Bays Speed, "could not seem more welcome than this friend was unto lidward. " Unfortunately the favourite had in nowise improved during1 his absence. Instead of endeavouring to soothe the barons by humiliation and a respectful bearing, he now assumed more magnificence than ever in his dress and style of living, was more proud and arrogant than heretofore, dispensed the royal favours only according to his own interest or whim, and, as he had formerly done, led his sovereign into a course of dissipation, greatly to the annoyance and injury of Isabella. The Queen, however, was not to be insulted with impunity : sending for Gaveston, she told him if he continued to annoy her and the barons, by leading the King out of the paths of virtue and rectitude, the vengeance of the nation would shortly fall upon him with terrible severity. " Tut !" replied Gaveston, " I should like to find the man who would dare touch a hair of my head, whilst the King is on my side ; besides, what have I done amiss ?" "Emptied the treasury," rejoined the Queen. " True," answered the minion, " by the King's desire." " Then," said the Queen, " you have disposed of the royal favours just as you pleased, and greatly to the injury of the nation, and the indignation of the barons." " This too," replied Gaveston, "I have done in compliance with the will of your royal husband." "And more," said the Queen, reddened with indignation, " you have grossly insulted Isabella, Queen of England." " How, fair lady ?" demanded the minion, with a mock bow and derisive smile, " Had you a spark of loyalty, or any manly respect for the feelings of the gentler sex, you, who, since your return from Flanders, have entirely deprived me of my husband's affections, would ti Λ now ask by what villany you have accomplished your diabolical purpose," angrily retorted the Queen. " Lady," replied Gaveston, " never before has either my loyalty or my gallantry been questioned. I know you despise me, therefore your accusations I spurn, your indignation laugh to scorn." " What ! minion ! would you insult me to my very face ?" exclaimed Isabella, with wrathful vehemence. "All that I have said I mean, lady, interpret it as you please," replied Gaveston, who, bowing adieu, quitted the apartment with an air of contemptuous indifference. The instant the haughty favourite had departed from her presence, Isabella, burning with rage, flew to the King, and complained to him of the insults she had just received from his unmanly minion. But Edward, so far from expressing a desire to avenge the wounded pride of his consort, treated the matter with an unfeeling indifference that provoked her indignation to that degree, that hastening into her chamber, she vented her feelings in a flood of tears, and immediately afterwards wrote a long epistle to her father, the King of Vranee, in which, after eloquently detailing her wrongs, she implored him to procure the downfall of Gaveston, declaring that the familiarity between that unworthy favourite and the Kin* was of a very criminal nature, and so completely alienated her husband's affections from her, that now he never entered her chamber neither by day nor by night. At this period the King of Erance exercised some considerable influence at the court, and in the councils of the nation; u and Edward, little dreaming that his dearest lord and father," as he obsequiously styles Philip the Fair, was urging and aiding the barons in their opposition, wrote him several letters explaining his conduct towards Gaveston, and requesting- his counsel, and assistance to quell the internal troubles of the kingdom.