"Ah, ah!" moaned the king. "He boasts of being able to sleep when he
pleases. Well, this time we will be the one to lull this haughty
earl to sleep. But it will be a sleep out of which he is never to
awake again!"
While the king thus wailed and suffered, Earl Douglas hastened with
quick, firm step through the suite of royal apartments. A proud,
triumphant smile played about his lips, and a joyful expression of
victory flashed from his eyes.
"Triumph! triumph! we shall conquer!" said he, as he now entered his
daughter's chamber and extended his hand to Lady Jane. "Jane, we
have at last reached the goal, and you will soon be King Henry's
seventh wife!"
A rosy shimmer flitted for a moment over Lady Jane's pale, colorless
cheeks, and a smile played about her lips--a smile, however, which
was more sad than loud sobs could have been.
"Ah," said she in a low tone, "I fear only that my poor head will be
too weak to wear a royal crown."
"Courage, courage, Jane, lift up your head, and be again my strong,
proud daughter!"
"But, I suffer so much, my father," sighed she. "It is hell that
burns within me!"
"But soon, Jane, soon you shall feel again the bliss of heaven! I
had forbidden you to grant Henry Howard a meeting, because it might
bring us danger. Well, then, now your tender heart shall be
satisfied. To-night you shall embrace your lover again!"
"Oh," murmured she, "he will again call me his Geraldine, and it
will not be I, but the queen, that he kisses in my arms!"
"Yes, to-day, it will still be so, Jane; but I swear to you that to-
day is the last time that you are obliged to receive him thus.
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