There was a considerable assembly of the greater barons anxious to see the trial of the money-lender, who, though present, was kept apart from Felix lest the two should arrange their defence.

The king was sleeping on a couch outside the booth in the shade; he was lying on his back breathing loudly with open mouth.

How different his appearance to the time when he sat on his splendid charger and reviewed his knights! A heavy meal had been succeeded by as heavy a slumber.

No one dared to disturb him; the assembly moved on tiptoe and conversed in whispers.

The experienced divined that the prisoners were certain to be condemned, for the king would wake with indigestion, and vent his uneasy sensations upon them.