I wondered if Harleston's mind were not drawing the same picture. Had he yet asked Mary to be his wife? I believed he had; for the day before we rode forth to the tournament, when we had visited the girls, Hazel had let drop a remark that did arouse my suspicions; and when I questioned her upon the point she laughingly informed me of the fact that I was "too inquisitive," the which I doubt not. And try as I would I could get nothing more from her. I had not liked to ask Harleston; for there seems to be a something, the name of which I know not, that ever doth keep us from mentioning this subject to one which we believe to be in love, unless they first do bring it up. By this time we had almost reached the Palace of King Richard. Loud cheered the people as the King rode along the crowd-lined streets and scattered gold among them with a lavish hand. "God save King Richard!" rang out on every side. I had as soon cried:--"God save the devil!" The broken-headed Catesby rode beside the King. The two seemed to be conversing as we reached Crosby Place. "Not favourable to me," said I in Harleston's ear, as I nodded in the direction of the hump-backed King and his adviser. My friend did not reply, in words; but he shook his head in a manner which showed that he realized my danger fully. After giving our horses to our grooms we entered the great hall, and from there--when the King had withdrawn himself--we went to mine own room. How gloomy and lonely did it seem. Something huge, black and terrible did seem to vanish from the centre of the room, dividing into a score of parts, and each part retaining, for an instant only, a pair of fiery eyes, as the light of our lamp burst into the room, dispelling all the darkness. Now, on this night my room seemed not the same. Ever did I expect to see some spirit of evil arise before mine eyes and stretch out its fantastic arms to seize me. A great gloom had fallen on us both. Neither spoke for some time; and when at length I said to Harleston:-- "No longer can I bear this life; to-morrow I leave this Palace forever," mine own voice did seem to startle me; so hollow and unnatural did it sound. Then, as if the words I had said were to be turned into a prophecy, a knock came at the door, and, upon opening, in walked Sir James Tyrrell and a half a score of men-at-arms. "I regret, Sir Walter Bradley, that I am compelled to ask you for your sword, and to tell thee that I now arrest thee." "Upon what charge?" "High treason, Sir Walter." Harleston arose and grasped my hand in a grip that could not be mistaken. "Tell not my dear Hazel of this; that is, not at present." "Keep up thy courage," he replied; "thou shalt not die by the hand of an executioner. I, thy friend, Harleston, have said it, and I never yet have told a lie." I thanked him for his kind words with the pressure of my hand, and with a firm step marched from the room.