I did not properly guess what a dreadful scene it would be, when the coffin was borne into the hall by four knights, and laid down on the daïs, and the lid opened, and the embalmed body of the fair child brought to view, clad in the cowl of the holy brethren of Saint Benedict, which was put on him just before he died. The holy Patriarch--I suppose he is holy, being a patriarch--held the holy censer, which he swung to and fro by the head of the coffin; and a royal chaplain at his side bore the bénitier, from which each of us, coming forward, took the asperge, and sprinkled the still face with holy water.
It was Lady Sybil's turn last, of course. But she, the poor mother, broke down utterly, and dropped the asperge, and if Guy had not sprung forward and caught her, I think she would have fainted and fallen on the coffin of her child. Oh, it was terrible!
Later in the evening, there was a family council, at which Count Raymond suggested--and Guy said it was an excellent idea--that Lady Sybil should convene a council of all the nobles, when her title should be solemnly recognised, and no room be left for any dissension about it in future. The council, therefore, will meet on Midsummer Day next, and at the same time it will be decided what to do after the truce with Saladin has expired.
I tapped at Lady Judith's door as I went up to bed.
"Well, holy Mother," said I, when I was inside, and the door shut, "what think you now of the Count of Tripoli?"
"What thinkest thou, Helena?" answered she.
"Truly, I hardly know what to think," I said. "He speaks fair."
I thought I detected the slightest possible emphasis on the verb.
"I think you mean something, holy Mother," said I bluntly.
"Helena, when the Lord Count was proposing the convention of the council, and all that was to follow, and Count Guy assented, and said he thought it a good idea,--didst thou happen to look at Count Raymond's face?"
"I did. And at the instant when Count Guy assented to his proposal, I caught one triumphant flash in his eyes. From that hour I was certain he meant mischief."
"What sort of mischief?" I asked fearfully.
"The Lord knoweth," quietly said she; "and the Lord reigneth, Helena. 'Wonderful are the ragings of the sea: wonderful in the heights is the Lord.'"