the hangings, saw and observed
everything, could not forbear a slight shudder at the sight of these
four men, whose dark and hard features seemed incapable of being touched
by any ray of pity or mercy.

There was first the king, that man with the Protean countenance, across
which storm and sunshine, God and the devil traced each minute new
lines; who could be now an inspired enthusiast, and now a bloodthirsty
tyrant; now a sentimental wit, and anon a wanton reveler; the king, on
whose constancy nobody, not even himself, could rely; ever ready, as it
suited his caprice or his interest, to betray his most faithful friend,
and to send to the scaffold to-day those whom but yesterday he had
caressed and assured of his unchanging affection; the king, who
considered himself privileged to indulge with impunity his low
appetites, his revengeful impulses, his bloodthirsty inclinations; who
was devout from vanity, because devotion afforded him an opportunity of
identifying himself with God, and of regarding himself in some sort the
patron of Deity.

There was Earl Douglas, the crafty courtier with ever-smiling face, who
seemed to love everybody, while in fact he hated all; who assumed the
appearance of perfect harmlessness, and seemed to be indifferent to
everything but pleasure, while nevertheless secretly he held in his
hand all the strings of that great net which encompassed alike court
and king--Earl Douglas, whom the king loved for this alone, because
he generally gave him the title of grand and wise high-priest of the
Church, and who was, notwithstanding this, Loyola's vicegerent, and a
true and faithful adherent of that pope who had damned the king as a
degenerate son and given him over to the wrath of God.

Lastly, there were the two men with dark, malignant looks, with
inflexible, stony faces, which u ere never lighted up by a smile, or
a gleam of joy; who always condemned, always punished, and whose
countenances never brightened save when the dying shriek of the
condemned, or the groans of some poor wretch upon the rack, fell upon
their ears; who were the tormentors of humanity, while they called
themselves the ministers and servants of God.

"Sire," said Gardiner, when the king had slowly taken his seat upon the
ottoman--"sire, let us first ask the blessing of the Lord our God on
this hour of conference. May God, who is love, but who is wrath also,
may He enlighten and bless us!"

The king devoutly folded his hand