“No, my lord.”
“Then let us eat, and afterward there will be leisure for converse. Be in haste with thy meal, Giles.”
The host hastened from the room while Francis slipped quietly into the nearest chair, and looked with interest at the young man. She had heard of Anthony Babington. His 45 attachment to Mary of Scotland was well known, and his devotion invested him with a romantic glamour now that she too had espoused the same cause. The young man was speaking in low, rapid tones to her father:
“I tell you, my lord, that the attempt will not be successful. No invasion or insurrection can occur during Elizabeth’s life, for any open endeavor in Mary’s favor will cause Sir Amyas Paulet to slay her. He hath sworn it.”
“Then, Anthony, it may be unwise to try to release Mary from her prison. She hath suffered much of late from illness. It was my hope that if we were successful, to place her where she might obtain the comforts of which she hath been bereft, and so placed she would regain her health.”
“The matter hath gone too far to end in her mere release,” cried Babington earnestly. “Elizabeth must die.”
“Babington, thou art mad!” exclaimed Lord Stafford starting up in horror.
“Mad? Nay; I have just begun to see that I have been called to rid England of that most unjust queen who transcends the 46 laws of blood by keeping her own kin imprisoned as she hath done. And I am not alone, Stafford. There are others who believe as I do. Wilt thou join us?”
“Never,” cried Lord Stafford sternly. “May my right hand drop from its shoulder ere it be raised against England’s queen. Unjust to Mary she hath been. Unjust in her treatment of her, and unjust in usurping the throne. But still she is her father’s daughter, and crowned queen of England. If it be so that the release of Mary can be compassed, and Elizabeth forced to recognize her as her successor, I will join the effort even as I have already pledged to do. But no more.”
“Hast thou not seen Ballard?” asked the young man in surprise.