“Is this the maid?” he asked; and when Lord Foxham had replied in the affirmative, “Minion,” he added, “hold up your face until I see its favour.”

 

He looked upon her sourly for a little.

 

“Ye are fair,” he said at last, “and, as they tell me, dowered.  How if I offered you a brave marriage, as became your face and parentage?”

 

“My lord duke,” replied Joanna, “may it please your grace, I had rather wed² with Sir Richard.”

 

“How so?” he asked, harshly.  “Marry but the man I name to you, and he shall be my lord, and you my lady, before night.  For Sir Richard, let me tell you plainly, he will die Sir Richard.”

 

“I ask no more of Heaven, my lord, than but to die Sir Richard’s wife,” returned Joanna.

 

“Look ye at that, my lord,” said Gloucester, turning to Lord Foxham.  “Here be a pair for you.  The lad, when for good services I gave him his choice of my favour, chose but the grace of an old, drunken shipman.  I did warn him freely, but he was stout³ in his besottedness.  ‘Here dieth your favour,’ said I; and he, my lord, with a most assured impertinence, ‘Mine be the loss,’ quoth he.  It shall be so, by the rood!”

 

“Said he so?” cried Alicia.  “Then well said, lion-driver!”

 

“Who is this?” asked the duke.

 

“A prisoner of Sir Richard’s,” answered Lord Foxham; “Mistress Alicia Risingham.”

 

“See that she be married to a sure man,” said the duke.

 

“I had thought of my kinsman⁴, Hamley, an it like your grace,” returned Lord Foxham.  “He hath well served the cause.”

 

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