thou dost wrong the Duke, who is filled
with all respect and love for your Majesty,' put in the Cardinal.

"'Ay, my Lord Cardinal,' I replied, 'well hath he shown his love for me
and mine. Look at the prisoners at Pomfret, which never did offence to
Gloucester, except that the love they bore my late lamented husband and
his family hath stirred up anger in his savage bosom.'

"'Nay, indeed, your Majesty, thou dost abuse and misjudge the Duke of
Gloucester,' said the Cardinal. 'As I understand the matter, it is
this,' he continued; 'Lord Rivers, Sir Richard Grey and Sir Thomas
Vaughan, were suspected of some plot against the King's freedom, and
Duke Richard, when he learned of it, caused these three gentlemen to be
detained until after the King is crowned, when it shall be for his
Majesty to decide whether they shall be set at liberty or no.'

"'A pretty tale indeed is this about a plot to gain control of the
King's person,' I replied with scorn. 'My Lord Cardinal, no one knows
better than dost thou that my brother would be the last to so conspire
against my son. 'Tis but a lie, devised by that accursed Richard!' I
cried, as mine indignation began to gain ascendency over my better
reason, 'to shield his own black treason. Well do I believe, my Lord
Cardinal, that this limping villain desires but to gain control of both
my sons, that he may work his will upon them; and God, or rather the
devil, and himself do know what that may be. And be assured of this,
Master Cardinal!' I almost shrieked, to such a state of fury had this
rehearsal of my wrongs aroused me, 'I shall not permit my tender son,
the Duke of York, to fall into the hands of that traitorous cur, so
long as this Sanctuary stands to protect the gentle babe. Gloucester
hath already, through treachery, obtained control of one of my pretty
children; but so long as his mother can protect the other be thou
assured, good Cardinal, that hump-backed Gloucester shall not control
him.'"

The Queen, as she said these words, in her excitement arose from her
chair and, standing like a statue before me, her head thrown a little
aback, her nostrils slightly distended, like those of a horse that hath
just scented fresh-spilled blood, and her whole pose bespeaking
resolution and defiance, looked like some angry Goddess about to hurl
destruction upon those which had been the cause of her anger. Verily,
my children, this was indeed a Queen.

My soul was so filled with