Thou art in need of rest, and upon the eve of the festival of Easter thou wouldst never get nigh to the cardinal.

Thou art not fit for the long ride today.

In two days more thou wilt be in better case for the journey.

And I myself will be thy companion, for I have some friends in high places who will lend me their help; and it will be strange if together we cannot succeed in obtaining sight and speech of the cardinal, and proffering our petition.

Only wait these two days, that thou mayest be more fit for the fatigues lying before thee." Dalaber would fain have been off that moment, but he saw the force of Arthur's words; and, in truth, the long strain was telling heavily upon him, and as he stood he almost reeled from weakness.
He was in no fit state for another day's riding; and when Freda added her voice to that of Arthur, he consented to put off his journey until after Easter.
Yet he looked straight into her eyes in making this concession, and added firmly: "But when the time comes I must go.