rything swims before my eyes. Open the window, that a little air may
flow in! Ah! that is good! This air at least is pure, and not infected
with sin and slander!"

And the king had Earl Douglas roll him to the opened window, and
inspired in long draughts that pure fresh air. Then he turned to the
ladies with an agreeable smile.

"My ladies," said he, "I thank you! You have to-day shown yourselves my
true and devoted friends! I shall ever remember it, and I beg of you,
if at any time you need a friend and protector, to apply to us with all
confidence. We shall never forget what great service you have to-day
rendered us."

He nodded to them in a friendly manner, whilst, with a majestic wave of
the hand, he dismissed them, and concluded the audience.

"And now, Douglas," exclaimed the king, vehemently, as soon as the
ladies had retired--"now I have had enough of this dreadful torture! Oh,
you say I am to punish the traitors--these Surreys--and you inflict on
me the most frightful pains of the rack!"

"Sire, there was no other means of delivering up this Surrey to you. You
were wishing that he were a criminal; and I shall prove to you that he
is so."

"Oh, I shall then be able at least to tread his hated head under my
feet," said the king, grinding his teeth. "I shall no more tremble
before this malicious enemy, who goes about among my people with his
hypocritical tongue, while I, tortured with pain, sit in the dungeon of
my sickroom. Yes, yes, I thank you, Douglas, that you will hand him over
to my arm of vengeance; and my soul is full of joy and serenity at it.
Ah, why were you obliged to cloud this fair, this sublime hour? Why was
it necessary to weave the queen into this gloomy web of guilt and crime?
Her cheerful smile and her radiant looks have ever been an enjoyment so
dear to my eyes."

"Sire, I do not by any means say that the queen is guilty. Only there
was no other means to prove to you Earl Surrey's guilt than that you
should hear for yourself his confession of love to the queen."

"And I will hear it!" cried the king, who had now already overcome the
sentimental emotion of his heart.

"Yes, I will have full conviction of Surrey's guilt; and woe to the
queen, should I find her also guilty! This night, then, earl! But
till then, silence and secrecy! We will have father and son seized and
imprisoned at the same hour; for otherwise the imprisonment of the one
might easily serve as a warning to the other,