" Her
highness continued to reply to the interrogatories put to her, by
saying, that it was in the king's presence she herself first saw the
minstrel; and then she thought his demeanor much above his situation;
but, when he accompanied the queen and herself into her majesty's
apartments, she had then an opportunity to observe him narrowly, as the
queen engaged him in conversation; and by his answers, questions, and
easy, yet respectful deportment, she became convinced he was not what
he appeared.
"And why, Jane," asked the king, "did you not impart these suspicions
to your husband or to me?"
"Because," replied she, "remembering that my interference on a certain
public occasion brought my late husband, Clare, under your majesty's
displeasure; on my marriage with Monthermer, I made a solemn vow before
my confessor never to offend in the like manner. And besides, the
countenance of this stranger was so ingenious, and his sentiments so
natural and honorable, I could not suspect he came on any disloyal
errand."
"Lady," observed one of the elder lords, "if you thought so well of the
queen and of this man, why did you caution her against his smiles, and
deem it necessary to persuade her not to see him again?"
The countess blushed at this question, but replied, "Because I saw the
minstrel was a gentleman.
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