A gasp from Fitz, an exclamation from Dick, and a stifled cry from Lady Haigh warned Stratford of the effect which the announcement of the King’s demand had produced on his friends. He himself felt a certain relief--almost akin to the “stern joy” of the warrior--in the conviction that the crisis for which he had been looking had at last arrived, and his voice rang out clearly as he asked, “And who is it that the King requires?” “My lord must see,” said the old official reluctantly, “that our lord the King desires him who is chief in authority among you to be sent to him, that he may make the treaty with him which the Queen of England desired when she sent her servants hither.” “But we have no stronger wish than that the King should sign that very treaty,” objected Stratford. “But my lord’s treaty is not the King’s treaty,” was the unanswerable reply of the ambassador. “And if the man you desire should go to the Palace, and yet refuse to sign the King’s treaty, what then?” asked Stratford. “It is not for the health of any man to withstand our lord the King,” was the evasive answer. “But if--if the man was not given up,” broke in the agitated voice of Fitz from behind, “what would happen to the lady?” “Oh, the woman would die--in a little while,” was the instant reply of the Amir, delighted to perceive his opportunity. “Not by the hands of the King’s executioners--that would be a man’s death. No; women can deal with women. There are certain in our lord the King’s household who bear no love to the doctor lady. I do not say that they would kill her; but she would not live very long in their hands--a day, perhaps, or it may be two. And it would not be an easy death.” “For God’s sake, Stratford, put a stop to this!” muttered Dick, hoarsely, his face convulsed with rage. “Tell them I will go.” “Unless,” pursued the Amir, apparently heedless of the interruption, although his greedy eyes had not missed the slightest change in the expression of any of the faces before him, “the woman should find favour in the eyes of our lord the King. Then she would live for a time. Afterwards it would be much the same; but whether----” But the alternative which he had been about to state was left unuttered, for Dick sprang forward and dealt him a blow which stretched him on the ground. [image: images/img_07.jpg caption: Dick sprang forward and dealt him a blow which stretched him on the ground.] “Say that again if you dare!” he growled, standing over him with clenched fists; but the Amir, evidently considering that discretion was the better part of valour, submitted to be helped up and brushed by his attendants, after which he retired to the rear, Dick turning contemptuously on his heel and resuming his post beside Stratford. “Let not my lord heed the sayings of that man,” entreated the old official, “for he has an evil tongue and loves to stir up strife.”