It is monstrous- incredible!"
It is--it is! " replied Anne.
"And now farewell," said Henry. "I have stayed longer than I intended,
and I should not have mentioned these accusations, which I regard as
wholly groundless, unless you had reproached me."
And he quitted the chamber, leaving Anne in a strange state of
perplexity and terror.
V. What happened at the Jousts.
The first of May arrived; and though destined to set in darkness and
despair, it arose in sunshine and smiles.
All were astir at an early hour within the castle, and preparations were
made for the approaching show. Lists were erected in the upper
quadrangle, and the whole of the vast area was strewn with sand. In
front of the royal lodgings was raised a gallery, the centre of which,
being set apart for the queen and her dames, was covered with cloth of
gold and crimson velvet, on which the royal arms were gorgeously
emblazoned. The two wings were likewise richly decorated, and
adorned with scutcheons and pennons, while from the battlements of
the eastern side of the court were hung a couple of long flags.
As soon as these preparations were completed, a throng of pages,
esquires, armourers, archers, and henchmen, entered it from the
Norman gateway, and took up positions within the barriers, the space
without the pales being kept by a double line of halberdiers.
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