with them against Catharine, and I dare say her
worst enemy, for he makes use of love against her. Some treachery or
knavery is concealed behind this. Either the man to whom this letter is
addressed is deceived--and he is unintentionally a tool in the hands of
the papists--or he is in league with them, and has given himself up to
the villainy of playing the part of a lover to the queen. But who can he
be? Perchance, Thomas Seymour. It were possible; for he has a cold and
deceitful heart, and he would be capable of such treachery. But woe be
to him if it is he! Then it will be I who accuses him to the king; and,
by God! his head shall fall! Now away to the king!"

Just as he entered the king's anteroom, the door of the cabinet opened,
and the Duchess of Richmond, accompanied by Earl Douglas, walked out.

Lady Jane and Gardiner were standing, as if by accident, near the door.

"Well, have we attained our end there also?" asked Gardiner.

"We have attained it," said Earl Douglas. "The duchess has accused her
brother of a liaison with the queen. She has deposed that he sometimes
leaves the palace by night, and does not return to it before morning.
She has declared that for four nights she herself dogged her brother and
saw him as he entered the wing of the castle occupied by the queen; and
one of the queen's maids has communicated to the duchess that the queen
was not in her room on that night."

"And the king listened to the accusation, and did not throttle you in
his wrath!"

"He is just in that dull state of rage in which the lava that the crater
will afterward pour forth, is just prepared. As yet all is quiet, but be
sure there will be an eruption, and the stream of red-hot lava will busy
those who have dared excite the god Vulcan."

"And does he know about the rosette?" asked Lady Jane.

"He knows everything. And until that moment he will allow no one to
suspect his wrath and fury. He says he will make the queen perfectly
secure, in order to get into his hands thereby sure proof of her guilt.
Well, we will furnish him this evidence; and hence it follows that the
queen is inevitably lost."

"But hark! The doors are opened, and the master of ceremonies comes to
summon us to the golden gallery."

"Just walk in," muttered John Heywood, gliding along behind them. "I am
still here; and I will be the mouse that gnaws the net in which you want
to catch my noble-minded lioness."

CHAPTER XXV. THE QUEEN'S ROSET