therefore you have no right to inquire into
mine."

"It is not for my own satisfaction that I desire this proof," said
Norris, "because I would rather shield the king's indiscretions than
betray them. But the queen has conceived suspicions which she is
determined to verify."

"Think not to impose upon me," replied the monk with a sneer. "Bring the
queen this way, and she shall be fully satisfied."

"I can run no risk in trusting you," said Norris, "and therefore I
accept your offer."

"Say no more," cried the monk disdainfully, "I will await you here."

And Norris returned to the queen.

"Have you discovered anything?" she cried.

"Come with me, madam," said Norris, bowing and taking her hand.

Proceeding thus they glided through the throng of dancers, who
respectfully cleared a passage for them as they walked along until they
approached the spot where the tall monk was standing. As they drew near
him he moved on, and Norris and the queen followed in silence. Passing
from the great hall in which the crowd of dancers were assembled, they
descended a short flight of steps, at the foot of which the monk paused,
and pointed with his right hand to a chamber, partly screened by the
folds of a curtain.

At this intimation the queen and her companion stepped quickly on, and
as she advanced, Anne Boleyn perceived Jane Seymour and the king seated
on a couch within the apartment. Henry was habited like a pilgrim,
but he had thrown down his hat, ornamented with the scallop-shell, his
vizard, and his staff, and had just forced his fair companion to unmask.

At the sight, Anne was transfixed with jealous rage, and was for the
moment almost unconscious of the presence of Norris, or of the monk, who
remained behind the curtain, pointing to what was taking place.

"Your majesty is determined to expose my blushes," said Jane Seymour,
slightly struggling with her royal lover.

"Nay, I only want to be satisfied that it is really yourself,
sweetheart," cried Henry passionately. "It was in mercy to me, I
suppose, that you insisted upon shrouding those beauteous features from
my view.

"Hear you that, madam?" whispered Norris to Anne.

The queen answered by a convulsive clasp of the hand.

"Your majesty but jests with me," said Jane Seymour. "Jests!" cried
Henry passionately. "By my faith! I never understood the power of beauty
till now. No charms ever moved my heart like yours; nor shall I know a
moment's peace till you b