"Silence, sir!" Charles commanded. "Who are you?" he asked of Evander. Evander saluted. "Captain Evander Cloud, of the Parliamentary army." "How come you here?" the King inquired. Brilliana answered for him. "Your Majesty, he was taken prisoner treacherously, though the treachery was mine, three days ago. I offered his life in exchange for the life of Randolph Harby." "And Randolph Harby is dead," said Rufus, "shot as a spy by the devilish rebel of Cambridge. See, sire--see!" He offered the letter to Charles, but the King put it from him. His face was inscrutable as Evander urged his case. "Your Majesty, I am no spy, and my life could not be pawned for a spy's life." Charles's sad eyes travelled to Brilliana. "Randolph Harby was no spy," he said. "You held this gentleman hostage for your cousin's life?" "I did make that offer," Brilliana admitted. The King frowned now. "And yet he still lives. I thought this was called Loyalty House." "Disloyalty House it should be called now," Rufus taunted. Brilliana turned upon him fiercely. "You lie! you lie! you lie!" she hurled the words at him, hating him. Charles held up his hand. "Peace! This is not the welcome I expected here. We did not think to find rebels tendered so delicately. Sir Rufus, we give you charge of Harby and of this gentleman. We will consider his claim presently, for we would deal honestly even with our enemies." He looked at Evander. "But we can give you little hope, sir. Prepare to die." Fretfully he addressed Rufus. "I am very weary. I must break my fast." He glanced coldly at Brilliana. "Lady, we shall not need your attendance." Brilliana made her master a deep reverence. "I take my leave, your Majesty." She went close to Evander. "Can you forgive me?" she begged. Evander looked into her wet eyes joyously. "Read in my heart that I thank God to have known you, loved you." Brilliana laid a hand for a moment on his shoulder and spoke in a soft, even voice. "You have been my enemy; you have been my friend; you are now the one man in all the world for me. Read in my heart that I thank God to have known you, that I thank God that I love you. Remember, I love you, Evander. Farewell." Then she saluted the King and went slowly out of the room without looking back. XXVI RESURRECTION