The Queen returned his look of deep affection with a flashing glance.
"Truly, I am ashamed and scandalized that Your Majesty is come to this pass! Where are your lords and your soldiers?"
"We have barely enough to hold the Scots off London," replied Charles, "and those are unpaid and disaffected—as thou knowest."
The Queen's great eyes sparkled with the ready tears of provoked passion.
"My Lord Archbishop was not safe at Lambeth," said Strafford slowly. "The mobile followed him even to the gates of Whitehall."
"And is there no one to fire on them—to cut them down with the sword?" asked the Queen. "Oh, Strafford, my Lord Strafford, I fear you have very greatly failed of your high promises!"
"The depth of my failure is measured by the depth of my humiliation," returned the Earl. "I have not spared myself, Madame, in the endeavour to make this kingdom great in the councils of Europe, and His Majesty first among the crowned heads thereof, but the breath of the populace is a wind that will blow any barque on to the rocks."
The King put his hand on Strafford's great shoulder.
"My friend," he said warmly, "no king ever had a truer. Do not blame my lord, Mary, for this pass we are in, for he, if any man can, will serve us and help us to a better issue."