第30章 Anne Boleyn (29)

"Wolsey has incurred my displeasure oft of late," said Henry; "and yet his fidelity--""Be not deceived, my liege," said Anne; "he is faithful to you only so far as serves his turn.He thinks he rules you."Before Henry could reply, the cardinal stepped forward.

"I bring your majesty a despatch, just received from the queen," he said.

"And you have been listening to our discourse? " rejoined Henry sternly.

"You have overheard--"

"Enough to convince me, if I had previously doubted it, that the Lady Anne Boleyn is my mortal foe," replied Wolsey.

"Foe though I am, I will make terms with your eminence," said Anne.

"Expedite the divorce--you can do so if you will--and I am your fast friend.""I know too well the value of your friendship, noble lady, not to do all in my power to gain it," replied Wolsey."I will further the matter, if possible.But it rests chiefly in the hands of his holiness Pope Clement the Seventh.""If his majesty will listen to my counsel, he will throw off the pope's yoke altogether," rejoined Anne."Nay, your eminence may frown at me if you will.Such, I repeat, shall be my counsel.If the divorce is speedily obtained, I am your friend: if not--look to yourself.""Do not appeal to me, Wolsey," said Henry, smiling approval at Anne; "Ishall uphold her."

"Will it please your majesty to peruse this despatch? "said Wolsey, again offering Catherine's letter.

"Take it to my closet," replied the king; " I will join you there.And now at last we are good friends, sweetheart.""Excellent friends, my dear liege," replied Anne; "but I shall never be your queen while Wolsey holds his place.""Then, indeed, he shall lose it," replied Henry.

"She is a bitter enemy, certes," muttered Wolsey as he walked away."Imust overthrow her quickly, or she will overthrow me.A rival must be found--ay, a rival--but where? I was told that Henry cast eyes on a comely forester's daughter at the chase this morning.She may do for the nonce."X.Of the Mysterious Disappearance of Herne the Hunter in the Lake.

Unable to procure any mitigation of Surrey's sentence, the Duke of Richmond proceeded to the Round Tower, where he found his friend in a small chamber, endeavouring to beguile his captivity by study.

Richmond endeavoured to console him, and was glad to find him in better spirits than he expected.Early youth is seldom long dejected, and misfortunes, at that buoyant season, seem lighter than they appear later on in life.The cause for which he suffered, moreover, sustained Surrey, and confident of the Fair Geraldine's attachment, he cared little for the restraint imposed upon him.On one point he expressed some regret--namely, his inability to prosecute the adventure of Herne the Hunter with the duke.

"I grieve that I cannot accompany you, Richmond," he said; "but since that is impossible, let me recommend you to take the stout archer who goes by the name of the Duke of Shoreditch with you.He is the very man you require."After some consideration the duke assented, and, promising to return on the following day and report what had occurred he took his leave, and went in search of the archer in question.Finding he had taken up his quarters at the Garter, he sent for him and proposed the matter.

Shoreditch heard the duke's relation with astonishment, but expressed the greatest willingness to accompany him, pledging himself, as Richmond demanded, to profound secrecy on the subject.

At the appointed hour--namely, midnight--the duke quitted the castle, and found Shoreditch waiting for him near the upper gate.The latter was armed with a stout staff, and a bow and arrows.