"
"Do not grant it him, brother Henry," said John Heywood; "he is a
dangerous juggler; and who knows whether he may not yet, in his
private conversation, convince you that he is king, and you nothing
more than his lickspittle, fawning, hypocritical servant Earl
Archibald Douglas."
"My lord and husband, I beg you to hear the earl's justification,"
said Catharine, as she extended her hand to the king with a
bewitching smile. "It would be cruel to condemn him unheard,
I will hear him, but it shall be done in your presence, Kate, and
you yourself shall decide whether or not his justification is
sufficient."
"No indeed, my husband; let me remain an entire stranger to this
night's conspiracy, so that spite and anger may not fill my heart
and rob me of the supreme confidence which I need, to be able to
walk on at your side happy and smiling in the midst of my enemies."
"You are right, Kate," said the king, thoughtfully. "You have many
enemies at our court; and we have to accuse ourselves that we have
not always succeeded in stopping our ear to their malicious
whisperings, and in keeping ourselves pure from the poisonous breath
of their calumny. Our heart is still too artless, and we cannot even
yet comprehend that men are a disgusting, corrupt race, which one
should tread beneath his feet, but never take to his heart. Come,
Earl Douglas, I will hear you; but woe to you, if you are unable to
justify yourself!"
He retired to the embrasure of the large window of the boudoir.
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