Had Eleanor but seen the expression of Ugglethred's countenance while she spoke thus, she could scarcely have resisted striking him to the earth, for never did a more demonaical spirit lurk in the human features. But he bent his glance on the floor, while he said, "Small temptation have I to quarrel with your grace, for methinks neither of us would be great gainers by that matter. What deed doth your highness require me to execute?"

"No deed of peril, my trusty Oliphant," replied Queen Eleanor; "remember that we are not now in Palestine, where we could find death in the probe of a lancet, and gratify our revenge by the cup in which we pledged our foe, and lay all these deeds at the door of the Infidel. But we can accomplish as much by watching and playing the eaves-dropper, and leave the accomplishment of our vengeance to others."

"A matter of no small convenience," said Ugglethred with a sneer. "But may I crave to know what this business is, so free of peril, that your grace wishes me to accomplish?"

"To keep a sharp eye on the king's actions," said Eleanor, "to watch him unobserved, and whenever he makes a visit of more than or

dinary length and to discover who dwells at the palace. Also to seek the favour of the Chancellor Becket's domestics, and without seeming to enquire, gather all that can be known of his actions, designs, and secrets.”

"That is not all," said Ugglethred after a deep pause, and fixing his deep-sunk eyes on the Queen as he spoke, "I must know why you wish me to do this-become acquainted with the secret you seem so anxious to obtain, and even the very suspicions you harbour against the King: without this knowledge, I may hunt in a wrong slot."

The Queen glanced darkly upon him, and was about to burst into one of those fits of passion which she too frequently indulged in. But she well knew the character of the man before her, and had trusted him too deeply to break with him on trifles; and she thus proceeded: "If I err not, Henry hath found some

one among the pale-cheeked daughters of this cold island, in whose company he taketh more delight than becometh a wedded king."

"A fault common to both kings and queens," answered Ugglethred looking more than he seemed to express, and half speaking to himself.

SO

"Speak no more on those matters," replied the angry Queen, her conscience taking fire at the slightest allusion to the subject of her divorce, and too often construing things in her own mind to that purpose, when the thoughts of the speaker were wandering on matters the most remote to what she imagined, constant an accuser is conscience. "Speak no more on that matter," continued she, raising her voice, "if thou lovest thyself. Thinkest thou that I should slumber the less easy if I even shared my couch with my rival? Marry, not a jot. But let him once become a slave to her beauty, and she will soon share his power; this alone is what I dread. I care not if a thousand share his love whilst I direct his thoughts. I will be king as well as queen, and to obtain

this power, I must become acquainted with all his secrets."

"Is your highness sure that a knowledge of these things will accomplish the objects at which you aim?" inquired Oliphant; "bethink you, he hath banished his high-minded and meddling mother Matilda to Normandy. He is no hawk to be blinded like Louis of France, and left to beat his wings on the empty air, and come at the first whistle that reclaims him. I did but steal unawares upon him and Becket a day or two agone, and, by the horned hoof of Beelzebub! he struck me such a blow with only his hawking glove, that if he had chanced to have worn his gauntlet, (and there is any truth in the doctrines which these lazy monks teach,) I should now have been reaping the rewards I have earned in your service in penal flames."

"And callest thou thyself a man," said Eleanor with unutterable scorn, "and fearest a blow?-By St. Paul and I were thou, I would hover over the quarry a whole moon, but I would find out my time to pounce upon it in safety,

were it but to cry quits for such an insult." So spoke this loving consort.

"My vengeance hath never long arisen before me as an accuser," replied Oliphant with a bitter frown, "and gone to slumber ungratified; but it behoveth even the serpent to keep aloof from the paw of the lion. But what wouldst thou that I should do?"

"Hie thee to Woodstock," said the jealous Queen," and dog the steps of the king at a safe distance; here is gold," added she, presenting him with twenty marks: "spare it not; neither neglect the slightest chance that offers itself of working thyself into the confidence of Henry's followers. Begone, and when thou hast gathered aught that may be worth communicating, speed hither thyself, or send some trusty messenger. Be bold, yet cautious, and as thou conductest thyself, look to be rewarded."

Oliphant Ugglethred shrugged up his shoulders, deposited the gold in the slip of his gaberdine, promised to fulfil the Queen's wishes without daring to look in her face,