This thought made him raving with anger; and grinding his
teeth, he muttered: "He can sleep; and I, his lord and king--I am a
beggar that in vain whines to God above for a little sleep, a little
forgetfulness of his pains! But it is this traitorous Norfolk that
prevents me from sleeping. Thoughts of him keep me awake and
restless. And I cannot crush this traitor with these hands of mine;
I am a king, and yet so powerless and weak, that I can find no means
of accusing this traitor, and convicting him of his sinful and
blasphemous deeds. Oh, where may I find him--that true friend, that
devoted servant, who ventures to understand my unuttered thoughts,
and fulfil the wishes to which I dare not give a name?"
Just as he was thus thinking, the door behind him opened and in
walked Earl Douglas. His countenance was proud and triumphant, and
so wild a joy gleamed from his eyes that even the king was surprised
at it.
"Oh," said he, peevishly, "you call yourself my friend; and you are
cheerful, Douglas, while your king is a poor prisoner whom the gout
has chained with brazen bands to this chair."
"You will recover, my king, and go forth from this imprisonment as
the conqueror, dazzling and bright, that by his appearance under
God's blessing treads all his enemies in the dust--that triumphs
over all those who are against him, and would betray their king!"
"Are there, then, any such traitors, who threaten their king?" asked
Henry, with a dark frown.
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