“Dangerous or not, he shall have it,” rejoined Renard.
And wine was accordingly poured out by one of the attendants, and presented to the esquire, who eagerly drained it.
“Now leave us,” said Renard; “and return to the torture-chamber. I will rejoin you there.”
Sorrocold and his companions bowed, and departed.
Renard then proceeded to interrogate Cholmondeley respecting his own share in the rebellion; and also concerning Dudley and Lady Jane. Failing in obtaining satisfactory answers, he turned his inquiries to Elizabeth’s participation in the plot; and he shaped them so artfully, that he contrived to elicit from the esquire, whose brain was a good deal confused by the potent draught he had swallowed, some important particulars relative to the princess’s correspondence with Wyat.
Satisfied with the result of the examination, the ambassador turned to depart, when he beheld, close behind him, a masked figure, which he immediately recognised as the same that had appeared at the window of his lodgings in the Bloody Tower, on the evening when Jane’s death-warrant was signed by the queen.
No sound had proclaimed the mask’s approach, and the door was shut. The sight revived all Renard’s superstitious fears.
“Who, and what art thou?” he demanded.
“Your executioner,” replied a hollow voice. And suddenly drawing a poniard, the mask aimed a terrible blow at Renard, which, if he had not avoided it, must have proved fatal.
Thus assaulted, Renard tried to draw his sword, but he was prevented by the mask, who grappled with him, and brought him to the ground. In the struggle, however, the assassin’s vizard fell off, and disclosed the features of Nightgall.