And there were to be seen, besides the crucifix and the Mass-book, a profusion of small vessels of gold and crystal, containing the relics, supposed or real, of saint and martyr, treasures which the deposed king had collected in his palmier days at a sum that, in the minds of his followers, had been better bestowed on arms and war-steeds.

A young man named Allerton--one of the three gentlemen personally attached to Henry, to whom Edward had permitted general access, and who, in fact, lodged in other apartments of the Wakefield Tower, and might be said to share his captivity--was seated before a table, and following the steps of his musing master, with earnest and watchful eyes.
One of the small spaniels employed in springing game--for Henry, despite his mildness, had been fond of all the sports of the field--lay curled round on the floor, but started up, with a shrill bark, at the entrance of the bearer of the model, while a starling in a cage by the window, seemingly delighted at the disturbance, flapped his wings, and screamed out, "Bad men! Bad world! Poor Henry!" The captive paused at that cry, and a sad and patient smile of inexpressible melancholy and sweetness hovered over his lips.

Henry still retained much of the personal comeliness he possessed at the time when Margaret of Anjou, the theme of minstrel and minne singer, left her native court of poets for the fatal throne of England.

But beauty, usually so popular and precious a gift to kings, was not in him of that order which commanded the eye and moved the admiration of a turbulent people and a haughty chivalry.

The features, if regular, were small; their expression meek and timid; the form, though tall, was not firm-knit and muscular; the lower limbs were too thin, the body had too much flesh, the delicate hands betrayed the sickly paleness of feeble health; there was a dreamy vagueness in the clear soft blue eyes, and a listless absence of all energy in the habitual bend, the slow, heavy, sauntering tread,--all about that benevolent aspect, that soft voice, that resigned mien, and gentle manner, spoke the exquisite, unresisting goodness, which provoked the lewd to taunt, the hardy to despise, the insolent to rebel; for the foes of a king in stormy times are often less his vices than his virtues.
"And now, good my lord," said Adam, hastening, with eager hands, to assist the bearer in depositing the model on the table--"now will I explain to you the contrivance which it hath cost me long years of patient toil to shape from thought into this iron form." "But first," said Allerton, "were it not well that these good people withdrew?
A contriver likes not others to learn his secret ere the time hath come to reap its profits." "Surely, surely!" said Adam, and alarmed at the idea thus suggested, he threw the folds of his gown over the model.
The attendant bowed and retired; Hugh followed him, but not till he had exchanged a significant look with Allerton.