Madera Union High School - Blue and White Yearbook (Madera, CA)

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PURPLE AND WHITE he that he should speak thus to me? Because he is a King, is he any the ‘ better than 1?) A fool—not worth a hanging—a fool!” 4 A light hand touched the Jester on his shoulder. He started, then rose quickly, for before him, stood the Earl of Lanchaster. “Thou hast a sullen expression, Fool, I thot that thou wert a Jester,”’ $ “Yea, | am a Jester, but I am also a man,’”’ and the Fool raised his head proudly. The Earl looked at him keenly, “Thou art a man,’’ he answered so- berly, “but Richard does not treat thee as such.” “Nay, he treats me as the dirt beneath his feet. 1 am not e’en worth the trouble of a hanging.” “Thou heardest what he said. What if I am but a Jester and he a King, does it make me less a man?”’ The Fool stopped abruptly; he had, for the moment forgotten himself. The Earl answered slowly, “Yea, the king is unjust, but, for all that, he is your king,’ and he shot a quick glance at the Fool to note the effect of his remark. The Jester turned passionately, ‘““Would to Heaven he were not! Would to Heaven he were an exile in a foreign land, serving a harsh master as I am!” “Then thou wert not always a Jester, a Fool?’”’ asked the Earl in sur- prise. The Jester raised his head proudly, “‘Nay, I was the Duke of Neup- berg, but that was before Charles conquered Austria and exiled me for re- bellion. Butsee what] am now! A Jester! A Fool! To this have I sunk!” The Earl’s eyes lighted. ‘‘Thou,’’ he exclaimed, phew ukemmon Neupberg! Forsooth and I think I can help you, my friend, if | may call you such. Thou knowest that I am the rightful heir to the throne of England and that for these three years have been seeking to take it from Richard, dost not? Now, if I can gain the throne, thou shalt have thy dukedom. The Emperor Charles will not refuse so small a boon to the King of all England. The Jester turned as a man who sees hope, yet dares not believe. “Speakest thou truly? speakest thou truly?’’ and he grasped the Earl by the arm in this sudden hope. “Forsooth and I do, my friend. Thou shalt have thy dukedom e’er as | have my kingdom. But knowest thou how I may defeat Richard?” ““Yea,’’ answered the Jester eagerly. “All thou needst is the secret formula for the gunpowder.”’ “Thou art right and ’tis to obtain this formula I came to Richard on the pretext of peace and endured the humiliation of this visit. Thou art Rich- ard’s favorite jester, I take it?”’ The Fool nodded, ‘‘When | anger him not.” “Thou knowest where he keeps this formula? ”’ “Aye, though ’twas only by accident I discovered it. ’Twas one after- noon when the king had sent for me and, as I stood without the door of his bed chamber, I saw him put a roll of parchment in a tiny cupboard most clev- erly contrived in the wall. When he heard my step, he snapped the door shut and locked it.’’ “And the lock is in plain view?” a I RA a RR OES! —9 =

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PURPLE AND WHITE ai J, @ MLSS AWWNS!

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PURPLE AND WHITE “Nay, a picture hangs over it.”’ “And the key?” “Is on a chain around the king’s neck,’’ came the reply. “Thinkst thou canst get it?”’ The Fool hesitated, ‘“‘The King is angry with me. Thou heardest him command me not to come into his sight again. I dare not go near his apartment now.” The Earl considered, ‘‘First then, you must be restored to the king’s good graces. Hast any idea how this may be accomplished?” The Jester shook his head, ‘Not unless, Fate intervenes. Tonight, thou knowest, there is to be a great feast in thy honor. Thou hast met the Archbishop of Canterbury, Sir Wiley, hast not? Forsooth, but the king hateth that man for he will not do Richard’s command in any matter and Richard dare not punish him for fear of the pope. If 1 can, in any way, ridi- cule this man or make him the laughing stock of the court, the king will for- get all. ’Tis my only chance.’ The Earl nodded, ‘‘ ’Tis well; do your best and if | find any way to aid you, I will do my best. But the hour grows late and Richard awaits me; he will be wondering at my long delay,’’ and he grasped the Fool’s hand in a warm clasp for a moment, then vanished in the fast gathering dusk. Richard was noted over the entire continent for his princely entertain- ments in honor of visiting nobles, but none ever approached the splendor of that given in honor of the Earl of Lanchaster. The Court of Gaety was the scene of the feast and had been decorated especially for the event by the great- est artists of Europe. Long ropes of flowers had been entwined about the columns and their soft petals kept drifting downward until all the brilliant as- semblage beneath were adorned with their fragrant leaves. Under the ar- cades, the fountains splashed and tinkled merrily, for Jollity reigned supreme. At the foot of the King’s table, in his usual seat, sat the Jester, and next to him was the archbishop of Canterbury, who was very fond of making sport of the Fool and soon began his favorite form of amusement. “Heigho, Sir Fool, what is this | hear of thee? Didst call the King and the Earl “love birds’?” ‘“‘Forsooth, that I did,’’ said the Fool. “Thinkest the King will hang thee? ”’ “Nay, he wishes not to deprive thee of thy favorite sport.”’ The bishop rubbed his hand complacently, “Ho, then, thou thinkest the king desires my friendship, Fool?” ANC mULIAUeeRCO eS “And pray tell me, why does Richard desire not my enemity?”’ “Because he feareth an angry Gossip,” said the Jester, knowing well that the bishop’s love of Gossip was a joke to the court and a sore spot to the bishop. A titter ran around the table and the bishop flushed angrily. “T like to sit n ext to an impudent fool,’’ he remarked. “But I do not mind doing so,”’ retorted the Jester. The titter swelled into a laugh in which the king joined right heartily and the Jester, knowing he was now restored to Richard’s good graces, relaxed his efforts and bothered the bishop no more. T’was after midnight ere the company parted and the Earl paused for a moment beside the Jester, ‘ “Twas right cleverly done, my friend,’’ said he, “meet me tomorrow at dawn in the rose garden and we will plan further.” 96