“Thou wilt doubtless recollect, my Lord,” pursued Bernard, “that ’twas I first informed thee of the great conspiracy in the North, which cost my Lord Westmoreland his head. Afterwards, I told thee of the plot to wed the Duke of Norfolk to the Queen of Scots.”
“Well, well,” muttered Burleigh.
“Did not I refuse the rich guerdons thou wouldst have dealt me, my Lord, and give all my pains for nought?” asked Bernard.
“Thou didst so, and thereby approved thyself a right loyal subject,” said the minister.
“I say nothing, my Lord, of the early tidings I gave thee of my Lord Leicester’s marriage with my Lady Sheffield,” continued Bernard, “because I sought therein to gratify your Lordship, rather than serve the state.”
“What doth all this preface portend?” demanded the minister, in an abrupt tone.
“Thou hast thyself said, my Lord, that I have approved myself a right loyal subject,” answered Bernard. “Thou knowest, too, that I have served the state, not for gain’s sake, but oft at mine own proper cost, out of pure love. Will it be ever thought, then, that I, having these merits, would seek your Lordship’s ear for one of the state’s enemies?”
“’Twould never be so thought by me,” replied Burleigh, less impatiently.
“There is now in Newgate, my Lord, on a state warrant, one whom I know to have done no crime,” said Bernard. “I would humbly sue to your Lordship, on the strength of my good services, that he may be set free.”
“Innocent, is he?” returned Burleigh. “Well, I would not deny thee a small thing. How doth he name himself?”