Part 3 (1/2)

NOAILLES. But does your gracious Queen entreat you kinglike?

COURTENAY. 'Fore G.o.d, I think she entreats me like a child.

NOAILLES. You've but a dull life in this maiden court, I fear, my Lord?

COURTENAY. A life of nods and yawns.

NOAILLES. So you would honour my poor house to-night, We might enliven you. Divers honest fellows, The Duke of Suffolk lately freed from prison, Sir Peter Carew and Sir Thomas Wyatt, Sir Thomas Stafford, and some more--we play.

COURTENAY. At what?

NOAILLES. The Game of Chess.

COURTENAY. The Game of Chess!

I can play well, and I shall beat you there.

NOAILLES. Ay, but we play with Henry, King of France, And certain of his court.

His Highness makes his moves across the Channel, We answer him with ours, and there are messengers That go between us.

COURTENAY. Why, such a game, sir, were whole years a playing.

NOAILLES. Nay; not so long I trust. That all depends Upon the skill and swiftness of the players.

COURTENAY. The King is skilful at it?

NOAILLES. Very, my Lord.

COURTENAY. And the stakes high?

NOAILLES. But not beyond your means.

COURTENAY. Well, I'm the first of players, I shall win.

NOAILLES. With our advice and in our company, And so you well attend to the king's moves, I think you may.

COURTENAY. When do you meet?

NOAILLES. To-night.

COURTENAY (_aside_).

I will be there; the fellow's at his tricks-- Deep--I shall fathom him. (_Aloud_) Good morning, Noailles.

[_Exit_ COURTENAY.

NOAILLES. Good-day, my Lord. Strange game of chess! a King That with her own p.a.w.ns plays against a Queen, Whose play is all to find herself a King.

Ay; but this fine blue-blooded Courtenay seems Too princely for a p.a.w.n. Call him a Knight, That, with an a.s.s's, not a horse's head, Skips every way, from levity or from fear.

Well, we shall use him somehow, so that Gardiner And Simon Renard spy not out our game Too early. Roger, thinkest thou that anyone Suspected thee to be my man?

ROGER. Not one, sir.

NOAILLES. No! the disguise was perfect. Let's away.