we are to turn
the tables on these traitorous gentlemen. Listen." And she added matter
that begat fresh hope in Darnley's despairing soul.

He kissed her hands, lowly now and obedient as a hound that had been
whipped to heel, and went below to bear her message to the lords.

Morton and Ruthven heard him out, but betrayed no eagerness to seize the
opportunity.

"All this is but words that we hear," growled Ruthven, who lay stretched
upon a couch, grimly suffering from the disease that was, slowly eating
up his life.

"She is guileful as the serpent," Morton added, "being bred up in the
Court of France. She will make you follow her will and desire, but she
will not so lead us. We hold her fast, and we do not let her go without
some good security of what shall follow."

"What security will satisfy you?" quoth Darnley.

Murray and Lindsay came in as he was speaking, and Morton told them of
the message that Darnley had brought. Murray moved heavily across to a
window-seat, and sat down. He cleared a windowpane with his hand, and
looked out upon the wintry landscape as if the matter had no interest
for him. But Lindsay echoed what the other twain had said already.

"We want a deal more than promises that need not be kept," he said.

Darnley looked from one to the other of them, seeing in their
uncompromising attitude a confirmation of what the Queen had told him,
and noting, too--as at another time he might not have noted--their utter
lack of deference to himself, their King.

"Sirs," he said, "I vow you wrong Her Majesty. I will stake my life upon
her honour."

"Why, so you may," sneered Ruthven, "but you'll not stake ours."

"Take what security you please, and I will subscribe it."

"Aye, but will the Queen?" wondered Morton.

"She will. I have her word for it."

It took them the whole of that day to consider the terms of the articles
that would satisfy them. Towards evening the document was ready,
and Morton and Ruthven representing all, accompanied by Murray, and
introduced by Darnley, came to the chamber to which Her Majesty was
confined by the guard they had set upon her.

She sat as if in state awaiting them, very lovely and very tearful,
knowing that woman's greatest strength is in her weakness, that tears
would serve her best by presenting her as if broken to their will.

In outward submission they knelt before her to make the pretence of
suing for the pardon which they extorted by force of arms a