Yes, yes, a merry day we will have; and after
that, let come what come may! The saloons shall resound with
laughter and joyfulness; and naught but rejoicing and fun shall be
heard in the great royal saloons. And invite also the Duke of
Norfolk, my noble cousin, who shares with me my royal coat-of-arms.
Yes, invite him, that I may enjoy once more his haughty and imposing
beauty and grandeur before this august sun is extinguished and
leaves us again in night and darkness. Then invite also Wriothesley,
the high chancellor, and let him bring with him a few gallant and
brave soldiers of our body-guard. They are to be the noble duke's
suite, when he wishes to leave our feast and go homeward--homeward--
if not to his palace, yet to the Tower, and to the grave. Go, go,
Douglas, and attend to all this for me! And send me here directly my
merry fool, John Heywood. He must pass away the time for me till the
feast begins. He must make me laugh and be gay."
"I will go and fulfil your orders, sire," said Earl Douglas. "I will
order the feast, and impart your commands to the queen and your
court. And first of all, I will send John Heywood to you. But pardon
me, your majesty, if I venture to remind you that you have given me
your royal word not to betray our secret by a single syllable, or
even by a sigh."
"I gave my word, and I will keep it!" said the king. "Go now, Earl
Douglas, and do what I have bidden you!"
Wholly exhausted by this paroxysm of cruel delight, the king sank
back in his seat, and moaning and groaning he rubbed his leg, the
piercing pains of which he had for a moment forgotten, but which now
reminded him of their presence with so much the more cruel fury.
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