'My lords, I am beholden to the King o' Scots. For had he met me I had not yet been here. Get you to your beds; I could wish ye had such wives——'
'The King! the King!' a voice muttered.
Henry said—
'Ha, who spoke?'
There was a faint squeak, a dull rustle.
'My cousin Kat——' the voice said.
The King said—
'Ha!' again, and incredulous and haughty he raised his brows.
Above the mirror, in the great light of the candles, there showed the pale face, the fishy, wide-open and bewildered eyes of Culpepper. His hair was dishevelled in points; his mouth was open in amazement. He uttered—
'The King!' as if that were the most astonishing thing, and, standing behind the table, staggered and clutched the arras to sustain himself.