Gardiner stood pondering, his head hanging down. His eyes, hard and blue, flashed at her and then down again at the floor.
'They told me you were the King's good friend,' he said, resentfully. 'Your gossip Udal told my chaplain, and it hath been repeated.'
'They will talk where there are a many together,' Katharine answered; 'the magister is a notorious babbler and will have told many lies.'
'He is a spy of Privy Seal's and deep in his councils,' Gardiner answered gloomily.
A heavy wind that had arisen hurled itself against the dark casement. Little flaws of cold air penetrated the room, and the bishop pulled his cap further down over his ears.
'My Lord Privy Seal would send my cousin to Calais where there is fighting to come,' Katharine said.
Gardiner raised his head sharply at Cromwell's name.
'You speak sense at the end,' he muttered. To him too it had occurred that if she was to be the King's peaceably, this madman must begone. If Cromwell wished this lover of this girl out of the way, the reason was not obscure.
'A man of his hath been here this very day,' Katharine said.
'Privy Seal learned whoremastering in Italy,' Gardiner cried triumphantly. 'He saw signs that his Highness inclined to you. Have a care for your little soul.'