"My Lord of Newcastle!" Lionel cried, and he and Dick were admitted. They crossed a court to a door at the back of the house, a large rambling mansion occupied now by the King and Queen. The guards here knew Lionel, and he stayed to talk with them, whilst Dick, carrying his unlit torch and holding his cloak about him, stood near, shivering with excitement and suspense. At last Lionel turned to him. "Come along. His Majesty has not come in yet from walking. We're in luck, you see," he said as they threaded a crowded hall and a corridor thronged with guards and servants. "For, after supper, there is to be a masque--sort of play, sir--in the gardens by torchlight, and every gentleman about the court will be present. Such bravery! Such music and singing! Now the Queen's back all the court's alive." Dick followed him into a panelled gallery. There were benches along the walls, and Lionel sat down on one near the farthest end. Close to them four broad white stone steps led down into a great square hall, with costly hangings, lounges, and pictures. Wide doors stood open, and beyond, Dick caught a glimpse of a beautiful lawn, where splendidly attired ladies and courtiers were strolling up and down. In the hall were guards with gleaming cuirasses, and a group of young gentlemen in the costliest dresses were lounging at a window, chattering. As Dick watched, a page in the Royal livery ran in from the garden and spoke to one of these. He parted from his companions and came up the steps by Dick. "Will His Majesty be coming in soon, sir?" asked Lionel, bowing respectfully. "He has just gone in by the Queen's entrance," said the gentleman, and hurried on. "That is one of His Majesty's Gentlemen of the Bedchamber," said Lionel. "We shall have to wait now an hour or more, till he passes to the supper." "Oh, this waiting!" Dick sighed. "If only I knew his name!" "Patience!" urged Lionel. "Sit down here, and kick your heels." "But he might go through the hall!" Dick cried. "I must keep looking." "Point him out to me," said Lionel yawning. "Then I'll learn his name and be after him like a flash." The minutes passed heavily enough. The hall was getting dusky now. Suppose he passed down there, and Dick did not recognize him? Or, suppose he came, and did not know the boy again, and would not hear his story. He might hand Dick over to the guards without a word of explanation. Ah, how slow the time went! Yet, how fast! It would be to-morrow very soon, and nothing done yet. But there was movement in the hall. The guard was changed. A delicious sound of harps and violins came from the Queen's apartments on the left. Servants were bringing lights--thousands of lights, it seemed to Dick. The hall glowed with a soft radiance, and the soldiers' equipments winked like silver. Dick stole out on the top step. The lights from below shone on his pale face. "Stand back, there!" called an officer irritably. "Whose are you?"