“False girl,” he cried, “why come you hither?”
“To save thee, my father.” Francis paused bewildered by his manner. “Father, they accuse thee of treason. The queen’s men are coming to take thee to the Tower. You must fly.”
“And do you bid me fly? You who have betrayed me? You whom I trusted? You who vowed that not even the rack could extort one syllable from your lips? Base girl, is it thus that thou dost requite my love? Away! Go back to that court whose enticements have caused thee to betray thy father.”
“I betray thee?” cried Francis in horror. “I, Francis Stafford, betray my father? Never! Never!” 226
“Seek not to deny it, girl. One hath been here from the court. I know that every incident of the journey to Chartley, even to the meeting with Babington at Salisbury, is known to the queen. Who knew all this but thee? Fool that I was to confide in thee! But thou wert so cock-sure of thy ability! So apt and froward with thy promises, that I believed in thee.”
“My father, if there are those who say that I betrayed thee, they speak not the truth. I have come to warn thee of peril. Even now the pursuivants are on their way to take thee. Oh, sir! tarry no longer but fly. ’Tis death to be taken, father. Death!”
She wrung her hands as her father stood there so unheedingly when time was so precious.
“And if it be death, by whose hand hath it been wrought? Why hast thou dallied at court so long? Why dost thou still wear that garb which shames thy modesty?”
“Father, hear me,” cried Francis, flinging herself at his feet. “If ever thou didst bear aught of affection to her that kneels to thee, believe me when I say that I betrayed thee 227 not. May my tongue be palsied if I speak not the truth. Father, by all the saints, I——”
“False girl, perjure not thy soul,” and he strove to release himself from her grasp. “Unclasp thine arms, Francis Stafford, and hearken to a father’s curse. May——”