But now that it was done and he had sent back the money in scorn, as
she clearly understood in spite of her knight's flowery speeches, she
felt the shame of having treated a poor gentleman like a poor servant,
and then the certainty that he must believe her ungrateful began to
torment her, so that she thought of his face, and longed to see him
with all her heart. For Beatrix's sake and her own honour she would not
send for him; but she called one of her women and sent for the Lady
Anne of Auch, who bore the standard of the ladies' troop, the same who
had stopped her horse without a fall. In her the Queen had great faith
for her wisdom, for she had a man's thoughts with a woman's heart.
She came presently, tall and grave as a stately cypress among silver
birches and shimmering white poplar trees.
"I have sent for you to ask you a question," the Queen began, "or,
perhaps, to ask your advice."
The Lady Anne bowed her head, and when Eleanor pointed to a folding-
stool beside her, she sat down and waited, fixing her black eyes on a
distant part of the tent.
"You saw that young Englishman who stopped my horse," the Queen began.
"I wish to reward him. I have sent him five hundred pieces of gold, and
he has refused to receive the gift."
The black eyes turned steadily to the Queen's face, gazed at her for a
moment, and then looked away again, while not a feature moved. There
was silence, for Anne of Auch said nothing while Eleanor waited.
"What shall I do now?" Eleanor asked after a long pause.
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