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Tell him the Lady Margherita came at risk of life in this disguise to put his true men on the quest. Tell him " She was interrupted by an exclamation. "Margherita! the Lady de Iblin thus!" The Bernardini had just entered the court of the Palace.
The details of this romantic intrigue were not known until long afterward in the court-circle, except by the few who had intercepted and frustrated the carefully-laid plans; but there were many hints of some concealed happening of deep interest which made delightful themes for romantic conjecture whenever the younger maids of honor found themselves happily without the dignified supervision of the Lady of the Bernardini and Madama di Thénouris, or the equally-to-be-evaded younger maid-of-honor, Margherita de Iblin.
But the Lord of Iblin would bring his speech to its conclusion and have his say before them all, thus kneeling as if it were a rendering of his trust, a fitting close to a so loyal life. The words of his Swan-Song had been chanted in full, rare, solemn harmony the lutes in gracious melody accompanying, like an undertone of love slow tears down dropping from the eyes of Margherita.
But when they were riding side by side again, and the city was coming nearer, he would not be put off for any whim of hers. "If thou hast discovered my secret which I would fain know most worshipful Dama Margherita, I would that thou shouldst proclaim it wherever thy tongue listeth. 'Quel che Iblin è, non si può trovar!"
He kissed her hand again as he released it. "I spoke but to try thee, my child. If there are those near her whom we may not trust it is not thou: I know that a de Iblin could not be disloyal." "To try me my Lord ! Me!" She had drawn away from him, wounded and disdainful, her voice thrilling with anger. But he answered her quietly and sorrowfully.
The guardian's faith and devotion were sketched in rapid strokes; and when the tiny King had been crowned and his knights and barons of Cyprus and Jerusalem had sworn him fealty, the souls of her listeners swelled indignant within them as Dama Margherita thrilled forth the challenge of the Emperor to the Lord of Iblin to lay down his trust and surrender the child with the customs of Cyprus to him their Suzerain until the boy should be of age.
The Emperor's acceptance of the terms from fear or wile, or because of new wars pressing in his own lands: his promise to leave the customs of the realm to Cyprus: and then, as Suzerain, his swift summons to the Lord of Iblin to join him in Crusade with men and arms. But the friends of the faithful guardian close round him and the chant of Margherita grows fierce and ominous: "Beware!
But the Queen's guard, in the Queen's palace, can have but one mind to uphold her cause!" There was no other voice in all Cyprus so tender, so compelling, so magnetic, so all-convincing; the voice revealed her. "Dama Margherita de Iblin!" was echoed about the court in surprise. The news spread.
The name of Joan of Iblin was revered in Cyprus and the Queen turned towards Margherita with some comprehension of her pride in the nobility of this ancestor who had spent himself in loyal service for the early Kings of Cyprus, touching her hand with a light pressure, smiling her approbation.
He knew that the old Cyprian proverb, "Such another as Iblin is, may not be found," was the pride of her house, and would reach the tenderest spot in her loyal heart. She turned to him gravely: "Dear Signor Bernardini, let it not be spoken between us," she said. "For the Queen hath sore need of us of our every thought and care." "Might we not serve her better so?" he pleaded.
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