"Ha, Alençon! what fear you, man?" cried the King of France. "We are all safe. Sir Richard Heartley, look not for Lord Darnley; he is in security: follow, and you will see him presently."
"Gentlemen all, you are most welcome," said Henry; "follow us, all that love us, to our poor palace here without, and we will make you better cheer, where ladies' words shall replace this summer air, and their sweet looks the sunshine. Sound 'On before!'"
The trumpets sounded, and, the ushers and marshals clearing the way for the two kings, they passed out of the castle gate, and traversed the green on foot, amidst the shouts and acclamations of the crowd that the arrival of the French nobles, together with various rumours of something extraordinary having happened, had collected in the neighbourhood of the royal lodging.
Arm-in-arm with Francis, Henry, delighting with ostentatious magnificence to show himself to the people, passed round to the front of the palace; and entering the court which we have already described, he proceeded at once to the great hall, called the Hall of the Cloth of Silver, to which, on the announcement of his intentions by Wolsey, the queen had hastily summoned all the elect of the court. On the entrance of the kings, with all the train of noblemen who had followed them, a temporary confusion ensued, while Francis was presented to the Queen of England, and Henry whispered to her a few brief hints of what had taken place.
"Room, room, lords and ladies!" cried he at length; "let us have space."
"There would not be space enough for him in the world, if he had his will," whispered Lady Katrine Bulmer to Constance de Grey, who stood by her side, unwillingly appearing in such a meeting. "On my life, Constance, his eye is fixed upon us! Now, what would I give to be king, if it were but to outstare him!"
"The Lady Constance de Grey!" said Henry, in a loud tone: "we would speak with the Lady de Grey."
"Nay, speak gently," said the queen. "Good my lord, you will frighten her. Constance, come hither to the queen, your friend!"
With a pale cheek and a beating heart, Constance advanced to the side of the queen, and bending her eyes upon the ground, awaited in silence, not daring to look around.
"Fear not, fair one!" said Henry; "we are not angry, but only sorry to lose you. Here is our noble brother, Francis of France, claims you as his vassal at our hands." Constance looked up, and saw the King of France's eye bent on her with a smile that gave her courage. "Now, notwithstanding the great love we bear him," continued Henry, "we might have resisted his demand, inasmuch as you are our born subject, had you not shown some slight perverseness against our repeated commands. We therefore must and will resign you into his hands, unless you instantly agree to receive such lord to be your husband as we shall judge fitting for your rank and station."