The Keepers of the People

CHAPTER IV

THE REVOLT OF THE PRINCESS AGNES

956Prince Ralph made haste to gather up the threads of ruling where he had dropped them, for he had governed Varandaleel before his journey to England, and the burden of sovereignty was heavy indeed on his father’s age. It was a laborious life; many hours of his day were spent in the council-chamber, where he heard the reports of the head-men of the districts, and discussed with them what was needful to be done. They never saw his face: since it was the fixed policy of the Princes to keep aloof from the people, a curtain divided the chamber into two, and they heard only his voice from beyond it. The business of the head-men done, the chosen mutes who moved up and down among the people, watching over their welfare, brought their reports written: a number of the mutes were taught to read and write: and all the while mute secretaries made note of the complaints that were brought, and of the measures to be taken. His night was often spent in long rides when he visited the districts to see that his orders were being obeyed; and now and again, disguised carefully, he would be away from the palace for days, wandering among the people, searching out injustice or oppression, learning for himself their temper and their needs. For the most part he pretended to be travelling from one end to the other of the country to visit friends; sometimes, when he needed to make a long stay in a village, he would pretend to be seeking a new abode for himself and his family. From this device it had come about that the punishment of the Princes had so often smitten the evildoer like a bolt from the blue, that the man who had done wrong was filled with a perpetual terror of a supernatural vengeance; and times and again it drove him to make amends for a crime that would never have been discovered. On his night rides Prince Ralph wore always a helmet of burnished gold, a shining coat of mail, and the flame-coloured mantle; for it was only by night that he was seen dimly by the people; and it seemed good to impress them by these insignia of power.