“Well, what is it now?”
“I would wish to know your Grace’s pleasure as to the future for Mr. Maxwell. Is no pledge of good behaviour to be exacted from him?”
“Of course he says mass again at his peril. Either he must take the oath at once, or he shall be allowed forty-eight hours’ safe-conduct with his papers for the Continent.”
“Your Grace, indeed I must remonstrate——”
Then the Queen’s wrath burst out; they heard a swift movement, and the rap of her high heels as she sprang to her feet.
“By God’s Son,” she screamed, “am I Queen or not? I have had enough of your counsel. You presume, sir—” her ringed hand came heavily down on the table and they heard the lute leap and fall again.—“You presume on your position, sir. I made you, and I can unmake you, and by God I will, if I have another word of your counselling. Be gone, and see that it be done; I will not bid twice.”
There was silence again; and they heard the outer door open and close.
Anthony’s heart was beating wildly. He had sprung to his feet in a trembling excitement as the Queen had sprung to hers. The mere ring of that furious royal voice, even without the sight of her pale wrathful face and blazing eyes that Walsingham looked upon as he backed out from the presence, was enough to make this lad’s whole frame shiver. Mary apparently was accustomed to this; for she looked up at Anthony, laughing silently, and shrugged her shoulders.
Then they heard the Queen’s silk draperies rustle and her pearls chink together as she sank down again and took up her lute and struck the strings. Then the metallic voice began again, with a little tremor in it, like the ground-swell after a storm; and she sang the verse through in which she had been interrupted:
“Why thus, my love, so kind bespeak