Chapter XLII

17 min read

WAR!

I found Clarence alone in his quarters, drowned in melancholy; and in place of the electric light, he had reinstituted the ancient rag-lamp, and sat there in a grisly twilight with all curtains drawn tight. He sprang up and rushed for me eagerly, saying:

“Oh, it's worth a billion milrays to look upon a live person again!”

He knew me as easily as if I hadn't been disguised at all. Whichfrightened me; one may easily believe that.

“Quick, now, tell me the meaning of this fearful disaster,” I said.“How did it come about?”

“Well, if there hadn't been any Queen Guenever, it wouldn't havecome so early; but it would have come, anyway. It would havecome on your own account by and by; by luck, it happened to comeon the queen's.”

“And Sir Launcelot's?”

“Just so.”

“Give me the details.”

“I reckon you will grant that during some years there has been only one pair of eyes in these kingdoms that has not been looking steadily askance at the queen and Sir Launcelot--”

“Yes, King Arthur's.”

“--and only one heart that was without suspicion--”

“Yes--the king's; a heart that isn't capable of thinking evilof a friend.”

Chapter XLII

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