“You hear that, sire?” cried Seymour. “‘T is as I told you. The lord protector is everything—your Majesty nothing. I would have delivered you from this bondage, but I must now pay with my life for my devotion to you.”
“You shall not fall into his power if I can prevent it, uncle,” rejoined Edward. “Sir John Gage, on your allegiance, I command you to obey me. Aid the admiral to fly.”
“Beseech you, sire, to forgive me,” cried the constable, flinging himself at the king’s feet. “I cannot—dare not obey you.”
“Dare not! Sir John. Little did I expect such an admission from you.”
“My head would pay the penalty of such violation of my duty. That I will freely give. But I cannot assist treason and rebellion. A warrant has been issued by the council for the admiral’s arrest, and I dare not oppose it.”
“Sir John,” continued the king, authoritatively, “I command you to set him free.”
“But, sire—”
“I will have no refusal. If the Tower gates are shut in me lord protector’s name, cause them to be opened in mine. Let him go forth.”
“It will be useless, sire. My orders will be disobeyed. The guard will refuse to open the gates.”
“Not if you show them my signet,” he replied, taking the ring from his finger and giving it to the constable.
“I will obey your Majesty,” said Sir John Gage, rising; “but only on the condition that the admiral pledges me his word, that, if I set him free, he will relinquish his designs against his brother.”
“I will give no such pledge,” cried Seymour, fiercely. “It is for you to obey the king’s orders, Sir John, and not to impose conditions.”
“Waste no more time in these objections, Sir John,” said Edward, “but do as I command you. You are in no danger My signet will protect you.”
“I heed not the danger,” said the constable. “Since your Majesty will have it so, I obey.”
“Give me my horse, Sir John. Go with me to the gates—that is all I need,” cried Seymour.
“I know not if I can find your steed,” replied the constable. “Most probably your escort has been dispersed. Orders, I know, were given to that effect.”
“But my palfrey must be there,” cried Edward. “Take that, or any horse you can obtain. Go—go!—we shall have them here.”
“We cannot pass through the ante-chamber; ’tis guarded, as I have said,” remarked the constable, stepping towards the side of the room, where, raising a piece of tapestry, he disclosed a secret door.
“Farewell, my gracious liege!” cried Seymour, with a profound obeisance to his royal nephew. “You shall hear from me ere long.”
With this, he passed through the secret door with the constable, and the hanging fell to its place.
Scarcely had the king time to seat himself, when the great door was thrown open, and the lord protector, followed by Warwick and the rest of the council, entered the room. Behind the latter came a guard of halberdiers, at the head of which was Ugo Harrington. Astonishment and dismay were painted on the countenances of the whole party when it was discovered that the king was alone. Somerset could not conceal his rage and disappointment.
“Where is the traitor?” he cried, furiously.
“If your Highness refers to the lord admiral,” replied the king, calmly, “he is gone, under my safeguard. I have charged Sir John Gage to see him safely out of the Tower.”
“Sir John will answer to the council and to myself for this gross disobedience to our orders,” rejoined the protector. “He knew that a warrant had been issued for the admiral’s arrest.”
“He obeyed my orders,” said Edward, with dignity.
“Your Majesty is not aware of the heinous offences of which the admiral has been guilty, or you would never have aided his escape,” said the protector.
“Are those who make these accusations against him themselves free from guilt?” rejoined Edward, sternly.
“What would your Majesty insinuate?” cried the protector.
“We shall find more fitting opportunity of speaking our mind,” said Edward. “Meantime, your Highness will do well to examine your own breast, and see that nothing be hidden within it which you would blush to have drawn forth.”