"Oh, William," Susan murmured, "was it not enough that I should lose my two brothers in one day that you must needs take my lover also?" "What!" cried William, "is that so?—and yet you told me not?" The poor girl blushed to the roots of her hair, amid all her sorrow, as she answered— "We were betrothed last week, and this night he would have told you all; he comes to London on no State business: it was to ask my uncle's consent. And now," murmured the heart-stricken girl, "now I may lose him—lose him for ever!" "Oh, Susan," said her brother, throwing his arms around her, "I knew not of this; and yet I might have guessed it when I saw that bright ring sparkling on your finger. I rejoice thereat greatly; now we shall be brothers indeed, Geoffrey and Ralph and I! Trust him to us, my dear one; we will watch over him as he will over us; we will bring him back to you by the blessing and help of God!" But Susan wept bitterly, her heart refused comfort. And so with reluctant steps William left her; his errand to the Embassy must be done! "God wills it, God wills it," he said to himself in the spirit of the old Crusaders as he set forth. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ CHAPTER X WHITEHALL Supper was served that evening at Whitehall with more than customary state and splendour—for King Philip was present. The Queen was royally attired in robes of purple velvet, and men noted that, to-night, she wore her famous diamonds. Beside her sat King Philip in magnificent apparel, and wearing the Collar of the Order of the Golden Fleece. Few guests were present, conspicuous among them being the Queen's half- sister, the Lady Elizabeth, lately restored to Court favour; next to her sat De Noailles, the French Ambassador, with whom the Princess kept up a lively conversation. Don Renard and the Lords Paget, Pembroke, Arundel, and Clinton were there, all in splendid attire. The hall was hung with the beautiful arras collected by King Henry the Eighth, and a soft pleasant light diffused from silver lamps fed with perfumed oil. Foreign minstrels provided sweet music, to which the guests seemed to pay little heed, for to-night the Queen was in unusually good spirits, and the Court, taking its cue from her, jested and laughed freely. Later on, supper being ended, the Court (now largely augmented in numbers) met in the gorgeous salon which was adorned by some famous pictures of Titian, brought hither, perhaps, by Philip, whose father, Charles V, was the great patron of the painter. On the walls also hung portraits by Holbein and many works of the Flemish and Italian schools. The furniture of the room was of costly nature, being chiefly of ebony, richly inlaid with mother-of-pearl.