d at him blankly a moment. Then a sudden uneasy memory awakened
by his words, she drew him forward to a window embrasure apart from
those who had stood about her, and for greater security addressed him,
as he tells us, in Italian.

"I do not think I understand you, sir. Will you be plain with me?" She
stood erect and stiff, and frowned upon him after the manner of her
bullying father. But de Quadra held the trumps, and was not easily
intimidated.

"About the prophecy?" said he. "Why, did not your Majesty foretell the
poor lady's death a full day before it came to pass? Did you not say
that she was already dead, or nearly so?"

He saw her blench; saw fear stare from those dark eyes that could be so
very bold. Then her ever-ready anger followed swiftly.

"'Sblood, man! What do you imply?" she cried, and went on without
waiting for his answer. "The poor woman was sick and ill, and must
soon have succumbed; it will no doubt be found that the accident which
anticipated nature was due to her condition."

Gently he shook his head, relishing her discomfiture, taking
satisfaction in torturing her who had flouted him and his master, in
punishing her whom he had every reason to believe guilty.

"Your Majesty, I fear, has been ill-informed on that score. The poor
lady was in excellent health--and like to have lived for many years--at
least, so I gather from Sir William Cecil, whose information is usually
exact."

She clutched his arm. "You told him what I had said?"

"It was indiscreet, perhaps. Yet, how was I to know...?" He left his
sentence there. "I but expressed my chagrin at your decision on the
score of the Archduke--hardly a wise decision, if I may be so bold," he
added slyly.

She caught the suggestion of a bargain, and became instantly suspicious.

"You transcend the duties of your office, my lord," she rebuked him, and
turned away.

But soon that night she was closeted with Dudley, and closely
questioning him about the affair. My lord was mightily vehement.

"I take Heaven to be my witness," quoth he, when she all but taxed him
with having procured his lady's death, "that I am innocent of any part
in it. My injunctions to Blount, who has gone to Cumnor, are that the
matter be sifted without respect to any person, and if it can be shown
that this is other than the accident I deem it, the murderer shall
hang."

She flung her arms about his neck, and laid her head on his shoulder.
"Oh, Robin, Robin, I am fu