His hands moved tremblingly towards her in the darkness.
'And this Lady Katharine shall be Queen?'
A hiss of exasperation came upon his lips, for she had slipped from beneath his hands into the darkness.
'Why, then, I will not stay your climbing,' she said. 'Good-night,' and in the darkness he heard her sob.
The couch fell backwards as he swore and sprang towards her voice.
'Magister!' she said. 'Hands off! Unwed thou shalt not have me, for I have sworn it.'
'I have sworn to wed seven and twenty women,' he said, 'and have wedded with none.'
'Nay, nay,' she sobbed. 'Hands off. Henceforth I will make no vows—but no one but thee shall wed me.'
'Then wed me, in God's name!' he cried, and, screaming:
'Ho là! Apportez le prestre!' she softened herself in his arms.