called," said Earl Douglas, earnestly and solemnly--"it is called
Howard!"

The king uttered a cry, and, forgetting his gout and his pains, arose
from his chair.

"Howard!" said he, with a cruel smile. "Say you that a Howard threatens
our life? Which one is it? Name me the traitor!"

"I name them both--father and son! I name the Duke of Norfolk and the
Earl of Surrey! I say that they both are traitors, who threaten the life
and honor of my king, and with blasphemous arrogance dare stretch out
their hands even to the crown!"

"Ah, I knew it, I knew it!" screamed the king. "And it was this that
made me sleepless, and ate into my body like red-hot iron."

And as he fastened on Douglas his eyes flashing with rage, he asked,
with a grim smile: "Can you prove that these Howards are traitors? Can
you prove that they aim at my crown?"

"I hope to be able to do so," said Douglas. "To be sure, there are no
great convincing facts--"

"Oh," said the king, interrupting him with a savage laugh, "there is no
need of great facts. Give into my hand but a little thread, and I will
make out of it a cord strong enough to haul the father and son up to the
gallows at one time."

"Oh, for the son there is proof enough," said the earl, with a smile:
"and as regards the father, I will produce your majesty some accusers
against him, who will be important enough to bring the duke also to the
block. Will you allow me to bring them to you immediately?"

"Yes, bring them, bring them!" cried the king. "Every minute is precious
that may lead these traitors sooner to their punishment."

Earl Douglas stepped to the door and opened it. Three veiled female
figures entered and bowed reverentially.

"Ah," whispered the king, with a cruel smile, as he sank back again into
his chair, "they are the three Fates that spin the Howards' thread of
life, and will now, it is to be hoped, break it off. I will furnish them
with the scissors for it; and if they are not sharp enough, I will, with
my own royal hands, help them to break the thread."

"Sire," said Earl Douglas, as, at a sign from him, the three women
unveiled themselves--"sire, the wife, the daughter, and the mistress of
the Duke of Norfolk have come to accuse him of high treason. The mother
and the sister of the Earl of Surrey are here to charge him with a crime
equally worthy of death."

"Now verily," exclaimed the king, "it must be a grievous and blasphemous
sin which so much exasperates