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from behind it and opened the door. The Usher of the Black Rod, followed
by the officer carrying the cushion, got out of the carriage, and
addressed Gwynplaine.
"My lord, be pleased to alight. I beg your lordship to keep your hat
on."
Gwynplaine wore under his travelling cloak the suit of black silk, which
he had not changed since the previous evening. He had no sword. He left
his cloak in the carriage. Under the arched way of the King's Gate there
was a small side door raised some few steps above the road. In
ceremonial processions the greatest personage never walks first.
The Usher of the Black Rod, followed by his officer, walked first;
Gwynplaine followed. They ascended the steps, and entered by the side
door. Presently they were in a wide, circular room, with a pillar in the
centre, the lower part of a turret. The room, being on the ground floor,
was lighted by narrow windows in the pointed arches, which served but to
make darkness visible. Twilight often lends solemnity to a scene.
Obscurity is in itself majestic.
In this room, thirteen men, disposed in ranks, were standing--three in
the front row, six in the second row, and four behind. In the front row
one wore a crimson velvet gown; the other two, gowns of the same colour,
but of satin. All three had the arms of England embroidered on their
shoulders. The second rank wore tunics of white silk, each one having a
different coat of arms emblazoned in front. The last row were clad in
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