'Before God!' he said; 'ye are the joyfullest play that ever I heard. And how will Madam Howard act when the King heareth these things?'
Katharine opened her lips with surprise.
'For a subtile man ye are strangely blinded,' she said; 'there is one plain way.'
'To deny it and call the saints to witness!' he laughed.
'Even that,' she answered. 'I pray the saints to give me the place and time.'
'Ha' ye seen the King in a jealous rage?' he asked.
'Subtile man,' she answered, 'the King knows his world.'
'Aye,' he answered, 'knoweth that women be never chaste.'
Katharine bent to pick up her sewing.
'Sir,' she said, 'if the King will not have faith in me I will wed no King.'