"It is very beautiful, and the stars are very bright tonight; but where
are we going?"
"You will soon find out."
Finding his royal companion so uncommunicative, Elfric remained silent,
trusting that a few minutes would unravel the mystery.
But an hour had passed, during which the boat steadily progressed up
stream, before the watermen pulled in for the shore, and a dark building
loomed before them in dim shadow.
"Here is the place," said Edwy. "Be ready, my men, to take us back about
midnight, or a little later;" and he threw some pieces of money amongst
them.
Passing through a large garden, they arrived at a porch before a stout
door garnished with knobs of iron, which might bid defiance to thief or
burglar.
"Whose house is this?" asked Elfric.
"Wait; you shall soon see."
The loud knocking Edwy made at the door soon brought some domestics,
who, opening a small wicket, discovered the identity of their principal
visitor, and immediately threw open the door.
"Thanks," said Edwy; "we were almost frozen."
Passing through a kind of atrium--for the old Roman fashion was still
sometimes followed in this particular--the domestics ushered the
visitors into a room brilliantly lighted by torches stuck in cressets
projecting from the walls, and by huge wax candles upon a table spread
for a feast. The light revealed a small but apparently select party, who
seemed to await the prince: a lady, who appeared to be the mistress of
the mansion; a young girl apparently about the age of Edwy, who, calling
her his fair cousin, saluted her fondly; and two or three youths, whose
gaudy dress and affected manners were strongly in contrast with the
stern simplicity of the times.
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