r
majesty must be content merely to hear the guilty ones, and not to see
them also. We will then betake ourselves to the boudoir here, which I
have opened for this purpose, and in which is an easy-chair for your
majesty. We will place this chair near the open door, and then your
majesty will be able to hear every word of their tender whisperings."

"But how shall we, if we extinguish this our only light, at last attain
to a sight of this dear loving pair, and be able to afford them the
dramatic surprise of our presence?"

"Sire, as soon as the Earl of Surrey enters, twenty men of the king's
bodyguard will occupy the anteroom through which the earl must pass;
and it needs but a call from you to have them enter the hall with their
torches. I have taken care also that before the private backgate of the
palace two coaches stand ready, the drivers of which know very well the
street that leads to the Tower!"

"Two coaches?" said the king, laughing. "Ah, ah, Douglas, how cruel we
are to separate the tender, loving pair on this journey which is yet to
be their last! Well, perhaps we can compensate them for it, and
allow these turtledoves to make the last trip--the trip to the
stake--together. No, no, we will not separate them in death. Together
they may lay their heads on the block."

The king laughed, quite delighted with his jest, while, leaning on the
earl's arm, he crossed to the little boudoir on the other side, and took
his place in the armchair set near the door.

"Now we must extinguish the light; and may it please your majesty to
await in silence the things that are to come."

The earl extinguished the light, and deep darkness and a grave-like
stillness now followed.

But this did not last long. Now was heard quite distinctly the sound of
footsteps. They came nearer and nearer--now a door was heard to open and
shut again, and it was as though some one were creeping softly along on
his toes in the hall.

"Henry Howard!" whispered Douglas.

The king could scarcely restrain the cry of savage, malicious delight
that forced its way to his lips.

The hated enemy was then in his power; he was convicted of the crime; he
was inevitably lost.

"Geraldine!" whispered a voice, "Geraldine!"

And as if his low call had already been sufficient to draw hither the
loved one, the secret door here quite close to the boudoir opened.
The rustling of a dress was very distinctly heard, and the sound of
footsteps.

"Geraldin