ecretly sent
Mary's miniature to the French court in order that it might, as if by
accident, fall into the hands of Louis, and that worthy's little, old,
shriveled heart began to flutter, just as if there could be kindled in
it a genuine flame.

Louis had sent to de Longueville, who was then in England, for
confirmation of Mary's beauty, and de Longueville grew so eloquent on
the theme that his French majesty at once authorized negotiations.

As reports came in Louis grew more and more impatient. This did not,
however, stand in the way of his driving a hard bargain in the matter
of dower, for "The Father of the People" had the characteristics of
his race, and was intensely practical as well as inflammable. They
never lose sight of the _dot_--but I do not find fault.

Louis little knew what thorns this lovely rose had underneath her
velvet leaves, and what a veritable Tartar she would be, linked to the
man she did not love; or he would have given Henry four hundred
thousand crowns to keep her at home.

_CHAPTER XIX_

_Proserpina_

So the value received for Wolsey's friendship to Brandon was Mary's
promise to marry Louis.

Mary wanted to send a message at once to Brandon, telling him his life
would be spared, and that she had made no delay this time--a fact of
which she was very proud--but the Tower gates would not open until
morning, so she had to wait. She compensated herself as well as she
could by writing a letter, which I should like to give you here, but
it is too long. She told him of his pardon, but not one word upon the
theme he so wished yet feared to hear of--her promise never to wed any
other man. Mary had not told him of her final surrender in the matter
of the French marriage, for the reason that she dreaded to pain him,
and feared he might refuse the sacrifice.

"It will almost kill him, I know," she said to Jane that night, "and I
fear it is a false kindness I do him. He would, probably, rather die
than that I should marry another; I know that I should rather die, or
have anything else terrible to happen, than for another woman to
possess him. He promised me he never would; but suppose he should fail
in his word, as I have to-day failed in mine? The thought of it
absolutely burns me." And she threw herself into Jane's arms, and that
little comforter tried to soothe her by making light of her fears.

"Oh! but suppose he should?"

"Well! there is no need to borrow trouble. You said he pr