The lion of Flanders. Vol. I

golden button, fluttered a transparent veil bespangled with thousands of gold and silver points, which hung down upon her palfrey's back, and waved to and fro, following her movements as she turned her head. She wore an upper garment of cloth-of-gold, reaching only to the knee, and open at the breast, where it showed a corset of blue velvet laced with silver. From beneath this vestment descended a robe of green satin, of such length that it not only covered her feet, but reached down over the flank of her palfrey so as at times even to sweep the ground. An almost magical effect was produced by this stuff, which changed its color with every movement of the wearer: at one moment it would seem, as the sun shone upon it, all yellow, as if it were woven of gold, then it would turn to blue, and then, again, it would shade off into green. On her bosom, where the two ends of a string of the finest pearls met, shone a plate of beaten gold, with the Black Lion of Flanders artistically carved upon it in jet. A girdle, also bespangled with gold, and with silk and silver tassels, was fastened round her waist by a clasp, in which flashed two rubies of great value.

The harness of the palfrey, profusely enriched as it was with studs, drops, and tassels of gold and silver, corresponded in magnificence with the dress of the rider; and with like splendor were the other ladies attired in changing stuffs of every varied hue under heaven.

The queen, with her retinue, rode slowly up, and turned her eyes with spiteful curiosity upon these Flemish dames, who glittered so brilliantly in the sun's rays. As soon as she had arrived within a certain distance, the ladies rode up to her at a stately pace, and greeted her with many courtly speeches; Matilda alone was silent, and regarded Joanna with a stern unbending countenance. It was impossible for her to show honor to a queen who had thrown her father into prison. Her feelings were plainly traceable on her features, and did not escape Joanna's notice. She looked Matilda imperiously in the face, thinking to make the Flemish maiden quail beneath her frown; but in this she found herself mistaken; for the young girl proudly threw back glance for glance, without lowering her eyelids, even for an instant, before the angry queen, whose displeasure at the sight of so much magnificence had now become too great to be concealed. With evident annoyance she turned her horse's head, and exclaimed, while casting a look of scorn upon the band of ladies:

"Look you, gentlemen, I thought that I alone was queen in France; but methinks our Flemish traitors whom we hold in prison are princes one and all; for here I see their wives and daughters dressed out like queens and princesses."

These words she spoke aloud, so as to be heard by the nobles about her, and even by some of the citizens; then, with ill-concealed vexation, she inquired of the knight who rode next her:

"But, Messire de Chatillon, who is this insolent girl before me, with the Lion of Flanders upon her breast; what doth that betoken?"

De Chatillon, drawing nearer to her, replied:

"It is Matilda, the daughter of Robert de Bethune."

And with these words he put his finger to his lips, as a sign to the queen to dissemble and keep silence—a sign which she well understood, and accepted with a smile, a smile full of treachery, hatred, and revenge.

Any one who might have been observing the Dean of the Clothworkers at this moment could not have failed to perceive the steadfastness with which his eye was fixed upon the queen: not the slightest shade had come or gone upon her brow, but Deconinck had noted it down upon the tablet of his memory. In her features, he had plainly divined her anger, her wishes, and her plans; he knew, moreover, that De Chatillon was chosen to be the instrument of her designs; and he immediately occupied himself in devising the readiest means for defeating their attempts, whether made by stratagem or by force.

The king and queen now dismounted from their horses, and ascended the throne which had been erected for them in the middle of the great square. Their esquires and ladies of honor arranged themselves in two rows upon the steps; the knights remained on horseback, and drew up round about the scaffolding. When every one was in his place, the magistrates came forward with the maidens who were to represent the city of Bruges, and offered the foreign rulers the keys of the gates upon a costly velvet cushion. At the same moment the two figures of Fame blew a fresh blast upon their trumpets, and the Lilyards again cried, "Long live the king! long live the queen!"

AH this time a dead silence reigned among the citizens; it seemed as though they affected indifference, that their dissatisfaction might be only the more thoroughly apparent; and in this they fully attained their aim, for Joanna was already turning indignantly in her mind how she might most effectually punish these insolent and disloyal subjects.

King Philip, who was of a less irritable temper, received the magistrates most affably, and promised to bestow his best consideration on all that might tend to the prosperity of Flanders. And this promise was no mere feigning; he was a generous prince and true knight, and might, under other circumstances, have been the blessing of his people both in France and Flanders. But there were two causes which completely neutralized all his good qualities. The first and worst of these was the influence of his imperious wife, who, whenever his better nature was about to prevail, came in like an evil spirit to turn him from good to evil. The other cause was his prodigality, which drove him on to use all