, HOLLAND, and SAVILE go out._

_Strafford._ She knows it?

_Lady Carlisle._ Tell me, Strafford!

_Strafford._ Afterward!
This moment's the great moment of all time.
She knows my purpose?

_Lady Carlisle._ Thoroughly: just now
She bade me hide it from you.

_Strafford._ Quick, dear child,
The whole o' the scheme?

_Lady Carlisle._ (Ah, he would learn if they
Connive at Pym's procedure! Could they but
Have once apprised the King! But there's no time
For falsehood, now.) Strafford, the whole is known.

_Strafford._ Known and approved?

_Lady Carlisle._ Hardly discountenanced.

_Strafford._ And the King--say, the King consents as well?

_Lady Carlisle._ The King's not yet informed, but will not dare
To interpose.

_Strafford._ What need to wait him, then?
He'll sanction it! I stayed, child, tell him, long!
It vexed me to the soul--this waiting here.
You know him, there's no counting on the King.
Tell him I waited long!

_Lady Carlisle._ (What can he mean?
Rejoice at the King's hollowness?)

_Strafford._ I knew
They would be glad of it,--all over once,
I knew they would be glad: but he'd contrive,
The Queen and he, to mar, by helping it,
An angel's making.

_Lady Carlisle._ (Is he mad?) Dear Strafford,
You were not wont to look so happy.

_Strafford._ Sweet,
I tried obedience thoroughly. I took
The King's wild plan: of course, ere I could reach
My army, Conway ruined it. I drew
The wrecks together, raised all heaven and earth,
And would have fought the Scots: the King at once
Made truce with them. Then, Lucy, then, dear child,
God put it in my mind to love, serve, die
For Charles, but never to obey him more!
While he endured their insolence at Ripon
I fell on them at Durham. But you'll tell
The King I waited? All the anteroom
Is filled with my adherents.

_Lady Carlisle._ Strafford--Strafford,
What daring act is this you hint?

_Strafford._ No, no!
'Tis here, not daring if you knew? all here!

[_Drawing papers from his breast._

Full proof, see, ample proof--does the Queen know
I have such damning proof? Bedford and Essex,
Brooke, Warwick, Savile (did you notice Savile?
The simper that I spoilt?), Saye, Mandeville--
Sold