"My lords," said the king, "follow me into my cabinet. As we are
dull, the most advisable thing for us to do is to divert ourselves
while we occupy ourselves with the weal of our beloved subjects, and
consult concerning their happiness and what is conducive to their
welfare. Follow me then, and we will hold a general consultation."
"Earl Douglas, your arm!" and as the king leaned on it and walked
slowly toward the cabinet, at the entrance of which the lord
chancellor and the Bishop of Winchester were waiting for him, he
asked in a low voice: "You say that Henry Howard dares ever intrude
himself into the queen's presence?"
"Sire, I did not say that; I meant only that he is constantly to be
seen in the queen's presence."
"Oh, you mean that she perhaps authorizes him to do so," said the
king, grinding his teeth.
"Sire, I hold the queen to be a noble and dutiful wife."
"I should be quite inclined to lay your head at your feet if you did
not!" said the king, in whose face the first lightning of the
bursting cloud of wrath began to flash.
"My head belongs to the king!" said Earl Douglas respectfully. "Let
him do with it as he pleases."
"But Howard--you mean, then, that Howard loves the queen?"
"Yes, sire, I dare affirm that."
"Now, by the Mother of God, I will tread the serpent under my feet,
as I did his sister!" exclaimed Henry, fiercely. "The Howards are an
ambitious, dangerous, and hypocritical race.
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