Part 20 (1/2)
Therefore he hath not the right of Sanctuary, which right, according to the strict interpretation of the rules of Holy Church, belongs solely to those standing in the fear of our Country's laws This rule,' he continued, as though he shamed to say the words, 'Duke Richard will see fit to resort to, in case your Majesty should be obstinate'
”'And in this hath he thine approval and help?' I cried
”'Nay, er, and therefore a consulted in this matter'
”'Leave me, thou insolent cur!' I cried; 'How darest thou to stand before my face and mock me? A pretty servant of God art thou, to side with one who hath the position of power, against what thou knowest to be right Be assured, sirrah, that thou shalt be reported to thy raceful conduct in thus seconding a powerful villain against a defenceless woman Now leave me, thou knave, and tell that slave of hell, the Lord Protector, to send to me to-morrow, and he shall have mine answer, as to whether he shall have my little son or no!'
”Then, sir, he left h, as though even the memory of this Churchman's departure were a relief to her ”But here's the day coive er;” she continued, ”and which it is to be I am not yet determined If I do refuse to hand my dear son over to the boar, he, verily do I believe, will carry out his threat, and tear hi advice fro the hump-back's habits lately--as to what course I had best take, that I did so anxiously await your co”
”Ah,advice of one which hath had so little experience Yet, since thou hast so honoured me, I needs must tell the truth Therefore do I say this:--My natural impulse is to offer what resistance thou canst, in case the Duke doth make use of force Yet, what little of the cooler stream of reason I have within my blood doth tell me how vaininto the Protector's hands, backed as that villain is by such powers as the nobles that surround hirant the Duke's request and hand the little Prince over to his Highness, his position could not be worse than it now is, granting of course, that the Duke of Gloucester dare to carry out his threat, which, I am sad to say, I fear he would not hesitate to do
Then, if thou dost decide to oppose force by force, the result of which, unhappily, ht not receive the sao to his uncle peaceably”
”Ah, yes, Sir Walter, thou art right,” replied the Queen; ”yet I had hoped to hear thatthe tusks of the bloody boar”
”May I crave thy pardon, madam?” said Harleston, who had approached whilst the Queen was speaking ”Methinks I have a plan which, if thou hast time to carry it out,into the hands of his uncle”
”Let me hear it, for the love of Heaven!” cried the Queen, to who her son from Gloucester was as a voice from Heaven
”Well, madam, it is this,” continued Harleston ”With all expediency let thy son be conducted froe of the Duke of Gloucester No doubt dom or across the channel, where the little Prince need have no fear of falling into the Protector's hands”
”Now, by ht of!” cried the Marquis, as, in his delight, he slapped Frederick on the shoulder
”Oh! I thank thee, sir, for those words of hope!” cried the Queen as she started frorasped h he were an equal
Frederick dropped to his knee and touched her fingers gently with his lips
”But come, we must make haste!” said her Majesty, ”and have my little son away froo,to the Marquis, ”and assemble asRichard for the flight”
”Again, estion?”
interrupted Harleston
”Indeed I long to hear what thou hast to say,” replied the Queen ”And if thine advice shall be as good this time as it was last much unquietness of spirit shall it save me”
”Then, madam,” said my friend, ”I would advise that thou shouldst send no other than my Lord of Dorset, to escort the little Prince Were he to be surrounded by a body of armed men he needs must attract attention, and therefore could easily be followed But, entleman, no curiosity will be aroused, and then he will leave no trail behind, that uide his pursuers, in case the Duke of Gloucester has hiain art thou right,” replied the Queen ”And yet,” she said, as a troubled expression came into her face, ”it likes uard”
”Still, iment,” put in Dorset ”Besides,” he continued, ”I promise thee that no har as I can wield a sword And be assured, good mother, that every drop of my heart's blood shall be spilled ere Gloucester shall wrench him from me”
”Cold comfort for a mother,” said the Queen, with a sad smile ”Then, if I lose one son, I must needs lose another But come,” she said suddenly, ”whilst we talk here preciousby Go, my son, and o to prepare thy little brother”
She followed Dorset froirls, alone
Then it was that Hazel told s at court whilst I was absent therefroone When she returned she was accompanied by her little son, the Duke of York He was fully dressed for the road