The groom had his eyes cast down, and stood there--then again he spoke.
"As to my Lord of Rochester's head, that was taken off to the--the Queen, they say, in a white bag, and she struck it on the mouth." Nicholas dropped his head against his hand that rested on the wood-work.
"And the body rested naked all day on the scaffold, with the halberd-men drinking round about; and 'twas tumbled into a hole in Barking Churchyard that night." "At whose orders ?" "At Master Cromwell's, sir." Again there was silence; and again the groom broke it.
"There was more said, sir--" and hesitated.
The old man signed to him to go on.
"They say that my lord's head shone with light each night on the bridge," said the man reverently; "there was a great press there, I know, all day, so that the streets were blocked, and none could come or go.

And so they tumbled that into the river at last; at least 'tis supposed so--for 'twas gone when I looked." Nicholas turned round; and his eyes were bright and his face fiery and discoloured.
Sir James stood up, and his voice was broken as he spoke.
"Thank you, my man.

You have told your story well." * * * * * As the groom turned to go out, Sir Nicholas wheeled round swiftly to the hearth, and buried his face on his arm; and Chris saw a great heaving begin to shake his broad shoulders.
THE KING'S TRIUMPH--BOOK II.