How could we expect it to be otherwise if the presence of the Maid were withdrawn?
These and a hundred other questions and conjectures were buzzing through the great hall.

Wonder and amaze was on every face.

The King himself looked grave for a moment; but then his smile shone out carelessly gay and confident.

He looked down at the Maid, and there was tender friendliness in his glance.

He spoke nothing to her at the first as to what she had said; he merely asked of her a question.
"My Chevaliere, my guardian angel, tell me this, I pray.