'Well, the King dotes upon thy sweet face. But Cromwell being down, there will remain the men he hath set up. Be they lovers of the old faith, or thee? Now, thy pranks will ruin all alike.'
'The King is minded to right these wrongs,' Katharine protested hotly.
'The King! The King!' Cicely laughed. 'Thou lovest the King.... Nay an thou lovest the King.... But to be enamoured of the King.... And the King enamoured of thee ... why, this pair of lovers cast adrift upon the land——'
Katharine said:
'Belike I am enamoured of the King: belike the King of me, I do not know. But this I know: he and I are minded to right the wrongs of God.'
Cicely Elliott opened her eyes wide.
'Why, thou art a very infectious fanatic!' she said. 'You may well do these things. But you must shed much blood. You must widow many men's wives. Body of God! I believe thou wouldst.'
'God forbid it!' Katharine said. 'But if He so willeth it, fiat voluntas.'
'Why, spare no man,' Cicely answered. 'Thou shalt not very easily escape.'
It was at this point that the magister was moved to keep no longer silence.