Over all was self-infatuation, the bane of princes, the curse of greatness, the source of wide injustice.

It was not to be expected, as Leicester had said, that Elizabeth, save for the whim of the moment, would turn aside to confer benefit upon Angele or to keep her in mind, unless constrained to do so for some political reason.
The girl had charmed the Queen, had, by saving her life, made England her long debtor; but Leicester had judged rightly in believing that the Queen might find the debt irksome; that her gratitude would be corroded by other destructive emotions.

It was true that Angele had saved her life, but Michel had charmed her eye.

He had proved himself a more gallant fighter than any in her kingdom; and had done it, as he had said, in her honour.

So, as her admiration for Michel grew, her debt to Angele became burdensome; and, despite her will, there stole into her mind the old petulance and smothered anger against beauty and love and marriage.