"He lied when he averred that he heard angry words 'twixt His Grace and Don Miguel."
"He has sworn it upon oath. Pasquale is a good Catholic, and would not commit the deadly sin of perjury."
"You are fencing with me, my lord," said Mary Tudor with sudden vehemence.
"I but await Your Majesty's command!" rejoined His Eminence blandly.
"My command?" she said firmly. "This, my lord, that you save His Grace of Wessex from the consequences of this crime, in which he had no hand."
"To save His Grace of Wessex?" he ejaculated with the greatest astonishment, "I? and at this eleventh hour? Nay! meseems that were impossible."
"Then Your Eminence can set your wits to attempt the impossible," rejoined Mary curtly.
"But why should Your Majesty suggest this strange task to me?" he urged with the same well-feigned surprise.
"Because Your Eminence hath more brains than most."
"Your Majesty is too gracious."