“Sire,” she cried, “I pray for mercy—for life! Ah, think, your majesty, the day must come when you, too, will look for mercy—and I am sure your pity for us now will comfort you then. I only ask my husband’s life—his life!”
Her voice broke pitifully; how little she could say! Agony ties the tongue; she looked up through her tears and wrung her hands together with a gesture of despair, an appeal more eloquent than words.
“O gracious sovereign,” she murmured faintly, “life—life! That is my cry to you—only spare him to me.”
A cough racked the king, and for the moment he was silent. Lady Russell trembled for the effect of the appeal. He raised the countess kindly.
“My child,” he said, “these matters are not always as much at the king’s disposal as they seem; you forget my parliament;” a dry smile flickered across his face; “I can make you no unconditional promise until I have considered your petition, and those of others in this matter. Your husband has been a conspicuous offender, but if I can save him—” he broke off, closing his lips tightly, his face singularly stern and sad.
Betty thought he had yielded and began to pour out her thanks weeping, but the king held up his hand coldly.
“I can make no unconditional promise,” he repeated dryly, “reserve your thanks until there is a certainty—but,” he added, after a moment’s hesitation, “think not hardly hereafter of your Dutch king.”
Betty turned crimson and William gave Lady Russell a significant glance.
“Your husband is an old offender, Lady Clancarty,” he added, with his rasping little cough; “he not only fought in Ireland but he sat in that parliament at King’s Inns, and there are others who might base a claim for indemnity upon any clemency that he received. But rest assured,” he continued, “that the king has as much feeling as any other man—and heavier sorrows.”
He gently and kindly dismissed them, but Betty having gone half way across the room ran back, as impulsive as any child, and kneeling on one knee kissed his hand, and then ran out weeping, as unmindful of etiquette as a country lass.