“This is a dreadful accusation to bring against your brother, my lord,” observed Edward. “But you say you can substantiate it?”
“In all particulars. Butts’s confession is most ample. Sir John Gage and myself entered the royal chamber the moment after the will was stamped, and we can both testify to the king’s appearance. He must have been long insensible. Was it not so, Sir John?” he added to the constable, who was standing at a respectful distance.
“I cannot deny it,” replied Gage.
“This is sad indeed!” observed Edward.
“‘T is a great wrong, and must be set right,” pursued the admiral. “To that end I have brought your Majesty hither. The lord protector must be hurled from his place—the council dismissed. Leave the management of the business to me. Popular disturbances may occur, but by the energetic measures which I propose to adopt, they will be speedily quelled. Your Majesty must consent to remain within the Tower till all is over. At most, ’twill only be a few days’ restraint, and you will then enjoy a freedom such as you have not as yet experienced.”
“Then you would not have me go back to Whitehall?”
“Not till the work be done, sire,” replied the admiral.
“Here, in the event of tumult, or of any desperate attempt on the part of the protector or his fautors to obtain possession of your person, you will be in perfect safety. I have prepared a mandate for your signature, empowering me to act for you. This is all the authority I need.”
And he produced a scroll and laid it before the king.
At this moment, Sir John Gage, who had hitherto remained standing at a respectful distance, advanced and said, “It is time I should interfere. Your Majesty must not sign that mandate.”
“Must not sign it, Sir John!” exclaimed the admiral. “Do you dare to dictate to your sovereign?”
“At such a moment I dare adivise him. As to you, my lord, I am bound to tell you that you stand on the brink of a precipice, from which another step will plunge you headlong.”
“You are thinking of the lord protector, not of me, good Sir John,” rejoined the admiral, in a contemptuous tone.
“His Highness has a firmer footing than you suppose, my lord,” replied the constable. “But you have spoken of a confession by Doctor Butts. Can you produce it?”
“I can,” replied the admiral, searching the velvet bag depending from his girdle. “Ha! it is gone.”
“That is unlucky, my lord,” observed the constable. “The production of the confession might have set all doubts at rest.”
“Have you any doubts of the truth of my statement, Sir John?” cried Seymour, fiercely.
“Such a terrible accusation ought not to be made without proof,” observed the constable.
“That is true,” said the king.
“The document has been abstracted from my person,” cried Seymour.
“Again I say, its loss is unlucky—most unlucky—for such a document might have helped you at your need. My lord, let me urge you to throw yourself upon the king’s protection, and implore his grace. Without it, you are utterly lost.”
“What mean you, Sir John?” cried Seymour, fiercely. “Have you betrayed me?”
“You have been betrayed—but not by me,” replied the constable. “The lord protector and the council are here. I warned you when you entered the Tower. But you would not listen to me.”
“Fly, dear uncle!—fly, while there is yet time,” cried Edward.
“Flight is impossible, sire,” said the constable. “If the admiral leaves this room he will be arrested. Guards are placed within the ante-chamber and in the corridor, and all the outlets of the fortress are closed by the lord protector’s command.”
There was a brief and terrible pause. Notwithstanding the extreme peril in which he stood, the admiral’s courage did not desert him, and he seemed to be preparing for a desperate effort. At last the king spoke.
“Sir John Gage,” he said, resolutely, “my uncle, Lord Seymour, shall not be arrested. D’ye mark what I say, Sir John? Lord Seymour must not be arrested. You must prevent it.”
“Alas, sire! you ask more of me than I can perform,” rejoined the constable. “The lord protector is omnipotent here.”