the franciscan.
philip remained for some little time in the banqueting-chamber, expecting the cardinal’s return, but as pole did not appear, the king at last sallied forth into the court, where several of the cardinal’s retinue were assembled. perceiving rodomont bittern among them, he signed to him to approach, and then walking apart with him, said, with a certain significance—
“since constance tyrrell has been imprisoned in the lollards’ tower, no communication has passed between her and osbert clinton?—ha!”
“access to her while shut up in yon tower were impossible without consent of the keeper, sire,” replied rodomont; “and he is faithful.”
“difficult it may be, but not impossible,” rejoined the king. “yon ivied wall would not be difficult to scale. her prison-chamber has a window which might be reached by a rope ladder.”
“can he suspect?” thought rodomont, uneasily.
“such plans are common enough in spain, where walls, bolts, and bars, and even watchful gaolers, cannot shut out lovers,” pursued philip. “osbert clinton is rash enough—enamoured enough to attempt anything.”
“your majesty is a better judge of such matters than i can pretend to be,” said rodomont; “but i would risk life and limb for no woman, were she twice as lovely as constance tyrrell. the danger of the enterprise would effectually 235cool my ardour. osbert clinton well knows that he would incur your majesty’s severe displeasure were he to make any such attempt.”
“danger, i repeat, will not deter him,” said the king. “it is not enough that constance is shut up in yon tower—that the doors of her cell are locked, and the windows barred. i tell you, he will find a way to her—if he has not done so already.”
“i dare not contradict your majesty,” replied rodomont. “it may be as you suspect. what more would you have done?”
“that tower must be strictly watched at night,” said philip, “and you must be the watcher.”
“i am ready to obey your majesty,” replied rodomont; “but such an office will somewhat interfere with my duties to the cardinal.”
“heed not that!” said philip. “i will hold you excused with his eminence. you will commence the watch to-night.”
“to-night, sire?”
“should osbert clinton venture hither, arrest him, and keep him in close confinement till you learn my pleasure.”
“may i make bold to inquire if your majesty has any reason to suspect that he will come?” said rodomont.
“it matters not what i suspect. do as i command you.”
“your injunctions shall be obeyed, sire,” returned rodomont. “and for his own sake i hope master osbert clinton may keep away.”
at this moment a tall franciscan friar, with the cowl of his grey robe drawn over his head, was seen marching slowly along the court-yard. he directed his steps towards the lollards’ tower, and on reaching it stayed at the doorway, where he remained in converse with mallet, the keeper.
“who is yon monk, and what is his errand?” demanded the king, who had been watching him with some curiosity.
“i know him not, sire—he is a stranger,” replied rodomont. “apparently he is seeking admittance to one of the prisoners, which mallet, the keeper, is unwilling to grant. perchance, it may be mistress constance tyrrell whom he desires to see.”
“bring him before me, i will question him,” said philip.
236rodomont instantly obeyed, and shortly afterwards returned with the friar and mallet. the franciscan made a humble obeisance to the king, but did not attempt to raise his hood.
“an please your majesty, this holy man is from winchester,” said mallet. “he is charged by father jerome of saint catherine’s chapel on the hill, with a message to mistress constance tyrrell. is it not so?” he added to the monk.
the franciscan bowed his head.
“is father jerome aware that she to whom he has sent you has lapsed from the faith?” said the king.
“he is, sire,” replied the monk, in tones that sounded strangely hollow, “but he hopes she may still be reclaimed. with the design of rendering some aid in the good work, i have come hither. great success has hitherto attended my efforts; and therefore it is that good father jerome, who is deeply interested in mistress constance’s spiritual welfare, hath selected me for the office.”
“an opportunity shall be afforded you of making the attempt,” said the king. “there can be no reason why this holy man should not be admitted to her,” he added to mallet. “take him to her cell.”
“mistress constance is not in her cell at present, sire,” observed mallet.
“where is she, then?” cried the king, sharply.
“she is with her majesty, sire,” replied mallet.
“with the queen?” exclaimed philip, surprised. “go into the tower, good father, and await her return.”
“ha, here comes mistress constance,” exclaimed rodomont, as the damsel, escorted by simnel and holiday, issued from the palace, and made her way towards the lollards’ tower. bowing humbly to the king, she would have passed on, had he not stopped her.
“you have been with her majesty, as i understand?” he said. “how fares it with her now?”
“as well as you could desire, sire,” she replied. “her majesty has quite recovered.”
“i would fain reward you for your good tidings,” said philip. “it rests with yourself whether your imprisonment in this tower shall be prolonged.”
237“my term of durance is at an end, sire,” she rejoined. “i am a prisoner, it is true, but only restricted to the limits of the palace. i desire no greater freedom. the queen has conferred this grace upon me.”
“her majesty has only anticipated my intentions,” said philip. “it grieved me to think you should have been confined within that dreary cell. but why did you not appeal to me, when you well knew that a word would have procured you full liberty?”
“but i could not utter that word, sire,” she rejoined, coldly.
“tarry a moment,” said the king, checking her departure. “this holy man has been sent by father jerome, to whose ghostly counsels you once gave heed, in the hope that he may restore you to the catholic church.”
“i am much beholden to father jerome for his kindly concern in my behalf,” she rejoined; “and it pains me to dismiss the good friar he has sent without a hearing. but a conference would be profitable to neither of us, and i must therefore decline it.”
“how know you that such a conference would be unprofitable, daughter?” said the friar, in tones that trembled with emotion. “i pray you send me not away unheard.”
at the sound of his voice constance started, and was seized with a trepidation which she could hardly conceal.
“can he have ventured here in this disguise?” she murmured. “imprudent that he is, he will sacrifice himself by his rashness! no, no,” she added aloud, “i cannot consent to a conference with you without the cardinal’s sanction. i am under his charge.”
“if that be all, his eminence’s sanction can be readily procured, for here he comes,” said philip.
“the cardinal here, then he is lost!” mentally ejaculated constance. “you have come on a vain errand,” she added, to the monk.
“nay, let us hear what his eminence has to say to the matter,” observed philip. and, as pole came up at the moment, he told him what had occurred.
“father jerome must have much confidence in this friar if he imagines he will succeed where we have failed,” remarked pole. “i will question him, and judge of his fitness 238for the task. bring him to me anon,” he added to rodomont.
“i do not desire to confer with him,” cried constance, distractedly. “send him away!—send him away!”
“what means this strange emotion?” thought the cardinal. “a word with you, daughter,” he added, taking her aside. “who is this monk? i must know the truth. attempt to deceive me, and i will compel him to raise his hood.”
“in mercy spare him,” she rejoined, “if the king beholds his features he is lost.”
“then it is osbert clinton,” said the cardinal. “i will not betray him, but you must promise to hold no converse with him.”
“i do—i do,” she rejoined.
“control yourself, or you will excite the king’s suspicions,” pursued the cardinal. “i am glad i made this discovery in time. i shall warn this rash youth not to come here again. if he does, he must not count on my protection. and now,” he added, so as to be heard by the king, “retire to your cell till a chamber can be prepared for you in the palace. i will speak with this friar anon, and act as may seem best to me in regard to him.”
thanking him for his goodness, and making an obeisance to the king, constance withdrew.
philip and the cardinal then hastened to the queen, and shortly afterwards the royal pair embarked in the barge awaiting them, and returned to whitehall.
