The Midnight Queen [62]
up before them, which was done; while the rest of the
company were fluttering down into their seats, and evidently
about to pay the greatest attention. The cases in this midnight
court seemed to be conducted on a decidedly original plan, and
with an easy rapidity that would have electrified any other
court, ancient or modern. Sir Norman took his stand, and eyed
his judges with a look half contemptuous, half defiant; and the
proceedings commenced by the dwarf a leaning forward and breaking
into a roar of laughter, right in his face.
"My little friend I warned you before not to be so facetious,"
said Sir Norman, regarding him quietly; "a rush of mirth to the
brain will certainly be the death of you one of these day."
"No levity, young man!" interposed the lord chancellor,
rebukingly; "remember, you are addressing His Royal Highness
Prince Caliban, Spouse, and Consort of Her Most Gracious Majesty,
Miranda!"
"Indeed! Then all I have to say, is, that her majesty has very
bad taste in the selection of a husband, unless, indeed, her wish
was to marry the ugliest man in the world, as she herself is the
most beautiful of women!"
Her majesty took not the slightest notice of this compliment, not
so much as a flatter of her drooping eye-lashes betrayed that she
even heard it, but his highness laughed until he was perfectly
hoarse.
"Silence!" shouted the duke, shocked and indignant at this
glaring disrespect, "and answer truthfully the questions put to
you. Your name, you say, is Sir Norman Kingsley?"
"Yes. Has your grace any objection to it?"
His grace waved down the interruption with a dignified wave of
the hand, and went on with were judicial dignity.
"You are the same who shot Lord Ashley between this and the city,
some hours ago?"
"I had the pleasure of shooting a highwayman there, and my only
regret is, I did not perform the same good office by his
companion, in the person of your noble self, before you turned
and fled."
A slight titter ran round the room, and the duke turned crimson.
"These remarks are impertinent, and not to the purpose. You are
the murderer of Lord Ashley, let that suffice. Probably you were
on your way hither when you did the deed?"
"He was," said the dwarf, vindictively. "I met him at the Golden
Crown but a short time after."
"Very well, that is another point settled, and either of them is
strong enough to seal his death warrant. You came here as a spy,
to see and hear and report - probably you were sent by King
Charles?"
"Probably - just think as you please about it!" said Sir Norman,
who knew his case was as desperate as it could be, and was quite
reckless what he answered.
"You admit that you are a spy, then?"
"No such thing. I have owned nothing. As I told you before, you
are welcome to put what construction you please on my actions."
"Sir Norman Kingsley, this is nonsensical equivocation! You own
you came to hear and see?"
"Well!"
"Well, hearing and seeing constitute spying, do they not?
Therefore, you are a spy."
"I confess it looks like it. What next?"
"Need you ask What is the fate of all spies?"
"No matter what they are in other places, I am pretty certain
what they are here!"
"And that is?"
"A room in black, and a chop with an axe -the Earl of
Gloucester's fate, in a word!"
"You have said it! Have you any reason why such a sentence
should not be pronounced on you?"
"None; pronounce it as soon as you like."
"With the greatest pleasure!" said the duke, who had been
scrawling on another ominous roll of vellum, and now passed it to
the dwarf. "I never knew anyone it gave me more delight to
condemn. Will your highness pass that to her majesty for
signature, and pronounce his sentence."
His highness, with a grin of most exquisite delight, did as
directed; and
company were fluttering down into their seats, and evidently
about to pay the greatest attention. The cases in this midnight
court seemed to be conducted on a decidedly original plan, and
with an easy rapidity that would have electrified any other
court, ancient or modern. Sir Norman took his stand, and eyed
his judges with a look half contemptuous, half defiant; and the
proceedings commenced by the dwarf a leaning forward and breaking
into a roar of laughter, right in his face.
"My little friend I warned you before not to be so facetious,"
said Sir Norman, regarding him quietly; "a rush of mirth to the
brain will certainly be the death of you one of these day."
"No levity, young man!" interposed the lord chancellor,
rebukingly; "remember, you are addressing His Royal Highness
Prince Caliban, Spouse, and Consort of Her Most Gracious Majesty,
Miranda!"
"Indeed! Then all I have to say, is, that her majesty has very
bad taste in the selection of a husband, unless, indeed, her wish
was to marry the ugliest man in the world, as she herself is the
most beautiful of women!"
Her majesty took not the slightest notice of this compliment, not
so much as a flatter of her drooping eye-lashes betrayed that she
even heard it, but his highness laughed until he was perfectly
hoarse.
"Silence!" shouted the duke, shocked and indignant at this
glaring disrespect, "and answer truthfully the questions put to
you. Your name, you say, is Sir Norman Kingsley?"
"Yes. Has your grace any objection to it?"
His grace waved down the interruption with a dignified wave of
the hand, and went on with were judicial dignity.
"You are the same who shot Lord Ashley between this and the city,
some hours ago?"
"I had the pleasure of shooting a highwayman there, and my only
regret is, I did not perform the same good office by his
companion, in the person of your noble self, before you turned
and fled."
A slight titter ran round the room, and the duke turned crimson.
"These remarks are impertinent, and not to the purpose. You are
the murderer of Lord Ashley, let that suffice. Probably you were
on your way hither when you did the deed?"
"He was," said the dwarf, vindictively. "I met him at the Golden
Crown but a short time after."
"Very well, that is another point settled, and either of them is
strong enough to seal his death warrant. You came here as a spy,
to see and hear and report - probably you were sent by King
Charles?"
"Probably - just think as you please about it!" said Sir Norman,
who knew his case was as desperate as it could be, and was quite
reckless what he answered.
"You admit that you are a spy, then?"
"No such thing. I have owned nothing. As I told you before, you
are welcome to put what construction you please on my actions."
"Sir Norman Kingsley, this is nonsensical equivocation! You own
you came to hear and see?"
"Well!"
"Well, hearing and seeing constitute spying, do they not?
Therefore, you are a spy."
"I confess it looks like it. What next?"
"Need you ask What is the fate of all spies?"
"No matter what they are in other places, I am pretty certain
what they are here!"
"And that is?"
"A room in black, and a chop with an axe -the Earl of
Gloucester's fate, in a word!"
"You have said it! Have you any reason why such a sentence
should not be pronounced on you?"
"None; pronounce it as soon as you like."
"With the greatest pleasure!" said the duke, who had been
scrawling on another ominous roll of vellum, and now passed it to
the dwarf. "I never knew anyone it gave me more delight to
condemn. Will your highness pass that to her majesty for
signature, and pronounce his sentence."
His highness, with a grin of most exquisite delight, did as
directed; and