“Old fool, am I to have this ruffler held up before me like the image of a saint? Silence, I say I am King. I will play the King—aye, and better than he has played it.”
They eyed him with disrelish.
“Let no man dare to speak his name to me or I will dub him traitor.”
“Never was there a more honourable traitor, sir, than this.”
“Am I the King? Am I to be obeyed? I will deal with this swashbuckler.”
Knollys’ heel was beating the ground.
“Sir King, have a care.”
“Sir, do you threaten?”
Knollys’ wrath and scorn burst like a thundercloud.
“Boy, I served your sire, who was a noble prince and a great captain. Threaten! Let the truth threaten. This young man is your half-brother, and, by my soul, he is ten times more the prince than you are!”