g voice--"Spare him, sire--spare him! He is no party to
the attack. I was near him in yon wood, and he stirred not forth till he
saw your life in danger. He then delivered you from the assassin."

"I did so because I reserved him for my own hand," said Wyat.

"You hear him confess his treason," cried Henry; "down on your knees,
villain, or I will strike you to my feet."

"He has just saved your life, my liege," cried the supplicant. "Oh,
spare him!"

"What make you here, Mabel?" cried Henry angrily. "I followed your
majesty unseen," she replied, in some confusion, "and reached yon wood
just as the attack commenced. I did not dare to advance farther."

"You should have gone home--gone home," rejoined the king. "Wyat," he
continued, in a tone of stern reproach, "you were once a loyal subject.
What means this change?"

"It means that you have robbed me of a mistress," replied Wyat; "and for
this cause I have damned myself."

"Pardon him!-oh, pardon him, sire," cried Mabel.

"I cannot understand you, Wyat," said Henry, after a pause; "but I have
myself suffered from the pangs of jealousy. You have saved my life, and
I will spare yours."

"Sire!" cried Wyat.

"Suffolk," exclaimed Henry, looking towards the duke, who was holding
Fenwolf by the throat, "shall I be justified in letting him go free?

"Strike!--strike!" cried a deep voice in Wyat's ear; "your rival is now
in your power."

"Far be it from me to thwart your majesty's generous impulses," rejoined
Suffolk. "It is true that Wyat has saved your life; and if he had been
disposed to take it, you have this moment exposed yourself to him."

"Sir Thomas Wyat," said the king, turning to him, "you have my full and
free pardon. Quit this forest instantly, and make your way to Paris. If
you are found within it to-morrow you will be lodged in the Tower."

Wyat knelt down, and would have pressed Henry's hand to his lips, but
the latter pushed him aside.

"No--no! Not now--on your return."

Thus rebuffed, Wyat strode away, and as he passed the tree he heard a
voice exclaim, "You have escaped him, but think not to escape me!"

"And now, sweetheart," said Henry, turning to Mabel, "since you are so
far on the way, you shall go with me to the castle."

"On no account, my liege," she returned; "my grandsire will wonder what
has become of me. He must already be in great alarm."

"But I will send an attendant to quiet his fears," urged Henry.

"That would only ser