"This you will swear to be true?"
"Without hope of absolution."
"And you will make this tardy confession, my daughter, to His Grace's judges freely?"
"Whenever it is deemed necessary I will make the confession to His Grace's judges freely."
She swayed as if her senses were leaving her. Instinctively the Cardinal put out his arm to support her, but with a mighty effort she drew herself together, and looked down upon him with all the regal majesty of her own sublime self-sacrifice.
But, flushed with victory, His Eminence cared nothing for the contempt of the vanquished. It had been a hard-fought battle. His Grace was saved from death and Queen Mary Tudor could not help but keep her word. It was a triumph indeed!
He touched a hand-bell, a servant appeared. A few whispered instructions and the end was accomplished at last.
But, God in Heaven, at what terrible cost!