Betty’s heart beat high with hope, but she had yet a petition to make, and Henry saw it in her expression. Her beauty, her evident loyalty to the prisoner interested him.
“Speak, sweetheart,” he said kindly; “what is in thy mind?”
“I pray your grace to give me warrant to see the wizard, Zachary Sanders, who is also in the Tower,” she said; “they let no man see him, but I know that if he will, he can surely clear Lord Raby; and oh, I beseech your highness, to let me plead with him!”
Henry smiled. “You are not like to plead in vain, fair mistress,” he said lightly; “for the sake of this blessed night, your petitions are both granted. Norfolk, bid my lord privy seal to give this pretty beggar a warrant to go into the Tower. But hark you, my wench, I charge you not to leave your heart behind you there,” and with a laugh at his own jest, the king passed on, surrounded by an ever-increasing throng of courtiers until the apartment of the queen was gradually deserted, save by her own attendants.
The first white streaks of dawn were showing at the eastern horizon when Lady Crabtree and Betty left Hampton Court, and the mists of night obscured the scene.
“Thou didst have rare luck, my girl,” said old Madam, drawing her mantle closer in the chill air; “and now there is a hope to end the matter.”
“The king’s grace was kind,” replied Betty, “and I have good hope, for I believe that now they will hear Simon’s cause; and if they do, all will be well.”
“Mayhap it will,” retorted Lady Crabtree dryly, unwilling to cast down the young girl’s new-born hopes; “at least, Cromwell shall do more than shake his head at us. ’Tis well that you struck while the iron was hot and the king was happy; for if they keep up that rout, they will kill both mother and child. Mercy on us, what a baptism! My lord of Canterbury and Mary Tudor walking together, and Norfolk, who loves the papists with all his heart. That ambitious prig, too, my Lord Seymour, who will rise on his sister’s petticoats. It went to my heart to see Anne Boleyn’s baby decked out to march behind this new toy! Well-a-day, ’tis strange!”
A little farther on, she burst out laughing; a scornful laugh, too, which startled Betty.
“What makes you so merry, madam?” she asked quietly.