My queen shall not fall and be ruined. The fool yet lives to protect
her."
CHAPTER XXXI.
THE QUEEN
From the niche in which John Heywood had hid himself he could survey
the entire corridor and all the doors opening into it--could see
everything and hear everything without being himself seen, for the
projecting pilaster completely shaded him.
So John Heywood stood and listened. All was quiet in the corridor.
In the distance was now and then heard the deadened sound of the
music; and the confused hum of many voices from the festive halls
forced its way to the listener's ear.
This was the only thing that John Heywood perceived. All else was
still. But this stillness did not last long. The corridor was
lighted up, and the sound of rapidly approaching footsteps was
heard.
It was the gold-laced lackeys, who bore the large silver candelabra
to light the queen, who, with her train of ladies, was passing
through the corridor.
She looked wondrously beautiful. The glare of the candles borne
before her illumined her countenance, which beamed with
cheerfulness. As she passed the pillar behind which John Heywood was
standing, she was talking in unrestrained gayety with her second
maid of honor; and a clear and lively laugh rang from her lips,
which disclosed both rows of her dazzling white teeth. Her eyes
sparkled; her checks were flushed with a rich red; bright as stars
glittered the diamonds in the diadem that encircled her lofty brow;
like liquid gold shone her dress of gold brocade, the long trail of
which, trimmed with black ermine, was borne by two lovely pages.
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