“Leave us!” said Maud, without so much as a glanceat the lingering girl, or the older lady who stood at her shoulder.And when they were gone from the room: “Come closer! Here areall too many stretched ears at too many doors. Closer still! Let melook at you.”

He stood, a little nervously, to be studied long andthoughtfully, and the huge, Byzantine eyes passed over him atleisure, like the first stroking caress of the flaying knife.

“Norfolk says you did your errand well,” she saidthen. “Like a natural diplomat. It’s true I was in somedoubt of him, but he is here. I marked little of the diplomat aboutyou this afternoon in the great court.”

Yves felt himself flushing to the hair, but she hushed anyprotest or excuse he might have been about to utter with a raisedhand and a cool smile. “No, say nothing! I admired yourloyalty and your spirit, if I could not quite compliment you onyour discretion.”

“I was foolish,” he said. “I am sensible ofit.”

“Then that is quickly disposed of,” said theempress, “for at this moment I am, officially, reproving youfor the folly, and repeating the bishop’s orders to you, asthe aggressor, to curb your resentment hereafter. For the sake ofappearances, as no doubt Stephen is chastising the other fool.Well, now you have understood me, and you know you may not offerany open affront or injury to any man within these walls. With thatin agreement between us, you may leave me.”

He made his obeisance, somewhat confused in mind, and turnedagain to the closed door. Behind him the incisive voice, softenedand still, said clearly: “All the same, I must confess Ishould not be greatly grieved to see Brien de Soulis dead at myfeet.”