With soft, sneaking step he approached the king, and, standing behind him, looked over the game.
“You are checkmated in four moves, my husband!” said the queen with a cheerful laugh, as she made her move.
A still darker frown gathered on the king’s brow, and his lips were violently compressed.
“It is true, your majesty,” said Gardiner. “You will soon have to succumb. Danger threatens you from the queen.”
Henry gave a start, and turned his face to Gardiner with an expression of inquiry. In his exasperated mood against the queen, the crafty priest’s ambiguous remark struck him with double keenness.
Gardiner was a very skilful hunter; the very first arrow that he shot had hit. But Catharine, too, had heard it whiz. Gardiner’s slow, ambiguous words had startled her from her artless security; and as she now looked into the king’s glowing, excited face, she comprehended her want of prudence.
But it was too late to remedy it. The king’s checkmate was unavoidable; and Henry himself had already noticed his defeat.
“It is all right!” said the king, impetuously. “You have won, Catharine, and, by the holy mother of God! you can boast of the rare good fortune of having vanquished Henry of England!”
“I will not boast of it, my noble husband!” said she, with a smile. “You have played with me as the lion does with the puppy, which he does not crush only because he has compassion on him, and he pities the poor little creature. Lion, I thank you. You have been magnanimous to-day. You have let me win.”
The king’s face brightened a little. Gardiner saw it. He must prevent Catharine from following up her advantage further.