"Ah, villain!" exclaimed Buckingham,--"do you venture to calumniate your protector? I shall leave you to the fate you so richly merit. Your foul and false assertions cannot affect me; but they are not likely to improve your case with his Highness, who, though aware of its impotency, will perceive the extent of your malice. If you dared, I doubt not you would likewise assert that his Majesty himself was cognisant of your frauds and oppressions, and approved them." "I do assert, and will maintain it--ay, and prove it, too--that the King's Highness was aware how these monopolies were managed, and derived a considerable revenue from them," said Sir Giles. "You hear him, Prince," remarked Buckingham, with a disdainful smile. "I would not have believed in such matchless effrontery had I not witnessed it," replied Charles. "You may retire, Madame," he added to the hostess, who, with a profound reverence, withdrew. "Have you aught further to declare, or any other witnesses to produce?" he continued to Lanyere. "I have both, your Highness," replied the promoter. "What more false accusations have you to bring against me?" demanded Sir Giles, folding his arms upon his breast, and fixing his keen gaze upon Lanyere. "His Highness shall hear," replied the promoter. "I have a multitude of cases which I could adduce in support of my charges--all of which will be mentioned in due season--but I shall now content myself with one, and from it the nature of the rest may be inferred. But let me premise that, in the greater part of these cases, and in all the more important of them, where grievous and irreparable wrong has been committed, the engine employed by these crafty and dangerous men has been the Star-Chamber." "The Star-Chamber!" exclaimed Charles, bending his brows.