Next morning, when I entered her chamber, she received me with even
more gayety, and putting aside my coiffure, said, 'Let me see if I can
find the devil's mark here!' 'What do you mean?' I asked, 'does your
majesty take me for a witch?' 'Exactly so,' she replied; 'for a little
sprite told me last night that all you told me was true.' And then she
began to tell me with many smiles, that she had dreamed the minstrel
was the very Prince of Portugal, whom, unseen, she had refused for the
King of England; and that he gave her a harp set with jewels. She then
went to your majesty, and I saw no more of her till she sent for me
late in the evening. She seemed very angry. 'You are faithful,' said
she to me, 'and you know me. De Pontoise; you know me too proud to
degrade myself, and too highminded to submit to tyranny. The Countess
of Gloucester, with persuasions too like commands, will not allow me to
see the minstrel any more.' She then declared her determination that
she would see him; that she would feign herself sick, and he should
come and sing to her when she was alone; and that she was sure he was
too modest to presume on her condescension.
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