"Sir," asked Roger, looking up, "be you Lord Richard the King?" "Even so, fair Cousin. What can I do to pleasure you?" Natures like those of Roger Mortimer are always capable of intense hero-worship. And Roger had found his hero. He dropped on one knee without any prompting. "Then, Sire, I will live and die with you!" The King unfastened from his chain of rubies a golden broom-pod wrought with green enamel. It was one of his own badges. "Then shalt thou be mine own man, by thy covenant," said he, smiling, and attaching the badge to Roger’s gold chain: "and thereto is my token." "Why, well said!" interpolated the Princess, who seemed unable to keep silence long. "Come hither, little Cousin—here, set a stool for my Lord of March,—and tell me how it liketh thee to dwell with my Lord of Arundel." "Not in no wise, Dame," answered Roger, boldly. "Not in no wise, quotha! Why what ails thee at him?" "I love him not, Dame, nor he me." "Dear heart, here is a pity! But thou lovest my Lady Alice, trow?—though she be but a woman." The Princess’s fat shoulders shook with laughter. "Our young cousin’s chivalry is scarce fledged, methinks," said the King. "If you will learn me, Sire, I will do your bidding," said Roger, who did not know what bashfulness was. "My Lady Alice, said your Grace? Good lack, but I cannot abear her!" "Cannot bear her, quotha! Nay, now, she is to be thy wife!" "My Lord the King’s command except, that shall she never!" said Roger sturdily. "See you, fair Son?" was the Princess’s comment, with a glance at the King. "And wouldst thou be much aggrieved, little Cousin, if thou wert to depart thence, and to dwell in another household, where thou shouldst have jolly lads and lasses to pleasure and couldst see the King thy cousin well-nigh thee, every day?" Roger’s eyes shone with delight. "Please it you, Dame, that should like me right well. Howbeit, I hope there should be more lads than lasses." The Princess indulged in another hilarious convulsion. "Thy time will come, lad!" said she, when she was able to speak. "Till it do, thou canst lake thee with Tom, which is scarce the younger of thee.—It shall do right well, fair Son: and I pray you heartily to set the matter in train." "Aye, methinks it were well done," answered the King. But neither of them explained what was to be done, though Roger’s curiosity was intense. Manifestly, he was to be taken from the Earl of Arundel, and given in wardship to some other nobleman. That was a delightful prospect. If he could only be rid of Alice as well, Roger thought he would be in Paradise. And the King had offered him a favour. Roger turned boldly to His Majesty. "Sire, your Grace said you would pleasure me. Pray you, have me rid of yon Alice. I love no maids, and her least of all." Once more the Princess burst out laughing. The King looked quietly amused. "Is that the dearest wish of your heart, fair Cousin?" "It is so, at this present, my Liege."