"
"They would believe anything that your Majesty told them," I
said. "But you will not tell them this?"
"No," he said kindly, "I will not; and there is my hand on it.
For the matter of that, if it had happened to them, they would
not have told me."
"And perhaps been the wiser for that," I said.
"Don't believe it," he answered. "But now, what of this young
Vilain? You have him safe?"
"Yes, sire."
"The girl is one degree worse; she betrays both sides to save her
skin."
"Still, I promised--"
"Oh, she must go," Henry said. "I quite understand. But for
him--we had better have no scandal. Keep him until to-morrow,
and I will see his father, and have him sent out of the country."
"And he will go scot free," I said, bluntly, "when a rope and the
nearest tree--"
"Yes, my friend," Henry answered with a dry smile; "but that
should have been done last night. As it is, he is your guest and
we must give an account of him. But first drain him dry.
Frighten him, as you please, and get all out of him; then I wish
them joy of him.
Pages:
165
166
167
168
169
170
171
172
173
174
175
176
177
178
179
180
181
182
183
184
185
186
187
188
189