's will.

"You have been playing the devil at a great rate," he said, "You have
disobeyed your brother and your king; have disgraced yourself; have
probably made trouble between us and France, for if Louis refuses to
take you now I will cram you down his throat; and by your own story
have led a good man to the block. Quite a budget of evils for one
woman to open. But I have noticed that the trouble a woman can make is
in proportion to her beauty, and no wonder my little sister has made
so much disturbance. It is strange, though, that he should so affect
you. Master Wolsey, surely there has been witchery here. He must have
used it abundantly to cast such a spell over my sister." Then turning
to the princess: "Was it at any time possible for him to have given
you a love powder; or did he ever make any signs or passes over you?"

"Oh, no! nothing of that sort. I never ate or drank anything which he
could possibly have touched. And as to signs and passes, I know he
never made any. Sir Edwin, you were always present when I was with him
until after we left for Bristol; did you ever see anything of the
sort?"

I answered "No," and she went on. "Besides, I do not believe much in
signs and passes. No one can affect others unless he can induce them
to eat or drink something in which he has placed a love powder or
potion. Then again, Master Brandon did not want me to love him, and
surely would not have used such a method to gain what he could have
had freely without it."

I noticed that Henry's mind had wandered from what Mary was saying,
and that his eyes were fixed upon me with a thoughtful, half vicious,
inquiring stare that I did not like. I wondered what was coming next,
but my curiosity was more than satisfied when the king asked: "So
Caskoden was present at all your interviews?"

Ah! Holy Mother! I knew what was coming now, and actually began to
shrivel with fright. The king continued: "I suppose he helped you to
escape?"

I thought my day had come, but Mary's wit was equal to the occasion.
With an expression on her face of the most dove-like innocence, she
quickly said:

"Oh! no! neither he nor Jane knew anything of it. We were afraid they
might divulge it."

Shade of Sapphira!

A lie is a pretty good thing, too, now and then, and the man who says
that word of Mary's was not a blessed lie, must fight me with lance,
battle-ax, sword and dagger till one or the other of us bites the dust
in death, be he great or