The man at Sir Amyas' staircase looked across
the court and idly wondered what was passing in the rooms opposite on
the first floor where the Queen was lodged. He had heard that the priest
had been forced to change his room, and was to sleep in Mr. Melville's
for the present; so her Grace would have to get on without him as well
as she could. There would be no Popish mass to-morrow, then, in the
oratory that he had heard was made upstairs.... He marvelled at the
superstition that made this a burden....
At a quarter before six a trumpet blew, and presently the tall windows
of the hall across the court from him began to kindle. That was for her
Grace's supper to be served. At five minutes to six another trumpet
sounded, and M. Landet, the Queen's butler, hurried out with his white
rod to take his place for the entrance of the dishes. Finally, through
the ground-floor window at the foot of the Queen's stair, the man caught
a glimpse of moving figures passing towards the hall. That would be her
Grace going in state to her supper with her women; but, for the first
time, without either priest to say grace or steward to escort her. He
saw, too, the couple of guards under the inner archway come to the
salute as the little procession came for an instant within their view;
and Mr. Newrins, the butler of the castle, stop suddenly and pull off
his cap as he was hurrying in to be in time for the supper of the
gentlemen that was served in the keep half an hour after the Queen's.
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