“Be not alarmed. We will o’ertake him,” reassured the leader. “Though I like not for the storm to continue. It delays us too much.” He mused for a moment and then turned to the dame suddenly. 218
“My good woman,” he said, “have ye seen aught of a boy to-day?”
“A boy? What boy?” asked she stupidly.
“A boy of the court in page’s dress. Hast thou seen him?”
“No boy have I seen this day,” answered the dame stolidly. “Marry! nor for many days for the matter of that. What did ye want with the boy?”
“We have a warrant for his arrest,” said the leader. “Also one for his father, Lord William Stafford. What think you, my good dame? There has been foul attempt to slay the queen.”
“Ye do well to say ’attempt,’” said the woman. “Elizabeth will never die by the hand of an assassin.”
“Say ye so?” asked the leader eagerly. “Good dame, how will she die?”
“Not in her bed. No hand shall be raised against her, and she dies by misease; yet shall she not die in bed,” and the old woman nodded prophetically.
“Ask her how long the queen will live,” whispered one. “The queen waxeth in years and it may not be amiss to be prepared.” 219