Page 56 (1/2)

His grace, the duke, instantly stepped forward, bowing so low that

nothing was seen of him for a brief space, but the small of his back,

and when he reared himself up, after this convulsion of nature, Sir

Norman beheld a face not entirely new to hiine where he had seen it, but speedily she recollected it was the

identical face of the highwaylorious retreat

froht This ducat robber drew

forth a roll of parch, in lachrymose tones,

a select litany of defunct gentle the present week Most of theue, but a few had died fro these were

the Earls of Craven and Ashley

"My lords Craven and Ashley dead!" exclaimed the queen, in tones of soular, fortheo, in excellent health and spirits"

"True, poor majesty," said the duke, dolefully, "and it is not an hour

since they quitted this vale of tears They andto Custom, to lay your majesty's tax on all

travelers, and soon chanced to encounter one who gave vigorous battle;

still, it would have done him little service, had not another person

come suddenly to his aid, and between them they clove the skulls of

Ashley and Craven; and I," said the duke, , and tall, and of courtly bearing?"