" I accusé the count—" began the princess. Manrienne interrupted her, " Petronilla my accuser! Then am I lost indeed. I had hoped to hear her eloquent lips plead my excuse." "Nay ! nay !" said Eleanor,striking the velvet turf with her tiny foot. "The court forbids these disorderly proceed-ings. Henry de Blois, arrest thou the Count Maurienne at the complaint of the princess, bind his hands with this string of pearls, and confront him with his accuser. Our brave "Warrenne, take thy spear and stand senti-nel by yon copse. A prowling Saracen would make an awkward addition to our goodly company. Knights and ladies, recline at ease upon these verdant cushions. "When the cause of this culprit shall have received verdict, per-chance your own delinquencies may pass review." " Heaven forefend !" exclaimed a chorus of voices, mingling ejaculations with merry laughter and gay pas-quinade. The queen, now in her element, succeeded in quelling the tumultuous mirth, though an occasional titter was elicited by the solemn visages of Maurienne and Petronilla, who played their part to admiration. ""Where is the petulant Peyrol?" inquired the queen, looking round the circle, " we can no more proceed with our important affairs without the aid of song than could the prophet without the inspiration of music." " Peyrol, my liege, attends upon the king," replied a Spanish cavalier, who had recently rode so constantly by the side of the queerTthat the courtiers dubbed him her saddle-beau. " Gonzalvo," returned Eleanor, " we have heard that thou stringest a lute upon occasion. Let not our pastime be marred by the defection of this truant boy. Give us a Moorish ballad, if thy memoiy serves thee with nothing better. Our royal spouse will be here anon and summon us to prayers." " I am but a poor pilgrim, and little skilled in the ' Joy-ous Science,' " said the Spaniard, with affected modesty ; ELEANOR. 137