With flashing eyes and cheeks reddened by her rapid race Elizabeth
entered the queen's chamber; with passionate vehemence she clasped
her in her arms and tenderly kissed her.
"Catharine, my queen, and my mother," said she, "we have sworn to
stand by and protect each other when danger threatens us. Fate is
gracious to me, for it has given into my hand the means of making
good my oath this very day. Take that paper and read! It is an order
for your imprisonment, made out by the king himself. When you have
read it, then let us consider what is to be done, and how we can
avert the danger from you."
"An order of imprisonment!" said Catharine, with a shudder, as she
read it. "An order of imprisonment--that is to say, a death-warrant!
For when once the threshold of that frightful Tower is crossed, it
denotes that it is never to be left again; and if a queen is
arrested and accused, then is she also already condemned. Oh, my
God, princess, do you comprehend that--to have to die while life
still throbs so fresh and warm in our veins? To be obliged to go to
death, while the future still allures us with a thousand hopes, a
thousand wishes? My God, to have to descend into the desolate prison
and into the gloomy grave, while the world greets us with alluring
voices, and spring-tide has scarcely awoke in our heart!"
Streams of tears burst from her eyes, and she hid her face in her
trembling hands.
"Weep not, queen," whispered Elizabeth, herself trembling and pale
as death.
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