“I will have revenge! He wants to hinder me from being happy; I will for that make him unhappy!”
“You will do well in that, my lady; for he is an apostate and perjurer; an unfaithful son of the Church. He inclines to the heretical sect, and has forgotten the faith of his fathers.”
“I know it!” said she, breathlessly.
Earl Douglas looked at her in astonishment, and continued: “But he is not merely an atheist, he is a traitor also; and more than once he has reviled his king, to whom he, in his pride of heart, believes himself far superior.”
“I know it!” repeated she.
“So proud is he,” continued the earl, “so full of blasphemous haughtiness, that he might lay his hands upon the crown of England.”
“I know it!” said the duchess again. But as she saw the earl’s astonished and doubting looks, she added, with an inhuman smile: “I know everything that you want that I should know! Only impute crimes to him; only accuse him; I will substantiate everything, testify to everything that will bring him to ruin. My mother is our ally; she hates the father as hotly as I the son. Bring your accusation, then, Earl Douglas; we are your witnesses!”
“Nay, indeed, my lady,” said he, with a gentle, insinuating smile. “I know nothing at all; I have heard nothing; how, then, can I bring an accusation? You know all; to you he has spoken. You must be his accuser!”
“Well, then, conduct me to the king!” said she.
“Will you allow me to give you some more advice first?”