“If she agreed, he said, to this proposal,” continued Eva, “she might do with him and all the Geraldines as she had a mind, and he would immediately put himself at the head of the rebellion against the Queen, if that was her wish.”
Richard Burke, unable to control his feelings any longer, jumped to his feet.
“What was her reply?” he demanded.
“Wait—wait for another moment,” entreated Eva.
“Patience,” urged I once more, though God knows I had no stock of it myself.
“If she refused——” said Eva.
“She did refuse,” cried Burke.
“If she refused,” continued Eva, “to become his wife, then not only would he not join with the Spaniards, but he would aid the English against them. When she pointed out to him that he had compromised himself both by his intercourse with Spain and with Fitzmaurice, and also by harbouring herself, a proclaimed rebel, he hinted—for at first he would not put his thoughts into so many words—that he knew of a way in which he might very readily make his peace with the President of Munster, and that was by sending to him a pledge of his fidelity to the Queen, which he was well informed would be acceptable to him and to her Highness.”
“Fidelity to the Queen!” exclaimed I, glowing with wrath.
Any child could have foreseen what was coming. My mistress had indeed played with fire, and it needed no wizard to tell me that she had been scorched by its flames.