"While I am queen here, I shall be obeyed; when I am queen no longer, you may do as you please! My lords" (turning her passionate, beautiful face to the hushed audience), "am I or am I not sovereign here!" "Madame, you alone are our sovereign lady and queen!" "Then, when I condescend to command, you shall obey! Do you, your highness, and you, lord duke, go on with the Earl of Gloucester's trial, and I will be the stranger's jailer." "She is right," said the dwarf, his fierce little eyes gleaming with a malignant light; "let us do one thing before another; and after we have settled Gloucester here, we will attend to this man's case.

Guards keep a sharp eye on your new prisoner.

Ladies and gentlemen, be good enough to resume your seats.

Now, your grace, continue the trial." "Where did we leave off ?" inquired his grace, looking rather at a loss, and scowling vengeance dire at the handsome queen and her handsome protege, as he sank back in his chair of state.
"The earl was confessing his guilt, or about to do so.

Pray, my lord," said the dwarf, glaring upon the pallid prisoner, "were you not saying you had betrayed us to the king ?" A breathless silence followed the question--everybody seemed to hold his very breath to listen.