Part 6 (2/2)

James, however, was highly pleased at the young man's words.

”Good Monteagle!” cried he, ”thy son is a worthy gentleman, and methinks our reign will see him a most favored peer. Instruct him, that he fall not into certain habits as to bells and candlesticks, nor give ear too seriously to the teachings of them who would embroil our kingdom.”

At this moment Robert Carr, hastening to the royal bed chamber, in order to obey the wishes of Mistress Vaux, entered the ante-room and hearing his master in converse with others, paused noiselessly behind the curtains.

”Faith!” continued James, receiving no reply from Monteagle or his son, ”it is rumored that thou also hath dealt somewhat closely with these disturbers of the kingdom.”

Alarmed at the character of the conversation a.s.sumed by the King, the n.o.bleman would have checked it by well timed flattery, but James was not to be turned from his purpose.

”It doth much annoy me,” prated he, ”that certain reports are spread abroad making it seem my desire, against the wishes of our good Parliament, to remit certain fines----”

Carr, whose ear was pressed close against the curtain, rubbed his hands together in exultation that there was like to be, without discomfort to himself, something ready for the ear of the Queen's waiting woman.

”And divers statutes against those who would bring back the Jesuits,”

continued James, plucking impatiently the fringe of his couch cover.

”Your Majesty is, in truth, the spring of justice,” said Monteagle, soberly, ”and it ill befits thy subjects, be they Puritans or Catholics, to----”

A wave of pa.s.sion swept across the royal face.

”Puritans and Catholics!” cried he, sitting upright. ”Zounds! What then? Am I not king? Wherefore should I tolerate in this good kingdom those who teach treason in their churches?”

Monteagle's position was truly equivocal. The son of a Protestant peer, through his marriage, early in life, with the daughter of a Catholic, he became involved in certain Papistic plots, and listened to the teachings of the missionary priests. James had made him the recipient of many court favors, for the maintenance of which, Monteagle, balancing the advantages of his position against the loss which might accrue to him were he to boldly adhere to his religion, had become lukewarm in the faith of the Catholics, and this had brought him into disrepute with his old a.s.sociates.

”'Tis a grave matter that there be any in England whose faith takes precedence of their loyalty,” said he, the King ceasing his harangue through lack of breath.

”Thou sayest rightly!” cried he, ”nor will I abate one jot or t.i.ttle from that I have set before me. As it is atheism and blasphemy to dispute what is in G.o.d's power, so it is presumption and high contempt for a subject to question a king's will; nor should a king abate even the breadth of a hair from that right which his prerogative gives unto him.”

The Viscount Effingston pulled his father's sleeve.

”We had best retire,” he whispered, ”the wine hath mounted to the head of yonder fool, and, perchance, he may see in thee a Raleigh or a Cobham.”

The King was, indeed, weary of the interview. The exertion of the afternoon, the heated room, the wine and the ill temper into which he had fallen, deprived him of his usual wit, leaving him only boorish and irritable.

”My lord Monteagle,” said he, peevishly, ”it pleases me that you retire, for a certain languor of the body rendereth our discourse unprofitable.”

The words of his son had startled the n.o.bleman from his usual composure, and receiving the King's permission to retire, he made haste to kiss the royal hand, well pleased that the audience was ended, although certain favors which he desired to ask of his Majesty remained unspoken.

”Faith!” said the favorite, as the two peers pa.s.sed his hiding place, ”I have, indeed, had a most fortunate escape, for James is in poor condition to discuss even with Robert Carr, that which sent him hither.”

Then, as the King's valets crowded into the chamber, summoned by the furious ringing of their master's bell, he looked for an instant upon the half-drunken monarch, dropped the curtain and hastened down the corridor that he might relate to Mistress Vaux that which he had overheard.

CHAPTER VII.

THE VISCOUNT EFFINGSTON.

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