he queen with a
cheerful laugh, as she made her move.

A still darker frown gathered on the king's brow, and his lips were
violently compressed.

"It is true, your majesty," said Gardiner. "You will soon have to
succumb. Danger threatens you from the queen."

Henry gave a start, and turned his face to Gardiner with an expression
of inquiry. In his exasperated mood against the queen, the crafty
priest's ambiguous remark struck him with double keenness.

Gardiner was a very skilful hunter; the very first arrow that he
shot had hit. But Catharine, too, had heard it whiz. Gardiner's slow,
ambiguous words had startled her from her artless security; and as she
now looked into the king's glowing, excited face, she comprehended her
want of prudence.

But it was too late to remedy it. The king's checkmate was unavoidable;
and Henry himself had already noticed his defeat.

"It is all right!" said the king, impetuously. "You have won, Catharine,
and, by the holy mother of God! you can boast of the rare good fortune
of having vanquished Henry of England!"

"I will not boast of it, my noble husband!" said she, with a smile. "You
have played with me as the lion does with the puppy, which he does not
crush only because he has compassion on him, and he pities the poor
little creature. Lion, I thank you. You have been magnanimous to-day.
You have let me win."

The king's face brightened a little. Gardiner saw it. He must prevent
Catharine from following up her advantage further.

"Magnanimity is an exalted, but a very dangerous virtue," said
he, gravely; "and kings above all things dare not exercise it; for
magnanimity pardons crimes committed, and kings are not here to pardon,
but to punish."

"Oh, no, indeed," said Catharine; "to be able to be magnanimous is the
noblest prerogative of kings; and since they are God's representatives
on earth, they too must exercise pity and mercy, like God himself."

The king's brow again grew dark, and his sullen looks stared at the
chess-board.

Gardiner shrugged his shoulders, and made no reply. He drew a roll of
papers out of his gown and handed it to the king.

"Sire," said he, "I hope you do not share the queen's views; else it
would be bad for the quiet and peace of the country. Mankind cannot be
governed by mercy, but only through fear. Your majesty holds the sword
in his hands. If you hesitate to let it fall on evil-doers, they will
soon wrest it from your hands, and you will