His eyes flashed, and he swallowed with a bitter delight.
'I have him at my feet,' he said. 'He shall do public reparation to me. You have heard the King say so.'
There were tears of vexation in Katharine's eyes.
'Well I know how it is that this brewer's son has king'd it so long!' she said. 'An I had been a man it had been his head or mine.'
Gardiner shook himself like a dog that is newly out of the water.
'Madam Howard,' he said, 'you are mighty high. I have observed how the King spoke all his words for your ear. His passions are beyond words and beyond shame.'
The Lady Mary was almost out of the room, and he came close enough to speak in Katharine's ears.
'But be you certain that his Highness' passions are not beyond the reverse of passion, which is jealousy. You have a cousin at Calais....'
Katharine moved away from him.
'Why, God help you, priest,' she said. 'Do you think you are the only man that knows that?'