhiswillonthisworthyknight。
Edith，forwhomhedies，willknowhowtoweephismemory-
tomenooneshallspeakmoreofpoliticalliances，tobesanctionedwiththispoorhand。Icouldnot-Iwouldnot-havebeenhisbrideliving-ourdegreesweretoodistant。Butdeathunitesthehighandthelow-Iamhenceforwardthespouseofthegrave。’’
TheKingwasabouttoanswerwithmuchanger，whenaCarmelitemonkenteredtheapartmenthastily，hisheadandpersonmuffledinthelongmantleandhoodofstripedclothofthecoarsesttexture，whichdistinguishedhisorder，and，flinginghimselfonhiskneesbeforetheKing，conjuredhim，byeveryholywordandsign，tostoptheexecution。
Now，bybothswordandsceptre！’’saidRichard，theworldareleaguedtodrivememad！-fools，women，andmonks，crossmeateverystep。Howcomeshetolivestill？’’
Mygraciousliege，’’saidthemonk，IentreatedoftheLordofGilslandtostaytheexecutionuntilIhadthrownmyselfatyourroyal’’-
Andhewaswilfulenoughtograntthyrequest，’’saidtheKing；butitisofapiecewithhiswontedobstinacy-Andwhatisitthouhasttosay？Speakinthefiend’sname！’’
Mylord，thereisaweightysecret-butitrestsunderthesealofconfession-Idarenottellorevenwhisperit-butI
sweartotheebymyholyorder-bythehabitwhichIwear-
bytheblessedElias，ourfounder，evenhimwhowastranslatedwithoutsufferingtheordinarypangsofmortality-thatthisyouthhathdivulgedtomeasecret，which，ifImightconfideittothee，wouldutterlyturntheefromthybloodypurposeinregardtohim。’’
Goodfather，’’saidRichard，thatIreverencethechurch，letthearmswhichInowwearforhersakebearwitness。
Givemetoknowthissecret，andIwilldowhatshallseemfittinginthematter。ButIamnoblindBayard，totakealeapinthedarkunderthestrokeofapairofpriestlyspurs。’’
Mylord，’’saidtheholyman，throwingbackhiscowlanduppervesture，anddiscoveringunderthelatteragarmentofgoat-skin，andfrombeneaththeformeravisagesowildlywastedbyclimate，fast，andpenance，astoresemblerathertheapparitionofananimatedskeletonthanahumanface，fortwentyyearshaveImaceratedthismiserablebodyinthecavernsofEngaddi，doingpenanceforagreatcrime。ThinkyouI，whoamdeadtotheworld，wouldcontriveafalsehoodtoendangermyownsoul，orthatone，boundbythemostsacredoathstothecontrary-onesuchasI，whohavebutonelongingwishconnectedwithearth，towit，therebuildingofourChristianZion，-wouldbetraythesecretsoftheconfessional？Botharealikeabhorrenttomyverysoul。’’
So，’’answeredtheKing，thouartthathermitofwhommenspeaksomuch？Thouart，Iconfess，likeenoughtothosespiritswhichwalkindryplaces，butRichardfearsnohobgoblins-
andthouarthe，too，asIbethinkme，towhomtheChristianprincessentthisverycriminaltoopenacommunicationwiththeSoldan，evenwhileI，whooughttohavebeenfirstconsulted，layonmysick-bed？Thouandtheymaycontentthemselves-IwillnotputmyneckintotheloopofaCarmelite’sgirdleAnd，foryourenvoy，heshalldie，theratherandthesoonerthatthoudostentreatforhim。’’
NowGodbegracioustothee，LordKing！’’saidthehermit，withmuchemotion；thouartsettingthatmischiefonfootwhichthouwilthereafterwishthouhadststoptthoughithadcosttheealimb。Rash，blindedman，yetforbear！’’
Away，away，’’saidtheKing，stamping；thesunhasrisenonthedishonourofEngland，anditisnotyetavenged-Ladiesandpriest，withdraw，ifyewouldnothearorderswhichwoulddispleaseyou；for，bySt。George，Iswear’’-
Swear=not！=’’saidthevoiceofonewhohadjustthenenteredthepavilion。
Ha！mylearnedHakim，’’saidtheKing；come，Ihope，totaxourgenerosity。’’
Icometorequestinstantspeechwithyou-instant-andtouchingmattersofdeepinterest。’’
Firstlookonmywife，Hakim，andletherknowinyouthepreserverofherhusband。’’
Itisnotforme，’’saidthephysician，foldinghisarmswithanairofOrientalmodestyandreverence，andbendinghiseyesontheground，-Itisnotformetolookuponbeautyunveiled，andarmedinitssplendours。’’
Retire，then，Berengaria，’’saidtheMonarch；andEdith，doyouretirealso；-nay，renewnotyourimportunities！ThisIgivetothem，thattheexecutionshallnotbetillhighnoon-
Go，andbepacified-dearestBerengaria，begone-Edith，’’
headded，withaglancewhichstruckterrorevenintothecourageoussoulofhiskinswoman，go，ifyouarewise。’’
Thefemaleswithdrew，orratherhurriedfromthetent，rankandceremonyforgotten，muchlikeaflockofwild-fowlhuddledtogether，againstwhomthefalconhasmadearecentstoop。
TheyreturnedfromthencetotheQueen’spavilion，toindulgeinregretsandrecriminations，equallyunavailing。Edithwastheonlyonewhoseemedtodisdaintheseordinarychannelsofsorrow。Withoutasigh，withoutatear，withoutawordofupbraiding，sheattendedupontheQueen，whoseweaktemperamentshowedhersorrowinviolenthystericalecstasies，andpassionatehypochondriacaleffusions，inthecourseofwhichEdithsedulously，andevenaffectionately，attendedher。
Itisimpossibleshecanhavelovedthisknight，’’saidFlorisetoCalista，herseniorinattendanceupontheQueen’sperson。
Wehavebeenmistaken；sheisbutsorryforhisfate，asforastrangerwhohascometotroubleonheraccount。’’
Hush，hush，’’answeredhermoreexperiencedandmoreobservantcomrade；sheisofthatproudhouseofPlantagenet，whoneverownthatahurtgrievesthem。Whiletheyhavethemselvesbeenbleedingtodeath，underamortalwound，theyhavebeenknowntobindupthescratchessustainedbytheirmorefaintheartedcomrades-Florise，wehavedonefrightfullywrong；andformyownpart，IwouldbuywitheveryjewelI
have，thatourfataljesthadremainedunacted。’’
ThisworkdesiresaplanetaryintelligenceOfJupiterandSol；andthosegreatspiritsAreproud，fantastical。ItasksgreatchargesToenticethemfromtheguidingoftheirspheresTowaitonmortals。
Albumazar。
ThehermitfollowedtheladiesfromthepavilionofRichard，asshadowfollowsabeamofsunshinewhenthecloudsaredrivingoverthefaceofthesun。Butheturnedonthethreshold，andhelduphishandtowardstheKinginawarning，oralmostamenacingposture，ashesaid，-WoetohimwhorejectsthecounseloftheChurch，andbetakethhimselftothefouldivanoftheinfidel！KingRichard，Idonotyetshakethedustfrommyfeetanddepartfromthyencampment-theswordfallsnot-butithangsbutbyahair-Haughtymonarch，weshallmeetagain。’’
Beitso，haughtypriest，’’returnedRichard，prouderinthygoat-skinsthanprincesinpurpleandfinelinen。’’
Thehermitvanishedfromthetent，andtheKingcontinued，addressingtheArabian，-DothedervisesoftheEast，wiseHakim，usesuchfamiliaritywiththeirprinces？’’
Thedervise，’’repliedAdonbec，shouldbeeitherasageoramadman；thereisnomiddlecourseforhimwhowearsthekhirkhah，whowatchesbynight，andfastsbyday。Hence，*Literally，thetornrobe。Thehabitofthedervisesissocalled。
hathheeitherwisdomenoughtobearhimselfdiscreetlyinthepresenceofprinces，orelse，havingnoreasonbestowedonhim，heisnotresponsibleforhisownactions。’’
Methinksourmonkshaveadoptedchieflythelattercharacter，’’
saidRichard-Buttothematter-InwhatcanI
pleasureyou，mylearnedphysician？’’
GreatKing，’’saidElHakim，makinghisprofoundOrientalobeisance，letthyservantspeakoneword，andyetlive。I
wouldremindtheethatthouowest-nottome，theirhumbleinstrument-buttotheIntelligences，whosebenefitsIdispensetomortals，alife’’-
AndIwarrantmethouwouldsthaveanotherinrequital，ha？’’interruptedtheKing。
Suchismyhumbleprayer，’’saidtheHakim，tothegreatMelechRic-eventhelifeofthisgoodknight，whoisdoomedtodie，andbutforsuchfaultaswascommittedbytheSultanAdam，surnamedAboulbeschar，orthefatherofallmen。’’
Andthywisdommightremindthee，Hakim，thatAdamdiedforit，’’saidtheKing，somewhatsternly，andthenbegantopacethenarrowspaceofhistentwithsomeemotion，andtotalktohimself。Why，God-a-mercy-Iknewwhathedesiredassoonaseverheenteredthepavilion！-Hereisonepoorlifejustlycondemnedtoextinction，andI，akingandasoldier，whohaveslainthousandsbymycommand，andscoreswithmyownhand，amtohavenopoweroverit，althoughthehonourofmyarms，ofmyhouse，ofmyveryQueen，hathbeenattaintedbytheculprit-BySaintGeorge，itmakesmelaugh！-BySaintLouis，itremindsmeofBlondel’staleofanenchantedcastle，wherethedestinedknightwaswithstoodsuccessivelyinhispurposeofentrancebyformsandfiguresthemostdissimilar，butallhostiletohisundertaking！-Nosooneronesunkthananotherappeared！-Wife-Kinswoman-Hermit-
Hakim-eachappearsinthelistsassoonastheotherisdefeated！-
Why，thisisasingleknightfightingagainstthewholemleofthetournament-ha！ha！ha！’’-AndRichardlaughedaloud；forhehad，infact，beguntochangehismood，hisresentmentbeingusuallytooviolenttobeoflongendurance。
Thephysicianmeanwhilelookedonhimwithacountenanceofsurprise，notunmingledwithcontempt；fortheEasternpeoplemakenoallowanceforthosemercurialchangesinthetemper，andconsideropenlaughter，uponalmostanyaccount，asderogatorytothedignityofman，andbecomingonlytowomenandchildren。AtlengththesageaddressedtheKing，whenhesawhimmorecomposed。
Adoomofdeathshouldnotissuefromlaughinglips-Letthyservanthopethatthouhastgrantedhimthisman’slife。’’
Takethefreedomofathousandcaptivesinstead，’’saidRichard；restoresomanyofthycountrymentotheirtentsandfamilies，andIwillgivethewarrantinstantly。Thisman’slifecanavailtheenothing，anditisforfeited。’’
Allourlivesareforfeited，’’saidtheHakim，puttinghishandtohiscap。ButthegreatCreditorismerciful，andexactsnotthepledgerigorouslynoruntimely。’’
Thoucanstshowme，’’saidRichard，nospecialinterestthouhasttobecomeintercessorbetwixtmeandtheexecutionofjustice，towhichIamswornasacrownedKing。’’
Thouartsworntothedealingforthmercyaswellasjustice，’’saidElHakim；butwhatthouseekest，greatKing，istheexecutionofthineownwill。And，fortheconcernIhaveinthisrequest，knowthatmanyaman’slifedependsuponthygrantingthisboon。’’
Explainthywords，’’saidRichard；butthinknottoimposeuponmebyfalsepretexts。’’
Beitfarfromthyservant！’’saidAdonbec。Know，then，thatthemedicinetowhichthou，SirKing，andmanyonebeside，owetheirrecovery，isatalisman，composedundercertainaspectsoftheheavens，whentheDivineIntelligencesaremostpropitious。
Iambutthepooradministratorofitsvirtues。Idipitinacupofwater，observethefittinghourtoadministerittothepatient，andthepotencyofthedraughtworksthecure。’’
Amostraremedicine，’’saidtheKing，andacommodious！
and，asitmaybecarriedintheleech’spurse，wouldsavethewholecaravanofcamelswhichtheyrequiretoconveydrugsandphysic-stuff-Imarvelthereisanyotherinuse。’’