France's word. All Holland marvelled.'

'What is this to me?' the Lady Mary said. 'Will you send me across
France to the Netherlands?'

He left her gibe alone.

'But in these latter months,' he said, 'Kat and I ha' weakened with true
messages and loyal conceits this unholy alliance.'

'Why, I ha' heard,' Mary said, 'ye did send the Duke of Norfolk to tell
the King o' France that my cousin had said in private that he was the
greater King of the twain. These be princely princes!'

'An unholy alliance it was,' Henry went on his way, 'for the Emperor is
a very good Christian and a loyal son of the Church. But Francis
worships the devil--I have heard it said and I believe it--or, at least,
he believes not in God and our Saviour; and he pays allegiance to the
Church only when it serves his turn, now holding on, now letting go. I
am glad this alliance is dissolving.'

'Why, I am glad to hear you speak like this,' Mary said bitterly. 'You
are a goodly son to Mother Church.'

The King took her scorn with a shrug of the shoulders.

'I am glad this alliance is dissolved or dissolving,' he said, 'for when
it is fully dissolved I will make my peace with Rome. And I long for
that day, for I am weary of errors.'

'Well, this is a very goodly tale,' Mary said. 'I am glad you are minded
to escape hell-flame. What is it all to me?'

'The burden of it rests with thee,' he answered, 'for thou alone canst
make thy cousin believe in my true mind.'

'God help me,' Mary said.

'See you, Moll,' the King broke in on her eagerly, 'if you will marry
the Infant of Spain----'

'God's sakes,' she said lightly, 'my cousin's son will wed no bastard as
I be.'

He brushed her jest aside with one hand.

'See you,' he said, 'now I ride to the north to meet the King o' Scots.
That nephew of mine has always been too thick with Francis. But I will
be so friendly with him. And see you, with the Scots cut away and the
Emperor unloyal, the teeth of Francis are drawn. I might not send my
letter to the Pope with all Christendom arrayed together against me. But
when they are set by the ears I am strong enow.'

'Oh, good!' the Lady Mary said. 'Strong enow to be humble!'

Her eyes sparkled so much and her bosom so heaved, that Katharine moved
solicitously and swiftly to come between them.

'See you, Moll,' the King said, 'forgive the ill I wrought thee, and so
shall golden days come again. Once more there shall be a deep peace with
contented h