Out of the way," and the officer lifted the lid of the pannier with the point of his dagger, and peered within.

He drew back, much disappointed.

"Holy Mother!" said he, "this seemeth more like an instrument of torture than a juggler's merry device.

It looks parlous ugly!" "Hush!" said one of the lazy bystanders, with whom the various gateways and courts of the Palace-Fortress were crowded, "hush--thy cap and thy knee, sir!" The officer started; and, looking round, perceived a young man of low stature, followed by three or four knights and nobles, slowly approaching towards the arch, and every cap in the vicinity was off, and every knee bowed.
The eye of this young man was already bent, with a searching and keen gaze, upon the motionless mule, standing patiently by the Wakefield Tower; and turning from the mule to the porter, the latter shrunk, and grew pale, at that dark, steady, penetrating eye, which seemed to pierce at once into the secrets and hearts of men.
"Who may this young lord be ?" he whispered to the officer.
"Prince Richard, Duke of Gloucester, man," was the answer.

"Uncover, varlet!" "Surely," said the prince, pausing by the gate, "surely this is no sumpter-mule, bearing provisions to the Lord Henry of Windsor.