Part 35 (1/2)
”How gat you those false keys?”
”From a blacksmith, as you can well guess.”
”From what smith?”
”I cannot tell you; for I know not.”
”Through whom gat you them?”
”I gat them, and I used them: that is enough.”
”Through whom gat you them?”
”Fair Lords, you get no more of me.”
”Through whom gat you them?” was repeated the third time.
The answer was dead silence. The question was repeated a fourth time.
”My Lords, an' ye ask me four hundred times, I will say what I say now: ye get no more of me.”
”We have means to make men speak!” said one of the peers, threateningly.
”That may be; but not women.”
”They can talk fast enough, as I know to my cost!” observed the lord of a very loquacious lady.
”Ay, and hold their peace likewise, as I will show you!” said Constance.
”Is it not true,” enquired the Chancellor further, ”that you stale away out of the Castle of Windsor the four childre of Roger Mortimer, sometime Earl of March?”
”It is very true.”
”And wherefore did you so?”
”Because I chose it!” she said, lifting her head royally.
”Madam, you well wot you be a subject.”
”I better wot you be,” returned the unabashed Princess.
”And who aided and counselled you thereto?” asked the Chancellor--who was the prisoner's own cousin, Henry Beaufort, Bishop of Lincoln, and brother of the King.
”I can aid myself, and counsel myself,” answered the prisoner.
”My question is not answered, Dame.”
”Ay so, Sir. And 'tis like to abide thus a while longer.”
”I must know who were your counsellors. Name but one man.”