Perpetua folded her arms in silence as Lycabetta descended the steps, but Robert danced up to the Neapolitan antically.
"A marvel, a marvel," he carolled; "I have won the mad maid's heart."
Lycabetta stared at him. "Does Andromeda dote on the monster? Does Beauty love the Beast?"
Robert jigged and skipped in front of her, almost singing his words. If he had the fool's shape, he would play the fool's part to save Perpetua. "Bah, the husk belies the kernel. I am skilled in philtres--I can cast love spells as well as the straightest and the smoothest."
"Love-making has mended your wits," said Lycabetta. "So you no longer think yourself the King."
Robert laughed wildly. "King or no king," he gibbered, "I sway a maid's heart." He was playing his part bravely, for the air seemed full of voices calling, "Save Perpetua!"
"Does the girl accept you?" Lycabetta questioned.
"Accept me?" Robert echoed, gleefully. "I have so overcome her that she will woo me in season and out of season. I shall boast the most loving, patient spouse in Christendom. Mark, now, how my bird flies to a call. Come hither, rusticity."
He beckoned, and Perpetua moved slowly towards him, outwardly calm. "Do you take me for your lord and master?" he asked her.
Lycabetta looked at the girl's grave face in amaze. "This is a wonder," she said; "she seems spellbound."
Robert nodded joyously. "Why, I have cast the glamour upon her, and she will listen to me as the fish listened to St. Anthony. Will you swear to obey me, maiden?"
"Are you in league with the devil?" Lycabetta asked, astonished at the girl's acquiescence.
Robert grinned impishly. "I will not sell my secret. I suppose you do not care how I conquer the maid, so long as I do conquer her."
"So long as you do what the King wishes," Lycabetta answered, contemptuously.
"I swear I will do what the King wishes," Robert retorted. "She shall be humble enough, she shall be wise enough when I am done with her. You are skilled in mischief; but I still could be your school-master. Did you ever hear of Orpheus and his magic lute?"
"He could pipe so divinely," Robert related, "that all things must needs follow him, not merely men and women, birds and beasts, but silly stocks and stones; and your phlegmatic stay-at-home tree would needs uproot itself and skip to his jingle. Well, you shall see this intractable virgin follow, lamblike, when I pipe, as I lead the way to my hovel."