Michel and Angele [A Ladder of Swords], Complete

n where all his passions, ambitions and sentiments are at white heat, will readily throw away the whole game of life in some mad act out of harmony with all he ever did. It matters little wh

at one; the most trivial event may produce the gr

ost dramatic figure in England, should have sleepless nights by reason of a fugitive like Michel de la Foret. On the surface it was preposterous that he should see in the Queen's offer of service to the refugee evidence that she was set to grant him special favours; it was equally absurd that her offer of safety to him on pledge of his turning preacher should seem proof that she meant to have him near her. Elizabeth had left the presence-chamber without so much as a glance at him, though she had turned and

. As he still waited irritably for a summons from Elizabeth, he brooded on every word and every look she had given him of late; he recalled her manner to him in the ante-chapel the

was the one thing needful, and Michel de la Foret was gently born; and he had still his sword, though he chose not to use it in Elizabeth's service. My Lord knew it might be easier for a stranger like D

came forth again he wore a sword the Queen had sent him, and a packet of Latimer's sermons were under his arm. Leicester was unaware that Elizabeth herself did not see De la Foret when he was thus hastily called; bu

en the sermons are in his hand, that his choice have every seeming of fairness. For he

gold-bound book under his arm as he came forth, and in a rage he left th

t the risk to England was too great. It would be like the Queen, if her temper was up, to demand from the Medici the return of De la Foret, and war

late offence against his own dignity. A seed of rancour had been sown in his mind which had grown to a great size and must presently burst into a dark flower of vengeance. He, Lempriere of Rozel, with three dovecotes, th

that day two fools (there ar

ter, I crave a

onded Leicester with a look o

re, lord of R

d of that, I believe you keep doves, and wear a jerkin that fi

ave me honour, and 'tis not for the

eicester with a faint smile, but in

reath around its point," answered Lempriere simply, unsuspecting irony, and

eicester. "A

tella-my hope is

th-of parsley

tood, and he shook w

t on the heads of insolents like Lord Leicester!" His face w

and then Leicester said:

my lor

e no se

ay, my lord, to be stickl

n secret, Lempriere of Rozel. Also my

yes was as that of a mad bull in a ring. "You won't fight wi

mong the ladies," he said quietly. Lempriere followed his glanc

his sword. "When,

answer, and Leicester went forward hastily

rters where Buonespoir was in durance, which was little more severe than to keep him

om Angele to Buonespoir, who was laboriously inditing one in

come," he said. "You have gra

d the fool. "Here is needed

ir heads together