Part 120 (2/2)

There were puzzled looks, but the sage counsellors could not receive the right impression; they could only understand the reply in the sense that agreed with their present feelings. ”It is beautiful,” they whispered, ”when a young man of real gifts is genuinely modest.”

”Excuse me, gentlemen,” said Philip, ”I must go into my room.”

The Clerk of the Rolls followed him, saying--

”Ah! poor Tom Christian would have been a proud man this day--prouder than if the honour had been his own--ten thousand thousand times.”

”Have mercy, have mercy, and leave me alone,” said Philip.

”I didn't mean to offend you, Christian,” said the Clerk.

Philip put one hand affectionately on his shoulder. The eyes of the robustious fellow began to blink, and he returned to his colleagues.

There was a confused murmur beyond the farther wall of the room. It was the room kept for the Deemster when he held court in the council chamber. One of its two doors communicated with the bench. As usual, a constable kept this door. The man loosened his chain and removed his helmet. His head was grey.

”Is the Court-house full?” asked Philip.

The constable put his eye to the eye-hole. ”Crowded, your Excellency.

”Keep the pa.s.sages clear.”--”Yes, your Excellency.”

”Is the Clerk of the Court present?”--”He is, your Excellency.”

”And the jailor?”--”Downstairs, your Excellency.”

”Tell both they will be wanted.”

The constable turned the key of the door and left the room. Jem-y-Lord came puffing and perspiring.

”The ex-Governor is coming over by the green, sir. He'll be here in a moment.”

”My wig and gown, Jemmy,” said Philip.

”Deemster's wig, your Excellency?”--”Yes.”

”Last time you'll wear it, sir.”

”The last, indeed, my lad.”

There was a clash of steel outside, followed by the beat of drum.

”He's here,” said Jem-y-Lord.

Philip listened. The rattling noise came to him through opening doors and reverberating corridors like the trampling of a wave to a man imprisoned in a cave.

”She'll hear it, too.” That thought was with him constantly. In his mind's eye he was seeing Kate, crouching in the fire-seat of the palace room that was now her prison, and covering her ears to deaden the joyous sounds that broke the usual silence of the gloomy walls.

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