The Constable of the Tower by W. Harrison Ainsworth

“Leave me!” exclaimed Seymour, fiercely. “Thou hast roused the furies in my breast. I would be alone.”

Without a word, Ugo bowed and retired; but as he was passing out of the door, he cast a look at the admiral, and saw him fling himself into a chair, and cover his face with his hands.

“Notwithstanding all his pretended dislike to the deed, he will do it,” he muttered.

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Chapter XIV

HOW THE LORD ADMIRAL SUPPLIED HIS ROYAL NEPHEW WITH MONEY

Could Lord Seymour have been content with the exalted position he had now attained, he might have lived happy and honored, but, consumed by an insatiable ambition, which would not let him rest, he continued his intrigues as actively as ever.

Alarmed, at length, by his evident design to monopolize the young king’s affections, and engross his confidence, the lord protector carried into effect his oft-repeated threat, and strictly prohibited any personal intercourse between him and his royal nephew. This order, which was rigorously enforced, was a heavy blow to Seymour; but he found means of defeating it to a certain extent, and contrived to keep up a secret correspondence with Edward, through the agency of Fowler, who, though much trusted by the protector, was in reality in the admiral’s pay.

Furtive visits were frequently paid by the gentleman of the privy-chamber to Seymour House. One morning he presented himself at an unusually early hour, but though the admiral at the time was engaged on his toilette, he ordered him to be instantly admitted.

“Give you good day, Fowler,” he exclaimed as his secret agent was shown into the room. “I am right glad to see you. Do you bring me any message or letter from his majesty?”

“Only this short missive, your Highness,” replied Fowler, bowing as he handed him a small slip of paper.

“Faith, ’tis brief enough!” exclaimed the admiral. “‘Let Fowler have what money he needs’—thus runs it. How much dost thou require?”

“For myself I require nothing,” replied the gentleman of the privy-chamber. “But his majesty hath immediate need of two hundred pounds.”

“He shall have it, and more if it be wanted,” replied the admiral. “Ugo, will furnish thee with the amount. By my soul, the lord protector keeps his majesty very bare!”

“The king hath but little in his purse save what comes from your Highness,” remarked Fowler. “If he asks for money, he is always put off on some plea or other. I never lose an opportunity of contrasting your Highness’s generosity with the niggardliness, if I may so venture to term it, of the lord protector. I say to his majesty thus: ‘Sire, you would be well off if you had your younger uncle, the lord admiral, for your governor. His highness hath an open hand, and would never stint you as your elder uncle doth, and you would then have wherewithal to reward your men handsomely.'”

“And what said the king to that, Fowler?” demanded the admiral. “What said he to that?”

“He answered that he should be right glad your lordship should be made his governor, but he feared the thing was impossible. Whereupon, I told him he might bring it about if he set to work in earnest.”

“And so he can—and so he shall, good Fowler. Said he anything further?”

“Not much, your Highness. To speak truth, I think his majesty is afraid of the lord protector, who waxes very violent if his will be opposed. Were he to find out that I gave any secret information to your Highness, I should not only lose my post, but be clapped in the Fleet.”

“Act warily, Fowler, and thou need’st be under no apprehension. But as some risk must needs be run, thy reward shall be proportionate. While receiving the money for my royal nephew, take another hundred pounds for thyself.”

“Oh! your Highness, that is too much for any slight service I can render you. ‘Tis true I never lose sight of your interests, and whenever a word can be said in your behalf I fail not to utter it.”

“Dost think thou canst procure me a secret interview with his majesty to-morrow, Fowler?”