Probably you may be the name; you look fit for that, or anything else." "Cut him down!" "Dash his brains out!" "Run him through!" "Shoot him!" were a few of the mild and pleasant insinuations that went off on every side of him, like a fierce volley of pop-guns; and a score of bright blades flashed blue and threatening on every side; while the prince broke out into another shriek of laughter, that rang high over all.
Sir Norman drew his own sword, and stood on the defence, breathed one thought to Leoline, gave himself up for lost; but before quite doing so--to use a phrase not altogether as original as it might be--"determined to sell his life as dearly as possible." Angry eyes and fierce faces were on every hand, and his dreams of matrimony and Leoline seemed about to terminate then and there, when luck came to his side, in the shape of her most gracious majesty the queen.

Springing to her feet, she waved her sceptre, while her black eyes flashed as fiercely as the best of them, and her voice rang out like a trumpet-tone.
"Sheathe your swords, my lords, and back every man of you! Not one hair of his head shall fall without my permission; and the first who lays hands on him until that consent is given, shall die, if I have to shoot him myself! Sir Norman Kingsley, stand near, and fear not.

At his peril, let one of them touch you!" Sir Norman bent on one knee, and raised the gracious hand to his lips.
At the fierce, ringing, imperious tone, all involuntarily fell back, as if they were accustomed to obey it; and the prince, who seemed to-night in an uncommonly facetious mood, laughed again, long and shrill.
"What are your majesty's commands ?" asked the discomfited duke, rather sulkily.

"Is this insulting interloper to go free ?" "That is no affair of yours, my lord duke!" answered the spirited voice of the queen.

"Be good enough to finish Lord Gloucester's trial; and until then I will be responsible for the safekeeping of Sir Norman Kingsley." "And after that, he is to go free eh, your majesty ?" said the dwarf, laughing to that extent that he ran the risk of rupturing an artery.
"After that, it shall be precisely as I please!" replied the ringing voice; while the black eyes flashed anything but loving glances upon him.