scarcely hearing
the malicious and exultant words which the Duchess of Richmond was
whispering in her ear.

The king held the rosette in his hand and examined it. But his hands
trembled so much that he was unable to unfasten the clasp which held it
together.

He, therefore, handed it to John Heywood. "These diamonds are poor,"
said he, in a curt, dry tone. "Unfasten the clasp, fool; we will replace
it with this pin here. Then will the present gain for the earl a double
value; for it will come at the same time from me and from the queen."

"How gracious you are to-day!" said John Heywood, smiling--"as gracious
as the cat, that plays a little longer with the mouse before she devours
it."

"Unfasten the clasp!" exclaimed the king, in a thundering voice, no
longer able to conceal his rage. Slowly John Heywood unfastened
the clasp from the ribbon. He did it with intentional slowness and
deliberation; he let the king see all his movements, every turn of his
fingers; and it delighted him to hold those who had woven this plot in
dreadful suspense and expectation.

Whilst he appeared perfectly innocent and unembarrassed, his keen,
piercing glance ran over the whole assembly, and he noticed well the
trembling impatience of Gardiner and Earl Douglas; and it did not escape
him how pale Lady Jane was, and how full of expectation were the intent
features of the Duchess of Richmond.

"They are the ones with whom this conspiracy originated," said John
Heywood to himself. "But I will keep silence till I can one day convict
them."

"There, here is the clasp!" said he then aloud to the king. "It stuck as
tightly in the ribbon as malice in the hearts of priests and courtiers!"

The king snatched the ribbon out of his hand, and examined it by drawing
it through his fingers.

"Nothing! nothing at all!" said he, gnashing his teeth; and now,
deceived in his expectations and suppositions, he could no longer muster
strength to withstand that roaring torrent of wrath which overflowed his
heart. The tiger was again aroused in him; he had calmly waited for
the moment when the promised prey would be brought to him; now, when it
seemed to be escaping him, his savage and cruel disposition started up
within him. The tiger panted and thirsted for blood; and that he was not
to get it, made him raging with fury.

With a wild movement he threw the rosette on the ground, and raised his
arm menacingly toward Henry Howard. "Dare not to touch that