Earl Roger was not a man to shut his eyes to anything which he did not wish to see, nor to go on hoping against hope in the face of what he knew to be facts. His position was very much the same as that of another near connection of royalty, just a hundred years before him.[#] But Earl Edmund of Cornwall and Earl Roger of March were men of two very different types. The one had sunk under his burden; the other rose superior to it. Roger was not so utterly swallowed up in his disappointment as his predecessor had been. For him, his territorial affairs, his children, politics, and other interests, came in to relieve the weight. Only now and then, as it was to-night, his heart sank low, and felt a yearning want of that human sympathy which he never received but from two persons—his family physician, Mr. Robesart, and his body-squire, Lawrence Madison. [#] The reader who desires to know more of this will find it in "Not For Him." He lifted his head now to bid the latter enter. "Your Lordship is not at ease, I fear?" said the squire with an intonation of genuine interest in his master. He had grown into a taller and stronger-built man than Roger: dark-haired, dark-eyed, with a pale grave face, a smile of considerable sweetness, and a clear pleasant voice. "Only the old story, lad," was the quiet answer. "Aye, and a little further travail thereto. My Lord of Gloucester, mine uncle, hath sent for me. We must needs be away toward Fleshy as early as the sun to-morrow." "At your Lordship’s pleasure. Shall it be to tarry?" "I trow not. Best, maybe, to be prepared for a two-three days. But I shall be here again in the even, an’ I may." Lawrence bowed, and withdrew from the chamber. Half an hour later, Mr. Robesart entered it, and found the Earl bending over the large Bible. "I was told," said he, "that your Lordship had asked for me a short space agone. Metrusteth you be not indisposed?" "Not here, good Father, I thank you," answered the Earl, touching his head. "Only here"—and he laid a hand upon his heart. "Methought I would fain hear somewhat of your counsel ere my departing, which shall be right early on the morrow." And he repeated the explanation given to Lawrence. "Your Lordship," responded the physician, "hath not, as methinks, overmuch trust in my Lord Duke?" "Fair fall he that hath that in any man!" returned Roger with a gesture of contempt. "In truth, Father, my belief in the Duke’s discretion, not to say loyalty, would go by the eye of a needle. If he would but keep his plots to himself and my fair cousin of Rutland, which ’joyeth so much therein that I could not for compassion wish him thereout! Verily, I am alway something afeard lest some day he essay to drag me in." "Counts your Lordship that his Grace hath sent for you with that intent?" "I know not wherefore he hath so done, and that is the very truth." And the Earl passed his hand wearily over his forehead.