Produced by D. Alexander and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net (This file was produced from images generously made available by The Internet Archive) THE LADY OF LOYALTY HOUSE A Novel BY JUSTIN HUNTLY McCARTHY AUTHOR OF "MARJORIE" "THE PROUD PRINCE" ETC. HARPER & BROTHERS PUBLISHERS NEW YORK AND LONDON 1904 Copyright, 1904, by HARPER & BROTHERS. _All rights reserved._ Published October, 1904. AD SILVIAM Take for our lady's loyal sake This vagrant tale of mine, Where Cavalier and Roundhead break A reed for Right Divine, A tale it pleasured me to make, And most to make it thine. The Solemn Muse that watches o'er The actions of the great, And bids this Venturer to soar, And that to stand and wait, Will swear she never heard before The deeds that I relate. But all is true for me and you, Though History denies; I know thy Royal Standard flew Against autumnal skies, And find thy rarest, bravest blue In Brilliana's eyes. J. H. McC. _August 10, 1904._ CONTENTS CHAPTER PAGE PROLOGUE 1 I. THE STRANGER AT THE GATES 4 II. HARBY 16 III. MY LORD THE LADY 26 IV. THE LEAGUER OF HARBY 33 V. A MONSTROUS REGIMENT 40 VI. HOW WILL ALL END? 49 VII. MISTRESS AND MAN 56 VIII. THE ENVOY 62 IX. HOW THE SIEGE WAS RAISED 73 X. PRISONER OF WAR 82 XI. AT BAY 90 XII. A USE FOR A PRISONER 99 XIII. A GILDED CAGE 110 XIV. A PASSAGE AT ARMS 120 XV. MY LADY'S PLEASAUNCE 129 XVI. A PURITAN APPRAISED 138 XVII. SET A KNAVE TO CATCH A KNAVE 149 XVIII. SERVING THE KING 156 XIX. SIR BLAISE PAYS HIS RESPECTS 165 XX. SIR BLAISE PAYS HIS PENALTY 180 XXI. A PUZZLING PURITAN 188 XXII. MASTER PAUL AND MASTER PETER 203 XXIII. A DAY PASSES 212 XXIV. A HIGH COURT OF JUSTICE 223 XXV. ROMEO AND JULIET 235 XXVI. RESURRECTION 249 XXVII. THE KING'S IMAGE 256 XXVIII. LOVER AND LOVER 266 XXIX. THE KING MAKES A FRIEND 273 XXX. RUFUS PROPOSES 281 XXXI.