As Sir John Jefferay and his nephew William were about to leave the Court, an usher brought him a note.
"From his Excellency the Spanish Ambassador," said the man.
Turning to the friends who accompanied him, Sir John said—
"Await me one moment, my friends."
Then he drew William with him into one of the waiting-rooms of the Court, and eagerly opened the note. It was brief.
"An hour hence I shall be with you at Gray's Inn, and the Cardinal will be with me. His Eminence wishes that no other person be present at our interview.—Renard."
"Oh, thank God, thank God!" cried Sir John, as he passed the letter to William.
It was light amid the darkness, and the Treasurers noble face lost its look of despair and flushed with joy and hope!
And well might it be so, for these two men, of all others in the realm of England, possessed influence with Mary and Philip of high and exalted nature.
"No word of this to our friends," whispered Sir John to his nephew, as they proceeded to rejoin them.