“Ah, the rack!” groaned Catharine, as with a shudder she buried her face in her hands.
“Yes, the rack!” said Anne, with a blissful smile. “God calls me!”
John Heywood had approached the queen and impetuously seized her hand. “You see it is in vain,” said he, urgently. “Make haste then to save yourself! Hasten to leave this prison before the door there opens.”
“No,” said Catharine, firmly and resolutely. “No, I stay. She shall not surpass me in courage and greatness of soul! She will not deny her God; well, then, I also will be a witness of my God. I will not in shame cast my eyes to the ground before this young girl; like her, I will frankly and openly profess my faith; like her I will say: ‘God alone is Lord of his Church,’ God—”
There was a movement without; a key was heard to turn in the lock.
“Queen, I conjure you,” besought John Heywood, “by all that is holy to you, by your love, come, come!”
“No, no!” cried she, vehemently.
But now Anne seized her hand, and stretching the other arm toward heaven, she said in a loud, commanding voice: “In the name of God, I order you to leave me!”
While Catharine drew back wholly involuntarily, John Heywood pushed her to the secret door, and urging her out almost with violence, he drew the door to behind them both.
Just as the secret door had closed, the other on the opposite side opened. “With whom were you speaking?” asked Gardiner, peering around the room with a sharp look.