“Fear nothing,” rejoined the stranger. “The council will befriend you. Their object is to prove that Edward was poisoned by Northumberland’s order. Can you do this?”
“I can,” replied Gunnora. “My hand administered the fatal draught.”
“Yours, mother!” ejaculated Gilbert, horror-stricken.
“Prove this, and Northumberland will lose his head,” said the stranger.
“Were my own to fall with it, I would do so,” replied Gunnora. “My sole wish is to avenge my foster-son, the great Duke of Somerset, who fell by Northumberland’s foul practices. It was therefore when all the physicians of the royal household were dismissed, and the duke sent messengers for empirical aid, that I presented myself, and offered my services. When I beheld the royal sufferer, I saw he had but short space to live. But short as it was, it was too long for the duke. A potion was prepared by Northumberland, which I administered. From that moment his highness grew worse, and in six hours he was a corpse.”
“It was a cursed deed,” cried Gilbert.
“True,” replied Gunnora, “it was so, and Heaven will surely avenge it. But I did it to get Northumberland into my power. The king’s case was past all remedy. But he might have lingered for days and weeks, and the duke was impatient for the crown. I was impatient too—but it was for his head. And therefore I did his bidding.”
“Your vengeance shall be fully gratified,” replied the stranger. “Come with me.”
“Hold!” exclaimed Gunnora. “How will his testimony affect the Lady Jane?”
“It will deprive her of her crown—perchance her head,” rejoined the stranger.