You raised that flag yourself--did you not ?" "Madam, I fear I must say yes!" "And why did you do so ?" demanded her majesty, with far more sharp asperity than Sir Norman dreamed could ever come from such beautiful lips.
"The rumor of Queen Miranda's charms has gone forth; and I fear I must own that rumor drew me hither," responded Sir Norman, inventing a polite little work of fiction for the occasion; "and, let me add, that I came to find that rumor had under-rated instead of exaggerated her majesty's said charms." Here Sir Norman, whose spine seemed in danger of becoming the shape of a rainbow, in excess of good breeding, made another genuflection before the queen, with his hand over the region of his heart.

Miranda tried to look grave, and wear that expression of severe solemnity I am told queens and rich people always do; but, in spite of herself, a little pleased smile rippled over her face; and, noticing it, and the bow and speech, the prince suddenly and sharply set up such another screech of laughter as no steamboat or locomotive, in the present age of steam, could begin to equal in ghastliness.
"Will your highness have the goodness to hold your tongue ?" inquired the queen, with much the air and look of Mrs.Caudle, "and allow me to ask this stranger a few questions uninterrupted?
Sir Norman Kingsley, how long have you been above there, listening and looking on ?" "Madame, I was not there five minutes when I suddenly, and to my great surprise, found myself here." "A lie!--a lie!" exclaimed the dwarf, furiously.

"It is over two hours since I met you at the bar of the Golden Crown." "My dear little friend," said Sir Norman, drawing his sword, and flourishing it within an inch of the royal nose, "just make that remark again, and my sword will cleave your pretty head, as the cimetar of Saladin clove the cushion of down! I earnestly assure you, madame, that I had but just knelt down to look, when I discovered to my dismay, that I was no longer there, but in your charming presence." "In that case, my lords and gentlemen," said the queen, glancing blandly round the apartment, "he has witnessed nothing, and, therefore, merits but slight punishment." "Permit me, your majesty," said the duke, who had read the roll of death, and who had been eyeing Sir Norman sharply for some time, "permit me one moment! This is the very individual who slew the Earl of Ashley, while his companion was doing for my Lord Craven.

Sir Norman Kingsley," said his grace, turning, with awful impressiveness to that young person, "do you know me ?" "Quite as well as I wish to," answered Sir Norman, with a cool and rather contemptuous glance in his direction.

"You look extremely like a certain highwayman, with a most villainous countenance, I encountered a few hours back, and whom I would have made mince most of if he had not been coward enough to fly.