With hasty hand he touched the gold bell standing by him, and his
face brightened as he saw the door open immediately, and Earl
Douglas make his appearance on the threshold.
"Oh, at length!" said the lord, who had very well understood the
expression of Henry's features; "at length, the king condescends to
be gracious to his people."
"I gracious?" asked the king, utterly astonished. "Well, how am I
so?"
"By your majesty's resting at length from his exertions, and giving
a little thought to his valuable and needful health. When you
remember, sire, that England's weal depends solely and alone on the
weal of her king, and that you must be and remain healthy, that your
people, likewise may be healthy."
The king smiled with satisfaction. It never came into his head to
doubt the earl's words. It seemed to him perfectly natural that the
weal of his people depended on his person; but yet it was always a
lofty and beautiful song, and he loved to have his courtiers repeat
it.
The king, as we have said, smiled, but there was something unusual
in that smile, which did not escape the earl.
"He is in the condition of a hungry anaconda," said Earl Douglas to
himself. "He is on the watch for prey, and he will be bright and
lively again just as soon as he has tasted a little human flesh and
blood. Ah, luckily we are well supplied in that way. Therefore, we
will render unto the king what is the king's. But we must be
cautious and go to work warily.
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