"Lo' you, my Lords, the prisoner denieth it not!--And my Lord of Cambridge--what part took he. Lady?" "Never a whit, Sir," answered Constance audaciously. "May I crede you, mewondereth?" "You did but this moment, my Lord. If my word be worth aught in the one matter, let it weigh in the other." The Chancellor meditated a minute, but he could not deny the justice of the plea. "Moreover, Lady, we heard,"--how had they heard it?--"that some trial were to be made of scaling the walls of the King's Grace's Palace of Eltham." Constance grew paler. If they had heard this of Edward, what might they have heard of Richard's presence in the journey to Hereford? "Have you so, Sir?" she answered, losing none of her apparent coolness. "We have so, Madam!" replied Beaufort sternly; "and moreover of conspiration to steal away his Highness' person, and prison him--if not worser matter than this." "Not of my doing," said Constance. "How far you were privy thereto or no, that I leave. But can you deny that it were of my Lord of York his doing?" "I was not there," she quickly rejoined. "How then wis I?" "Can you deny that my Lord of Cambridge was therein concerned?" "I can!" cried Constance in an agony--too hastily. "Oh, you can so?" retorted Beaufort, seeing and instantly pressing his advantage. "Then you do wis thereof something?" She was silent. "My Lord of York--he was there, trow?" No answer. "He was there?" "Sir Keeper, I was not there. What more can I say?" "Who was there, Dame?--for I am assured you know." "Who was where?" retorted the Princess satirically. "If no man scaled the Palace walls, how ask you such questions?" "Nay, ask that at your Ladyship's own conscience; for it was not I, but you, that said first you were not there." She was becoming entangled in the meshes. "Lock you up whom your Lordship will!" she exclaimed. "The truth of all I have said can be proven, and thereto I do offer Master Will Maydeston mine esquire, which shall prove my truth with his body against such, as do accuse me [by duel; a resource then permitted by law]. And further will I say nought." "But you must needs have had further aid, Lady." "Ay so, Sir?" "Most surely. Who were it, I demand of you?" "I have said my saying." "And you do deny, Madam, to further justice?"