Page:Ten Years Later 2.djvu/70

60 TEN YEAKS LATER. Not a single detail escaped Eaoul's attention; he had heard both Buckingham's entreaty and the princess" reply, he had remarked Buckingham retire, had heard his deep sigh, and saw him pass his hand across his face. He under- stood everything, and trembled as he reflected on the posi- tion of affairs, and the state of the minds of those about him. At last the admiral, with studied delay, gave the last directions for the departure of the boats. Buckingham heard the directions given with such an exhibition of de- light that a stranger would almost have imagined the young man's reason was affected. As the Duke of Norfolk gave his orders, a large boat or barge, decked with flags, and capable of holding about twenty rowers and fifteen pas- sengers, was slowly lowered from the side of the admiral's vessel. The barge was carpeted with velvet and decorated with coverings embroidered with the arms of Englajid, and with garlands of flowers; for, at that time, signs and par- ables were cultivated freely enough. No sooner was the boat afloat, and the rowers, with oars uplifted, awaiting, like soldiers presenting arms, the embarkation of the princess, than Buckingham ran forward to the ladder in order to take his place in the boat. His progress was, how- ever, arrested by the queen. "My lord," she said, "it is hardly becoming that you should allow my daughter and myself to laud without hav- ing previously ascertained that our apartments are properly prepared. I beg your lordship to be good enough to pre- cede us ashore, and to give directions that everything be in proper order on our arrival." This was a fresh disappointment for the duke, and still more so since it was so unexpected. He hesitated, colored violently, but could not reply. He had thought he might be able to keep near madame during the passage to the shore, and, by this means, to enjoy to the very last moment the brief period which fortune still reserved for him. The order, however, was explicit; and the admiral, who heard it given, immediately called out: "Launch the ship's gig!" His directions were executed with that celerity which distinguishes every maneuver on board a man-of-war. Buckingham, in utter helplessness, cast a look of despair at the princess, of supplication toward the queen, and di- rected a glance full of anger toward the admiral. The princess pretended not to notice him, while the queen turned aside her head, and the admiral laughed outright.