Then she looked up, still with her cheek on her right hand.
“You do not thank me, Mr. Norris.”
Anthony made a great effort; but he heard his own voice quiver a little.
“I thank your Grace for your kindly intentions toward me, with all my heart.”
The Queen seemed satisfied, and looked down again.
“As to the oath, I will not ask you to take it formally, if you will give me an assurance of your loyalty.”
“That, your Grace, I give most gladly.”
His heart was beating again in great irregular thumps in his throat; he had the sensation of swaying to and fro on the edge of a precipice, now towards safety and now towards death; it was the cruellest pain he had suffered yet. But how was it possible to have some post at Court without relinquishing the exercise of his priesthood? He must think it out; what did the Queen mean?
“And, of course, you will not be able to say mass again; but I shall not hinder your hearing it at the Ambassador’s whenever you please.”
Ah! it had come; his heart gave a leap and seemed to cease.