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son's wedding,” he grumbled to Empson, “I daresay we are expected to lay out a little.”
    “That is so, Sire,” was the answer.
    “Let us hope that we shall have the revenues to meet this occasion,” sighed the King; and Empson decided that he would raise certain fines to meet the extra expense.
    Henry smiled wryly, but he was in fact delighted because his son was acquiring one of the richest Princesses in Europe. It was a good thing that this little island should be allied to the greatest power in the world, and what better tie could there be than through marriage?
    Heirs were what were needed and, once this girl provided them, all well and good. But he was a little anxious about her. Her brother, the heir of Spain, had died shortly after his marriage. Exhausted by being a husband, it was said in some quarters. He hoped Katharine was of stronger health. And if
she
were… what of his own Arthur? Arthur's cough and spitting of blood denoted weakness. They would have to take great care of Arthur, and he was not yet fifteen. Was it too young to tax his strength with a bride?
    He had not consulted his physicians; he consulted no one; he and he alone would decide whether the marriage should be consummated immediately, or whether the royal couple should wait for a few months, or perhaps a year.
    Young people, he mused, might indulge unwisely in the act of love. They might have no restraint. Not that he believed this would be the case with Arthur. Had it been Henry, it would have been another matter; but then there would have been no cause for anxiety on that account where Henry was concerned. But what of the Infanta? Was she a lusty young woman? Or was she sickly like her elder sister who had recently died in childbirth?
    The more the King pondered this matter, the more eager he was to meet the Infanta.
    THERE WAS consternation in the Infanta's party.
    A message had been brought to Ayala stating that the King was on his way to meet his son's bride, who had stayed that night at the residence of the Bishop of Bath in Dogmersfield and was some fifteen leagues from London Bridge.
    Ayala did not pass on the news to Puebla. Indeed he was determined to keep it from the man—not only because he disliked him and never lost an opportunity of insulting him, but because he really did believe that Puebla was more ready to serve Henry VII of England than Isabella and Ferdinand of Spain.
    Instead he sought out Elvira Manuel.
    “The King is on his way to meet us,” he told her abruptly. “He wishes to see the Infanta.”
    “That is quite impossible,” retorted Elvira. “You know the instructions of their Highnesses.”
    “I do. The Infanta is not to be seen by her bridegroom or anyone at the English Court until she is a wife. She is to remain veiled until after the ceremony.”
    “I am determined,” said Elvira, “to obey the commands of the King and Queen of Spain, no matter what are the wishes of the King of England.”
    “I wonder what Henry will say to that.” Ayala smiled somewhat mischievously, for he found the situation piquant and amusing.
    “There is one thing that must be done,” said Elvira. “To prevent discord, you should go ahead and explain to the King.”
    “I will leave at once,” Ayala told her. “In the meantime you should warn the Infanta.”
    Ayala set out on the road to East Hampstead; and Elvira, her lips pursed with determination, prepared herself to do battle.
    She went to Katharine and told her that the King would make an attempt to see her, and that on no account must he succeed.
    Katharine was disturbed. She was afraid that the King of England might consider her extremely discourteous if she refused to receive him.
    WHEN ARTHUR JOINED his father at East Hampstead, Henry noticed that his son looked wan and worried.
    No, the King decided, the marriage shall not be consummated for a year. In any case I doubt whether Arthur would be capable of consummating it.
    “Put your shoulders back, boy,”